Birmingham Schools Kick Out Racism

What is Racism?

Racism is treating someone differently or unfairly simply because they belong to a different race or culture.

People can also experience prejudice because of their religion or nationality.

Racism takes many different forms. These can include:

• Personal attacks of any kind, including violence
• Written or verbal threats or insults
• Damage to property, including graffiti

Where does racism come from?

Racism, as we know it, originates from the appalling slave trade of the 17th and 18th centuries. Many people became rich off the slave trade - slave owners, boat builders, chain makers, port owners, politicians, newspaper owners, banks etc. But many ordinary people, both the slaves themselves but also workers and poor people in Europe didn't like what was happening to people from Africa. For the slave owners and the people that gained financially from slavery they needed a set of ideas to justify this awful treatment of humans from Africa. They did this according to origin and skin colour.

The aim was not only to profiteer directly from the crimes of slavery. Initially the Europeans used prisoners from Europe to work on the plantations. But as the demand for goods grew, they looked elsewhere to get cheap workers in the numbers that the plantations demanded - they looked to Africa. Racism was used to separate the new and old slaves. The European slaves would be 'rewarded' by becoming foremen, be on fixed term prison sentences or be told that they were 'more civilised' than the Black slaves because they looked more like the White slave owner. By doing this, the slave owners wanted to stop the Europeans and African slaves from uniting against the plantation owners in fighting for better and more humane treatment.

These ideas proved successful for the plantation bosses and the rich and powerful back in Europe and would be used time an again to justify building massive empires on the backs of so-called 'uncivilised' people across the world. For Britain in the 19th century, as it's empire grew, these ideas would be used again and again against the Irish, Indians, Jews, Africans, other Europeans and more. Racism was a thought-out attempt to get ordinary people living in awful conditions to identify with their rich and powerful rulers at 'home' rather than with other poor people abroad.

Why are people racist today?

The success of racism for the powerful in dividing people then is one of the key reasons that racism is still pushed today - particularly against Muslims, refugees and African-Caribbean people. Just think of how people in other countries are described by newspapers, TV and politicians during times of war! Unfortunately racism can exist in all races and cultures. Racists feel threatened by anyone who is from a different race or culture.

We are not born racist. Our views and beliefs develop as we grow up. If a child or young person grows up within a racist family, or has friends who are racist, they may believe that racism is normal and acceptable.

Prejudice of any kind is often based on ignorance and fear of anything unfamiliar. It's the reason that we hold our Football Festivals and competitions. We want people to have positive experiences of mixing with kids and coaches from all different backgrounds. Hopefully this real experience can challenge the ignorant ideas that people can hold because they have heard or read something about people that they don't normally meet.

The effects of racism

If a young person is experiencing racism of any kind, they may become lonely and sad. They may also try and avoid situations where racist behaviour could occur, and pretend to be ill, play truant from school, or be scared to leave their house.

How to put a stop to racist abuse

1. Stop taking the abuse
You don’t have to accept this sort of hassle. Everyone has a right to live happily and free from discrimination, no matter what their nationality or race.

2. Accept that you’re not the one with the problem
Your self-esteem may have taken a knock if you’re having a hard time, but the thing you have to remember is that you are not the one to have caused the problem.

3. Tell someone what’s happening to you
You don’t have to suffer in silence. Think who’s the best person to talk to about what’s happening. Schools, police and employers have a responsibility to protect you. Other parts of your life will suffer if you keep silent. If the problem is at school, your work might deteriorate. Speak up now before the problem takes over. Why not try having a word with a ChildLine counsellor first to try out what you would like to say?

4. Go for a team effort
Get other people involved in tackling the problem - perhaps you could start an anti-racism project or newsletter at your school or youth group and invite an anti-racist speaker along. Or set up a discussion group to talk about relevant issues and see what you can do to help in your area.

5. Make people take you seriously
If you are going to alert someone to the fact that you’re being threatened, abused or bullied, then do it properly. You have to be prepared to get across how just it is affecting your well-being.

6. Keep some evidence of what’s happening (a diary of events, for example)
This might be useful to show others that you need help.

7. Plan what you would like to happen
Now go for it.

8. Make other parts of your life even better
Don’t let racists ruin every area of your life. For example, if you’re unhappy at school or work, then make sure you make up for the bad times by enjoying yourself at home or with your friends.

9. Keep safe and aware
You can’t spend you life looking over your shoulder, but it pays to be aware of dangers. Stick with groups of friends if you feel vulnerable.

10. Never give up!
You might not be able to tackle racism by yourself. Seek out support and accept help where you can.

How can you help a friend?

You may not be the person being persecuted, but there are lots of things you can do to help a friend who is the victim of racial discrimination:

Listen
Being the subject of racist abuse damages self-esteem. You can help by listening to your friend talk about their experiences - a good way to vent anger, frustration and feelings of injustice.

Take them seriously
They may feel like no-one is taking their problem to heart. Make sure they know you’re there to sympathise and be prepared to help sort out the situation.

Try to get help
If your friend is scared to get help, or wary of being branded ’a grass’, then it might take a third party to alert attention to the problem.

Don’t join the racists
It’s hard to make a stand, even if you’re not the victim. You may be worried that you’ll be next. But what you shouldn’t do is join in, hoping that if you share their views you’ll be safe. Report incidents to someone else who can act on your behalf if you don’t want to get directly involved.

In 2000/2001 ChildLine received 525 calls and letters from children about racist bullying, and a further 47 calls and letters from children who had encountered other forms of racism.

’Children and Racism’, a study into calls and letters to ChildLine, was published in 1997. When children and young people contacted ChildLine about racism, they spoke of their sadness, anger, hurt and dismay.

This is what some children told ChildLine:

Sharon, 16, is dating a Pakistani boy. Her parents are racist, so she has to keep her relationship a secret, which is making her feel anxious.

Sandra, 11, is called racist names as she is black. She is scared to tell her teacher, in case the bullying gets worse.

Ravinder, 15, is being beaten up by a group of boys at school, because he is Asian.

Alice, 9, is being bullied at school, as she is the only white girl in her class.

Clive, 13, has just moved to Scotland from England. A gang of Scottish boys at school calls him names.

Sunitta, 14, is being called racist names at school. Racist comments are also written about her on the wall of the toilets. Her teacher hasn’t done anything about it.

Dina, 12, is teased because she is Italian. She has to have extra lessons for her English reading and writing. She feels nervous about going to school.

All racist acts are unacceptable. The government has put anti-racist laws into place to protect all members of the community. In many schools young people and teachers work together to produce anti-bullying policies, which include sections on racist bullying.

Many companies, when advertising for jobs, try to attract applications from all ethnic minorities as well as all other sections of the community. This is called ’Equal Opportunities’, and enables everyone who is applying for a job to have the same chance of securing a job, regardless of their race, culture, age, religion, colour, marital status, gender, sexuality or disability.

The Law

The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 strengthens The Race Relations Act 1976 in Great Britain, which makes it illegal to discriminate in the fields of employment, education, housing, and the provision of goods, services and facilities. In addition to this, the amendment also extends to the Public Sector. The Race Relations Order 1997, which applies to Northern Ireland, covers the same issues.

Both these UK Government Acts give people the right to bring their complaint before an employment tribunal or a court. Racist incidents ranging from harassment and abuse to physical violence are offences under the criminal law. Inciting racial hatred is also a criminal offence. Racially offensive material in the media contravenes media codes of practice. Complaints can be made to the Press Complaints Commission or the Broadcasting Standards Authority.