Britain’s Refusal to Acknowledge the Extent of Its Racist Past and Present
The wave of right wing populism which swept Europe following the 2016 Brexit referendum and saw hate crimes motivated predominantly by religion and race rise by 123% in 2016 since 2012-2013 , has been monumental in intensifying and furthering the creation of a ‘hostile environment’ for those deemed not ‘British’ enough, which in most cases means white. Despite the stark rise in hate crimes subsequent to the referendum, it is important to note that overt racism, xenophobia and islamophobia are not new phenomena suddenly sparked by Brexit.
These feelings and sentiments of hatred towards those deemed as ‘other’ are woven within the very fabric of British history. For instance, Winston Churchill, arguably one of the most important figures in British history, during his time as both a conservative member of Parliament and as Prime Minister, defended British imperial atrocities and sprouted deeply racist sentiment. The deeply racist attitudes of Churchill and many other significant British historical figures towards people of colour and immigrants is largely reflective of some of the attitudes which prevail today.
Under the cool guise of ‘new’ and revitalized political ideas such as Tony Blair's ‘New Labour’ and David Cameron’s ‘One Nation Conservatism’, an ideology which in its ‘original form...celebrates the natural ties between different societal strata and prizes social cohesion…’ spearheaded by 19th century Conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, Britain was further able to portray itself as a liberal multicultural wonderland striving toward equality for all despite simultaneously pushing forward policies such as the ‘hostile environment’ typically accredited to Theresa May which in fact clashes with multiculturalism. However, until Britain is finally ready to face up to its crimes and recognize its pivotal role in creating the racism which is rife in present day America as well as here in the United Kingdom, it will never be able to fully become the liberal accepting world leading wonderland that is so wishes to be, or at least used to as the contemporary political climate strongly suggests otherwise.
For some white people in the UK, racial injustice has not been a priority. For others it isn’t at all. White people’s privilege allows them to navigate through life without having to acknowledge or be aware/hyper aware of racism in the same complex way that people of colour do. By refusing to even recognize the fact that racism exists, they further extend their privilege by silencing us and trivializing the experiences we go through due to the colour of our skin and all of the complexities that come alongside that such as gender, sexuality, disabilities, religions etc.… By silencing people of colour, not only do they not allow us to have a voice and begin making change, they allow themselves to remain comfortable because if you silence someone, you don’t ever have to hear what they have to say. You do not have to take accountability; you do not have to self-reflect and you do not have to act. Britain has done just this. For decades it has silenced us, thus detaching itself from its brutal colonial past meaning no accountability is taken.
Those who refuse to acknowledge racial injustice in this country, are legitimized not only by the lack of condemnation for racism by past and successive governments, but by high ranking people of colour. This includes Conservative Cabinet Member Home Secretary Priti Patel such as a woman of colour with two immigrant parents who constantly undermines and denies the fact that racism is a huge and pervasive issue in Britain. As stated by journalist Mariam Khan “because she is a woman of colour that her words have a power and impact on the rhetoric around racism in the UK that cannot be underestimated or dismissed. As much as I don’t want to place a greater sense of responsibility on people of colour when it comes to conversations around race and racism, it is important to understand that Patel’s chosen ignorance and denial is used as a justification by racists and the far-right. Because if a woman of colour is not experiencing it, then racism can’t exist, right?”. This is also can be seen to apply to Tony Sewell and Munira Mira. I couldn't agree more with Khan’s insightful comments. Although the responsibility to tackle racism should not always fall into the laps of people of colour, a point made really well by journalist Catherine Pugh, in her piece ‘There is no such things as a while ally TNSWA Part 1’, by denying the fact that racism exists and affects the lives of people of colour in Britain, Patel only serves to undermine and weaken the fight for the proper acknowledgment of the issue and the fight to end to institutional, systemic and systematic racism in the UK.
Throughout this article, I have used the world ‘acknowledge’ a number of times. This is because it is vital that we recognize the fact that Britain has a race problem. This is key to creating and pushing forward change. Change that will give people of colour fairness of opportunity, be it in education, so that Black students who wish to pursue higher education are accepted into such institutions based on merit and not class or race or the school that you attended. Change that will allow people of colour to achieve their career goals without having to jump through hoops that their white counterparts do not have to. Change that will bring forth equality of opportunity. By choosing to to “suppress, avoid and deny” the issues, Britain makes it harder and harder have conversations surrounding racial injustice and to enact real change.
____
Thumbnail Image: GETTY IMAGES