I found the historical aspect interesting as it makes absolutely no reference to Britain's role in developing the idea of races and supremacy. We have an incredible ability in this country to ignore our past and to pretend that we have absolutely no responsibility for current issues or that many are of them are still prevalent in our society, just not as openly.
This is a good read:
https://www.theguardian.com/comment...-george-floyd-britain-america-uk-black-people
Yes and it's a good point made by the guardian article that here in UK we should not fail to recognise Britain's historical role in making race an issue in the US. But to be fair, the whole US was built on the foundation of original sin and from there has perpetuated ever since, which was the point of Clive Myrie's short video and mixed with a a horribly structured and disparate police system, this is what it has led to in today's protests.
I am surprised the article does not mention the McPherson report and Stephen Lawrence. The role of institutional racism has played within the metropolitan police force.
As aside, as an ethnic minority growing up in Britain I have had 3 incidents of racism. The issue that Rage brought up about society being racist and the system being institutionally racist which has brought about what happened in the USA. But this is also in any multicultural society. I know profitius got banned because of his overtly racist posts, but just wanted to pick up on the issue of racism. For me it is an issue, you will never eradicate from society because it stems largely from ignorance and within our own differences as human beings. The issue of identity being paramount to this, whichever country or culture you live in. However, that does not mean we should always not strive towards eradicating through greater awareness.
The 3 examples I can think of racism in my life, I wanted to share:
1. Getting off the train once time after work and trying to go through the ticket barriers. Crowded with commuters just wanting to get home, but one of two of the barriers letting people out weren't working, which created a bottle neck. I waited patiently in line, then a black guy who was getting really irritated and frustrated pushes in front of me. I say to him there's a line and you pushed in front of me. He shouts back and pushes and say " f off you yellow ...... go back to Japan...." He then tries to go through the barrier, but it stops him and i just laugh and he turns round and pushes me again and shouts racist abuse at me. He eventually gets through and storms off, - no apology and not one other commuter who witnessed it or station staff approached me to say that was totally out of order what he did and said to you.
Whether they were in shock as I was or simply did not care; I could not tell you. I was shocked myself that a black guy, who I am sure has suffered overt racism in his life would just be racist against another race. But that was the point, different races can be just as racist against each other it is not just a simple case of whites being racist against black people and this has perpetuated itself in society and in turn the system, whether it be police or government.
2. At school I had just entered my lower 6th form and the head of 6th form had given a talk in front of all the sixth form. He had produced a sixth form manual for us all to read, which was handed out by our form tutors. But not enough copies were produced and so I approached him after the talk and asked him if he had a copy. He said yes, he had some in his room. I followed him to his room and he searched around and it turned out he did not have any copies left. I said to him don't worry I can come back another time when you do have copies and get one. He turned round to me and scolded me and said "if you keep having that kind of attitude you will turn out like pupil X.." Pupil X was another chinese boy, who was a year older than me who failed his lower sixth exams and had to repeat the year. Given this head of sixth form did not know me and used this specific other pupil to shame me for just saying i could come back another time to get a copy, shocked me. But at the time i did not think anything of it, but had I been more aware of this, and looking back should have reported him.
3. The final incident that sticks in my mind did involve the police. I was 18 at the time and had been drinking at a pub with a couple of friends in the local town centre. Other friends, who were with us, had left to go to house party. One of them, who wasn't drinking said she could pick us up later so we 3 could join them. The 3 of us got pretty hammered and our friend came to pick us up. The 3 of us climbed in the back of her car and she started driving us to the party. On the way though a big van full of police, who must have been watching us get in the car, pulled us over.
My friend who was driving got breathalysed, but for some reason she could not take it seriously and started laughing hysterically. So
The 3 of us in the back stayed where we were at the time. The problem was none of us had been wearing our seat belts at the time. But the one in the middle, was pretty smart and was probably more with his senses at the time, and stuffed the lap belt down the back without the officers noticing. Of course me and my friend who were sitting either side of him could not do the same with our seatbelts. I stayed pretty quiet throughout, but I do remember one of the officers telling us to get out of the car. I was probably still pretty much half cut and didn't react and the office turns round to my friend who was sat in the back and points to me and says "doesn't he understand English?" Like I couldn't because he saw the colour of my skin.
Anyway, the police turned the car inside out to look for drugs, because they thought my driver friend was high. When they couldn't find anything they gave me and my other friend who weren't wearing seatbelts £20 fines. Well, they had to get us on something.
