A tweet from @DrNickTwit at the @RCPCHtweets #RCPCH2019 conference about a talk on racial inequality opened some conversations today. I could not be happier that people are talking about it. I thought I’d write down some of my thoughts on racism in the U.K. in 2019.

THREAD

#Racism is better than it used to be, isn’t it? It’s not gone, but Asians and black people aren’t beaten up in the streets any more. We’re a multi-cultural, inclusive, welcoming society now. You see people of all colours and religions everywhere.

It’s better now, isn’t it? 1/

Perhaps all isn’t as it’s presented. Yes, society knows racism is bad. We shouldn’t verbally/physically assault people because of their religion or ethnicity. Societal pressure has made it taboo to openly hold racist views, for risk of being thrown together with the KKK/Nazis. 2/

Because we don’t see it openly, perhaps it’s easy to believe that things are better. Seeing is believing, right? On some level, we seem to not want to talk about it and hope societal progress will make it go away. 3/

Let me tell you, there is a problem. Home Office statistics from 2011-2018 show a steady increase reported hate crimes, with well over half being within the category of race or religion. Each has a spike after major events (EU ref, terror attacks, wars) 4/

In 2017-18 alone, nearly 80,000 hate crimes in the category of race or religion were reported. A further 17,000+ against members of the LGBT+ community, and over 7,000 against disabled people, just for being who they are.

There will be unreported crimes in addition. 5/

“But Police statistics just show more people reporting, right? It doesn’t mean the ACTUAL number is up. It must be less than we had before”

I would ask what the acceptable number of hate crimes is. I’ll let you answer that for yourself. 6/

A recent spate of Nazi graffiti in my local area led to @kushaldo and I meeting with our MP (will remain unnamed). His response (paraphrased, not direct quote): 7/

“Our town has always had a better culture than some areas of the U.K. I’ve never seen or heard anyone being directly racist around me. If race relations or hate crime starts to become a trend, I think we need to do something about it.” 8/

The question is, what do we do? I asked my MP that, but didn’t get a tangible answer. Just the answer society currently demands: more education, more integration, police to clamp down. 9/

A trend...in the last few years alone, I’ve been advised “not to grow one of those horrible Muslim beards” by a colleague. I’ve sold and moved home because I didn’t feel safe. I’ve had wrappers for pork products fixed under my car windscreen wipers. 10/

As a child, I remember my brother and I being verbally abused in the school playground and the park. We rose above it. We worked hard and got on with it. Things seemed to get better. In the last few years, in my view at least, we’ve gone backwards 11/

Football terraces at home and in Europe have, in some places, seen a return of monkey chants, banana throwing and anti-Asian chants. Black footballers (Raheem Sterling springs to mind) seem to be treated differently than white by the media. 12/

U.K. Health outcomes, educational success and economic prosperity show significant differences between those of black and minority ethnic origin and white British people. 13/

Postgraduate medical exams continue to show a consistent difference in pass rates when statistics are broken down by ethnicity. 14/

The seat next to me on the train is frequently left empty. 15/

So please forgive me if I don’t nod enthusiastically when I’m told “I don’t think racism is such a problem - I’ve never seen or heard of it in person.” 16/

Addressing racism as a problem is a tough nut to crack. My question to my MP was consciously difficult, not because I wanted to trip him up, but because I want to know what someone with influence at a Govt level can suggest as a first step.

He didn’t answer my question. 17/

“More education, more integration and police clamp downs” sounds great. But we all know police resources are limited. And in any case, I’d rather preventative rather than reactionary change. 18/

Education and integration, yes. But what does that mean in a tangible sense?

Lessons? Exams? Advert campaigns? At the moment, it’s an easy buzz word. 19/

The problems I’ve described in football, my neighbourhood and even in the NHS aren’t separate. They are the fever caused by the racist infection. As a society we need to think about how to treat that infection. 20/

It’s not easy for someone like you and me to change the whole of society in one fell swoop. So let’s start with a conversation. Let’s talk about race. Let’s talk about our differences and similarities. 21/

Let’s talk about the problems. Bring them into the open. Talk about what makes you feel uncomfortable and why. Without that, racism remains taboo. And while race remains taboo, we won’t move forward.

#LetsTalkAboutRacism

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