Dear Neil,
I think discussing 'diversity' /equality inevitably and necessarily leads to
discussing racism (and other discriminatory practices and attitudes like
antisemitism and Islamophobia). So equality and diversity being off the
agenda is really equivalent to racism being off the agenda. I think the
'Obama effect' ('post-race' theory) may have something to do with this but
I think there are other forces in action. It is essential at this time of
social-political instability that we talk about all this (as 'institutional
racism' perhaps) at conferences and meetings and in publications, so it's
out in the open. Under the carpet approach, hoping it will go away is
always counter-productive. That means I think white and non-white ('people
of colour' / BME) of good will (and there are many in the UK) talking
together is essential. In my view, potentially racist attitudes and
behaviours are there is all of us and in our systems (like education and
mental health) and it our responsibility to keep them at bay as much as
possible.
Suman
From: Health of minority ethnic communities in the UK
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sanyal, Neil
Sent: 21 June 2017 13:07
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Race is off the agenda with a vengence
I was aware that Equality and Diversity were "off the agenda" since 2010 but
wasn't aware that race and racism were also off the agenda too. I must say
that it doesn't come up much in any frequent discourse in our Adult Social
Services Department here. That doesn't mean everyone has now become racist
again though.
Neil
Neil Sanyal
Social Worker/AMHP
Adult Mental Health New Forest Substance Misuese Social Care Team
Lymington Area Office
Lymington
Hampshire
SO41 9YB
Tel: 01590 625120
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From: Health of minority ethnic communities in the UK
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of SumanFernando2
Sent: 21 June 2017 13:03
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Race is off the agenda with a vengence
Dear All,
Interesting link to Kwame McKenzie's activity in Toronto. (Kwame was
well-known psychiatrist in UK latterly active in an anti-racist stance
before he emigrated to Canada)
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/06/20/11th-hour-motion-says-racism-mus
t-be-discussed-at-andrew-loku-inquest.html
It seems that the tendency to not talk about 'race' and racism evident I
think in UK seems to be evident in Toronto too! I have noted this
tendency at meetings and conferences in UK over the past ten years or
so-just at a time when racism is increasing in all avenues of our
multicultural society including mental health.
For those who do not know much about Toronto, Across Boundaries was
established about 20 years ago openly anti-racist but has had to pull back
on its anti-racism recently.
I have just returned from a meeting at OISE (University of Toronto) where
this malady (don't mention 'race' disease) was obvious and commented upon.
Have others on this list noticed it too?
Suman
Suman Fernando
WEBSITE: http://www.sumanfernando.com
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