COULD this be a “seminal moment” (again) following the racism writ large for the world to see, currently aimed at black footballers in England?
I’m not attempting to claim that Scotland is free from the scourge of racism – look around. The everyday, the unreported, from women, men and children, in social settings, in schools, at work, on public transport, where not? Just quietly go ask and listen. I’m asked time and time again, normally when there’s a headline. Having answered, too frequently it ends with me being told “it must be getting better, it must be changing” I’m never too sure if that’s meant to be some comfort for me, or self-reassurance for the questioner. So, what’s better’? And how long to “change”?
READ MORE: PMQs: Ian Blackford calls out Boris Johnson over past racism
From the time of Yvonne Ruddock’s 16th birthday party in Deptford in January 1981, to Stephen Lawrence to Sheku Ahmed Tejan Bayoh, from adults and children failed in the educational sector, social services regimes, housing, throughout it all the resilience of BME communities never diminished to gain justice denied, recognition and the right to be. Through the injustices, the time lag from one inquiry to the next, the regular rephrasing of “lessons will be learnt”, the resolve was steadfast.
Yes, thank goodness there has been the emergence of allies, making connections, sharing commonalities, realising that divide and conquer was an old tool redeployed, pitting one against the other: demonising race, class, poverty into the identifiable “other”.
I do believe that now we are witnessing the re-emergence of the nasty party, with the backing of a complicit voting public providing them with their majority governing status. The cancellation of a manifesto promise on the foreign aid budget is just the latest manifestation –dare I say their latest form of “gesture politics”. “Theirs”, so that’s OK, appealing to inward focussing me-firsts. When you can get away, unchecked, with language including watermelon smiles, letter boxes, piccaninny, what’s breaking a manifesto pledge alongside the belief that democracy could be cancelled on a whim? Remember that? It’s called proroguing parliament.
READ MORE: PMQs: Boris Johnson stops just short of banning himself from the football
Let’s also remember the fish rots from the head. So when leaders with the full powers of the state and its structures create double standards, reinforcing a them-and-us, “do as we tell you, not as we do”, is it any wonder that there are easy targets for bigots? When the PM calls in the heads of social media platforms first, before quietly visiting or even calling the football team at their hotel immediately after the final, knowing the abuse would follow as night follows day, what does it tell us apart from attempts at deflecting blame from a lack of leadership to social media?
Yes, the nasties are back in full view. So much so that Natalie Elphicke MP felt safe enough to tweet as she did, criticising the stoic, social caring, giving back work of Rashford. I wonder what she’ll say to Gates and co should they follow through and fill the gaps to developing countries and their struggling populations. But when the Home Secretary can wilfully misinterpret BLM and sneer at “gesture politics” then rotting fish and dog-whistling comes together. What of the gesture politics of clapping the NHS then awarding them 1%? Or chumocracy politics: tendering made easy. Or ennobling politics, fill the party coffers, and the trough is yours.
Many agree with our need to quit the Union, and have no truck with the back to the future discussions of federalism. But we’ve still to convince the majority here that our future lies out with a Union that is rotting from the head down. (OK, that might not be the best conversational opening). Whilst the majority here vote out the Tories and their ideological choices, time and time again, might we draw on the resolve of BME peoples from their colonial times and experiences as nations and subjects, to the here and now facing the systemic racism that blights all of society? Can we strengthen our ties across communities? Can we further our alliances across Scotland and beyond? Surely we must, and to help secure that better future, reinforcing the fight against racism is no empty gesture.
Selma Rahman
Edinburgh
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here