Racism

Prejudice Related Bullying

Prejudice-related bullying hurts young people more than general bullying because it targets a person’s core values and things about themselves they cannot change. A one-off prejudice related incident may, therefore, have the same negative effects on a young person as many non-prejudice related incidents.  

Racist Bullying

Research from mainly white schools has shown that 25% of Black Minority and Ethnic pupils had experienced racist name calling within the last week . A third reported that hurtful name calling and verbal abuse either at school or on the school journey. More than 16% reported that this was persistent. (DfES 2002)

What is racism?

Racism is defined in the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report as: “Conduct or words which advantage or disadvantage people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. In its subtle form it is more damaging than in its overt form”

Racism can be expressed individually and consciously and also it can be through institutions that promote inequalities between races, for example:

• Physical assault because of colour ethnicity or nationality
• Use of derogatory names, insults and racist jokes
• Racist graffiti and other written racist material
• Provocative behaviour such as wearing racist badges or insignia
• Bringing racist materials into schools
• Verbal abuse and threats
• Incitement of others to recruit to racist organisations and groups
• Ridicule of an individual for cultural difference e.g. food, music, religion, dress etc
• Refusal to co-operate with other people because of their colour, ethnic origin, or nationality
• Written derogatory remarks

Any of the above forms of racial harassment, or any other discrimination by employers in connection with work placements or work experience.
 
What is a racist incident?
All schools in the local authority should be working with the definition of racist incidents as suggested by recommendation 12 of the Macpherson report (Stephen Lawrence Inquiry) February 1999. This states that a racist incident is ’any incident that is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other’. This means that a person observing an incident can perceive it to be racist, even if they are not directly involved. For example if a teacher overhears a racist joke in the classroom, that teacher can deem that joke to be racist even if the participants do not agree. 

This definition also includes incidents where there appears to be no direct victim, so racist graffiti or other written materials. 

What is racist bullying?
“A range of hurtful behaviour, both physical and psychological, that makes a person feel unwelcome, marginalised, excluded, powerless or worthless because of their colour, ethnicity, culture, faith, community , national origin or national status” (DfES 2006a: 33) 

In what ways is racist bullying different?

Research shows that in areas with small Black and Minority Ethnic populations (B&ME) people tend to be more isolated, marginalised and threatened by racial harassment (DETR 2000:3) 

• Racial prejudices often share a long history related to deeply felt injustices, discrimination, criminal offence and to physical attack and murder. This means that sometimes people who are subject to racial attacks are not experiencing this prejudice as a one-off incident, but are relating it to much deeper feelings of historical discrimination.
• Racist bullying is criminal offence
• Racist words and behaviour are experienced as attacks on the values central to a person’s identity and often they hurt more deeply as well as more widely. It may be that the child has internalised racism or the negative cultural stereotypes in a way that makes her/him feel that s/he has been abused because of her colour/religion etc
• It may be experienced as part of a general pattern of racist hostility. Children who are racially bullied in school may also experience a wider feeling of isolation in their local environment and community. This is particularly the case with young people who are in groups which are often negatively portrayed in the media such as migrant workers or asylum seekers.
• Recent political and social issues have been a factor in bullying and harassment particularly felt amongst the Muslim religious community and those of Middle Eastern or Asian heritage in the post-9/11 climate.
• Individual(s) responsible for racist behaviour may feel that they are representing the views of their community or peers. This is why it must always be challenged and not ignored or be made light of.
• There is a fear that when they do report incidents they won’t be believed or it won’t be taken seriously. Moreover there is a very real fear or apprehension that those responsible are representing the views of the wider community.