The problem is, racism now is becoming like feminism, which has moved to a Patriarchal concept of oppressed vs oppressor. An existential threat created by our own society, basically systemic. That's quite an over whelming concept for people to grasp.
It's also quite sinister as it renders everyone either a racist oppressor or helpless victim. Both assumptions are ludicrous and offensive.
These posts, just a few short lines, show how complex the issue has become.
*Long post - this just so came out!*
I'm a white guy (middle aged, middle of the road, nothing special about me) and I feel that I have no right taking about racism as I don't think I have experienced it. I worry that talking about it may end with me being perceived as a racist.
Or if I have, not in the same way as some other people who shout and protest about and against racism.
I do believe we have racism n this country. I don't believe it is down to the government (we have BAME MPs). There is no forced segregation (shops no longer allowed to have Whites Only signs and areas), no laws in place which apply or do not apply to any race, colour, religion presumed or otherwise, laws set up to prosecute with harsher sentences those who commit crimes which are motivated or aggregated by the victims perceived race/religion.
Positive discrimination is alive and well although personally I think that is a terrible thing.
The more I think about it, I think I have been a victim of racism, probably hundreds if not thousands of times.
As a white man working as a police officer in East London for 17 years.
In fact the more I think about it, I pretty much expect the BAME people I meet to distrust me and treat me with suspicion because I am a WHITE cop.
This is because I've been told so many times that I wouldn't know or understand because I'm white.
That I wouldn't help someone because I'm white or because they are BAME, which equates to the same thing). I've been told that I'm not trusted because of it. I've been told that I don't care because "they" the victim are not white or because the suspect was white.
It did used to bother me, but eventually I learned that the problem isn't with me, it's them with the predujice. The only reason I care about the colour of someone's skin is because it can help me with descriptions, with identifying someone.
I just want to do the best I can and if I can change someone's mind by being professional and showing that my belief is that at the centre of every crime, is a human being who needs my help, then brilliant.
I'm also always hopeful that the people I speak with who are BAME will not see the colour of my skin as a obstruction and we can get along and maybe even help each other.
Wow, never realised all this! Still don't believe there is any point in pointing this out to the next person who calls me a racist and tells me I don't understand their view point because I'm white...