The equalities minister Bridget Phillipson has publicly stated that racism (and sexism) have “become normalised in the UK”. It will cost her votes. Today, mainstream politicians ignore this attestable truth or avoid it by swerving to “forgotten” and “left behind” white communities, thus pitting two social injustices against each other and diminishing the seriousness of both.
I commend the minister. But I would challenge the idea of normalised racism. Commonwealth immigrants who came here in the 70s and 80s say that racism is worse than it has ever been. Younger people of colour feel that too. The TUC, Institute of Race Relations (IRR) and Amnesty offer hard evidence for these subjective claims – a “shocking” increase has been noticed in workplace racism, say the TUC, while both the IRR and Amnesty warn of an “emergency”.
The 60s were terrifying for incomers. People put up notices disbarring “blacks, Irish and dogs” from premises and public spaces. Enoch Powell made his race hate speeches and became a hero. But he was sacked from the Tory shadow Cabinet, and laws were passed to give migrants equal rights. Far-right groups in the 70s and 80s terrorised immigrants and their children. Bigots in high places protected them. But cross-racial, anti-racist movements were a powerful counterforce. (Where are they now?)
After the racist murder of the black teenager Stephen Lawrence, police failures and the pain and courage of his parents, decency was awakened in millions of Brits. Life got better, not wholly, but palpably. Britons intermarried, the mixed-race population grew rapidly.
This Monday I was on the Jeremy Vine phone-in show, debating Reform’s proposed policy of putting non-British-born citizens at the back of the social housing queue. I asked if I, who’d been working for 51 years was one of the underserving. No callers engaged. Most vented about foreigners coming in and taking all the council houses. Not true – nearly 90 per cent of new social lettings go to UK nationals. But racism spurns facts.
In our times, white supremacy and xenophobia are being funded by big money, from tech billionaires to shadowy, neo-fascist operators. Elon Musk, raised a privileged boy in Apartheid South Africa, backs Tommy Robinson’s anti-Muslim, pro-“white natives” antics.
Peter Thiel, the influential co-founder of PayPal and Palantir, has moved, writes Vanity Fair journalist James Pogue, “from being a hyper-libertarian to supporting nationalists and populists”. The complex journey is detailed in The Contrarian, by Thiel’s biographer, Max Chafkin.
We didn’t have social media back then. Now, it is the most potent force in our national consciousness. And rife with racism and nativism. Most of the traditional media and the political class reinforce these trends. That’s how neo-fascism appears and takes over.
Muslims are one of the most reviled groups (and are the biggest target of religious hate crime in Britain). Disparaging them (or worse) an easy route to political influence and commercial gain. The hideous demonisation of all asylum seekers is the other. Sikh, Hindu, black British Christian and Muslim individuals are joining in with the mass hatred. They’re too obtuse to realise that racism, when aroused, will not spare them. Yes I mean you Kemi Badenoch, and you Zia Yusuf, and you Nadhim Zahawi, and others in your unholy club.
My big fear is that Muslims don’t get the extreme danger we are in, and are instead becoming more entrenched in old customs and behaviours. We need to open up debates, which hitherto have been sporadic and lacking urgency. Or dominated by unelected religious leaders, all men.
This week, on the Tube, a man dressed in a Muslim gown and cap told me I was doing good journalism for “the community”. I smiled and told him I write for the world. He then said: “But sister, as a Muslim, you should cover your hair.” His daughter, aged around eight, was fully covered and wore a headscarf. I curtly replied: “You don’t tell me what I wear. And Islam does not say you cover up innocent girls.” He backed off and looked stunned.
Veils have become symbols of cultural and religious introversion. Saudi Arabian money has been used to spread conservative Islam. Earlier female settlers from Pakistan and Bangladesh wore light scarves, bright trousers and tops. I will understandably be accused of denying Muslims rights and choices. We have little evidence to show these are free choices. Yet, no debates and dissent are tolerated.
In these perilous times, we must open up and adapt or perish.
Young Muslims are increasingly entering higher education and the job market – excellent news. We have a Muslim mayor in London and many MPs, talented artists too. They need to be talking about the dangers we face and changes in behaviour for us to integrate more deeply into multiracial Britain. What have the mosques said about grooming gangs? Or marriages arranged by families without the proper consent of the couple? I write this because I care.
Muslims need to become vigilant. Other minorities too must fight the prejudices and acknowledge that any bad we do will rebound on the rest. I welcome the Home Office leaflet advising asylum seekers about criminal behaviours. Fellow activists will accuse me of encouraging racists for whom a crime by a black man is immeasurably worse than the same crime committed by a white Brit. But with the rise of far-right parties and dark clouds on the horizon, priorities have changed. For now. We must survive.