PRV Event Report

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Are you saying Im a racist? Workshops and Open Space Event 1

Are you sayingIm a racist?

Workshops and Open Space EventAt Resource for London

On Thursday 25 October 2012


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Introductions

5Are you saying Im a racist? Workshops and Open Space Event

Nuriiye Caglar opened the conference with her story.

Sioned Churchill, Director of Special Initiatives Trustfor London, welcomed delegates and outlined theprogramme for the conference.


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Workshop Sessions

These were led by LEAP and

Working With Men

Leap Confronting Conflicthas been runningthe action research programme, Identity, Prejudiceand Belonging (IPB), in Bexley and Greenwich since2006. During this time we have worked with youngpeople and adults in a range of environments,including Bexley Youth Service, a mainstreamsecondary school and alternative educationprovisions. Our IPB curriculum works to create safespaces for honest and challenging conversationaround the issues of identity and all forms of

prejudice. Our programme provides opportunitiesfor young people to develop their skills andbecome role models and peer-educators in theircommunities.

Since Working With Men(WWM) was foundedin 1988 there has been a steady growth in theprofessional interest and public concern about men,particularly the new challenges they face in the21st century and a perceived crisis in masculinity.The last decade has seen a dramatic expansion ofpolicy and practice initiatives seeking to addressthese new challenges. At WWM we have bothresponded to the rising interest and initiated newdevelopments in work with young men and boysby focusing on key issues such as: fatherhood andparenting, education and under-achievement, health(including sexual health and mental well-being),issues that impact BME (black and ethnic minority)men, employment/unemployment and training,violence and crime, and relationships with women.


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Workshop Sessions

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Journeys of Change: From Prejudice toAwareness (LEAP) Looking at the journeys ofchange that people make both in terms of dealingwith prejudice directed at themselves, and alsowhen dealing with developing awareness ofprejudice directed at others. It will also draw onthe latest social psychology research on theprocess of prejudice.

Dangerous Conversations in Safe Spaces(LEAP) What are the dangerous conversationsthat help to progress our understanding of identity

and prejudice in the UK?How can practitionerscreate a safe space for these conversations tooccur successfully?

Making Changes (Working with Men)Leading and managing planned discussions inthe context of Identity/diversity/race related issues.

Explore, Express, Experience (LEAP)Practical ways to engage young people inarticulating and appreciating their own identity.

Developing understanding of difference throughgroup facilitated experiences.

Delegates participated in 2 of 4 workshops:



Using the Open Space process delegates created

an agenda in relation to the question:

What is at the heart of racism andwhat can we do about it?18 topics were posted and discussion groups formed; what follows are the recommendationsthat emerged from discussion with apologies for any mistakes in transcription.

Open Space


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Open Space


People are reluctant to talk about racism because they

are afraid of saying the wrong thingRecommendations:

Conversation needs to be broader than race to find a way in to talk about identities/difference and usedifferent methods that are appropriate

Individual responsibility to discuss these issues within networks, but at a deeper level

Change from talking about racism to difference (often people cant see beyond the word)

How can we encourage young ethnic minorities to seetheir identity as a positive rather than a burden?

Recommendations:

Education

Taking responsibility to educate yourself

Identity work to be done early on in school

Parents to take on responsibility to educate.


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Open Space

The power of the internalisation of racist stereotypes

and continued racism (Black youth)Recommendations:

We should have more discussions that really go deep and forget about political correctness

Evaluate self and pass learning on to others

Is Rio Ferdinand right to not support the kick it outcampaign in football?

Recommendations:

Are fines effective? A percentage of all of money generated from fines should go to anti-racist campaigns

The non-wearing of the t-shirt detracts from the issue

More money is needed to be put into organisations like kick it out to promote anti-racism, communitycohesion, education etc.

Use prominent footballers in positions of authority to help influence young people.



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Open Space


What are the timescales for actions that reduce racism?

Recommendations:

Every anti-racism initiative has an impact assessment on its expected effect over time.

Funders consider impact over time in determining funding for proposals and plot this over time with otherinitiatives.

What do we do when racism is not the result of ignorancebut of bad experiences?

Recommendations:

Try to build a collection of positive examples of different cultures/races to counter negative examples/experiences/headlines and discuss these.

Acknowledge that the person has their opinion but require them to behave politely and respectfully, andwhen they express their opinion to do so calmly and in a way which is neither aggressive nor abusive.

Remind the person not to generalise from one/a few experiences to judge a whole population.

Acknowledge the pain caused by the bad experience.

Create opportunities for good experiences e.g. meeting people from other cultures, opportunity to

discuss views.

Explore that persons own identity (e.g. age, colour, clothing choice) and when people have beenprejudiced against part of their identity?

People tend to be in a bubble of their own group and environment

Need to take them out of the bubble, expose to new ideas and get them to emphasis with what it is like tobe treated differently due to e.g. hair colour, like the blue eyes, very brown eyes, high school exercise.


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Open Space


Should the English Defence League (EDL) March be banned?

Notes:

The erosion of civil liberties is a slippery slope

This raises the issue of freedom of speech

Institutional racism is a factor that should be considered mainstream politics keep these groups in operation

EDL News website

Twitter comments about Fabrice Muamba were racist and led to perpetrator being arrested in respect ofDiane Abbotts racist comments, no action raised.

Policing at demonstrations

Is there a right to be offensive?

Britain is civilised and open-mindedViolence vs non-violence

Boundaries of freedom of speech

Is restriction of marching in predominantly Muslim communities actually about freedom of speech at all

The EDLs strategy is to get a reaction

We should look at Northern Ireland re marching

The EDL radicalise young people towards violence

Recommendations:

The debate about freedom of speech and its limits are vital.

Discussion about policing of demonstrations right to peaceful assembly.

Keep our young people safe on demos.


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Open Space


Has Racism been marginalised?

Recommendations:

Process that helped young people to construct a flexible, self-defined identity.

Provide opportunities for young people to connect with the experiences and local histories and understandhow they connect directly with those histories.

How do we actively engage young people in talking aboutracism and the consequences of their racist attitudes without

them laughing and not taking it seriously (Tools and Techniques).

Recommendations:

Be aware of the meaning behind words and challenge them. E.g Paki actually means pure, making peopleaware of this.

Look at role models from different ethnicities- look at the positive from different communities.

Are you aware of what that word means? Have you considered? Inform people you cant say certain things.

Use tools, for example videos from you tube

Try and show how they can make others feel. Powerful but brief and very important.

Define- what is racism? Where has it come from?


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Open Space


Racism or Criticism?

Recommendations:

Build up of self-esteem- owning identities.

Should not feel threatened to challenge an idea

Educate: Know what to challenge and how to challenge.

Do we need to celebrate a white working class identity?If so, how?

Recommendations:

St Georges day is not the only celebration and not everyone celebrates it.

Empowering the community is a way forward.

Local people = local stories = celebrate local culture.

Being British is more than being white

Find issues that affect the local population, especially white working class and help education.


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Open Space


Is desire for identity a key driver for racism?

Recommendations:

Education in school as early as possible

Peer education is a priority

What we have learnt today e.g. the format should be the focus of school curriculum within GCSEs

Update the curriculum to encompass the key life skills to initiate positive change and responsibility intoyoung people creating GCSE equally recognised qualification

Open forums for young people in schools that link to change so the ability for young people to do this isrecognised.

Is racism economically driven? Is there an economic basis?Racism is based on a European economic structure builtover centuries. How do we shift the balance?

Recommendations:

People need to find out about each other.

There is a case of finance vs equality which needs to be sorted out.



Concluding Remarks

These are some of the comments made at the end of the meeting:

Racism can be a threat or it can be an opportunity to think about what we all have in common. The valuesthat people who are not racist have are the values we need to identify and see what it is we want. Its beengreat being here and talking with people who have similar minds. Its been good to have the conversationsbut how we widen out such conversations needs to be done carefully since it is such a sensitive topic.How are we going to talk about these things is key so we dont trip over the obstacles that are there whendiscussing racism? Thats something we all need to bear in mind.

What strikes me is the same as what struck me many years ago that the parents do not adequately teachtheir children about all aspects of racism.

Big thanks to Trust for London, these opportunities have to happen more often. I hope that today isthe beginning of something. Sometimes when you are working you can feel like youre alone and itsencouraging to see that there are many more people working on this issue.

Id like to say thanks to Trust for London as well, I thought the title was really interesting. I thought theevent that would talk through ideas in a way that havent been discussed today and I think this has reallyhappened today.

Ive really enjoyed today, its been really good for me as despite working with working with men, I dont getto take these courses. I particularly enjoyed the last conversation as Ive learnt a lot more on footballers andwhat theyve said than I have in the press!

I had no idea what to expect. Im so pleased that I came. I found it positive, I normally would shy away

from racist things and comments, because I find it very uncomfortable. But it was done so openly that I feltcomfortable talking.

I got a lot of encouragement from the open viewpoints, dialogue is needed for change so I am encouragedby the discussions and contributions today.

Conversations with people echo what has been said in the reports that have been produced by the Trust forLondons initiative. It doesnt need to stop here, conversations can translate into life. Were usually too afraidto challenge so from today hopefully we will be able to do this.

Two things: issues in Bournemouth are similar to ones in London. The day has given me the confidence thatdespite being a white middle class individual I can still raise the topic of racism with people.

Awareness works. Develop yourself because once youve done that you can put yourself in the position to

develop and change the views of others.

I learnt a lot, I feel like I dont have to be scared or worry when asking people about their cultures. If wedont ask we dont learn and this day has opened up how to do this.

Id like to thank the organisers for an interesting day. The structure of the day has created a non-judgemental atmosphere where people can speak freely. Its an interesting complex area to be discussing.

Its been a good day, good experiences and great transparencies. Want to thank and encourage theorganisers to keep up the good work.

Thank you all for having me here today. As a young person it feels like no one cares about our views andyou all have opened up the discussion for my age group so thank you.



Concluding Remarks

Thanks for everyone who organised it and all those who took part. Im impressed by all those who took partin the discussions today.

Today made me realise the gaps I have in my practice. And people in this room really made me see differentviews to fill in the gaps. The Resource for London is a great place to bring people to do such discussionsespecially after the refurbishment which makes it an inviting engaging and stimulating place.

Life always moves in circles, as an elder Ive been around for a long time. Seeing this kind of process comeback which I havent seen in a long time has made us realise the process of collectively and what thismeans. Its more than the clothes we wear and how we dress and simple daily things. Things will always bechanging and how we deal with change is the most important thing and today has helped us realise that.

One a personal level its been an amazing day, WE are the resource for London and if we can take what wehave learnt and take it to the outside world we can surely make it a better place for all.

Im not going to lie, when I heard about this first of all I thought there might be a couple of footballers here.I thought am I in the right place. Even though people think that racism has gone it has not gone, and eventhough people think we cannot change, we can. Its people like Nuriijye that make me want to work withyoung people. You have opened my eyes to new perspectives.

The main reason I am here today is to support Nuriijye to be here. I feel really inspired by having seen yourwork today. Just seeing her represent young people as really well equipped to have difficult conversationsreinforces my thinking that those are the skills that we need to be talking about racism. Thank you Trust forLondon for organising this.

She speaks for her age group in a good way. The question that you have asked are you a racist? and itsclear that no one in this room is.

Thanks for Trust for London for organising this. When I booked my space I thought it might give me somenew ideas and it has given me a lot of new ideas.

I just want to say Ive been really enthused by the number of individuals and organisations that are workingaround equality, because that is what its all about. Its all about taking forward this learning in practice.

I think for me Ive enjoyed today and I think that when we choose to face our fears around race you willreally find that you dont have any fear at all. If we open ourselves up to the world that we live then weunderstand how to build a world for the future.

Its encouraging to walk in and feel the warmth and buzz of this environment. It is important to feel the fearas racism depends on fear. This is not something we have to hide away from, I hope we continue to haveevents like these.

I think the whole day has shown that there are many different ways in which conversations can happen,whether in small groups or in games and activities.

Its been a great day. Quite a lot of the discussions weve had over many years. Theres been lots of differentgenerations here. I think something about a network, or an email link is something we need to look at. I thinkwe need to do things to help connect these different networks. Thank you to Annette.


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