Racist attitudes and behaviour have probably been with us since the earliest interactions of humans from different ethnic backgrounds. Some psychologists believe that racism is a way of defining our social group as different from others. However, even though it may be partly understandable, those in power should take steps to ensure that nobody is treated differently because of their ethnicity or race. Our political leaders are uniquely placed to intervene.
The first area which governments need to target is education. All youngsters- from pre-school infants attending nurseries to undergraduates at institutions of higher education- should be taught to identify, challenge and oppose racial prejudice and aggression wherever they see it. Youngsters need to learn how it feels to be racially abused and they must be given the opportunity to embrace difference and diversity rather than feeling threatened by it. The Minister of Education can ensure that this happens.
In conjunction with this approach, the powers-that-be must confront the media. Websites, newspapers and TV programmes sometimes contain racist stereotypes and negative images of those from ethnic minorities or individuals with different skin colour. Politicians should appoint knowledgeable specialists to monitor and check media outlets. Those in charge of the press and TV channels need to be made aware that racist opinions or images will not be tolerated.
The third and final part of a national strategy should be related to law-enforcement. Stronger legislation should be brought in to punish anyone guilty of racist abuse or violence. All members of the public should realise that we live in a society where this kind of behaviour is unacceptable and will lead to a custodial sentence.
Of course, individuals have a role in stamping out racism. We must stand up to racists. However, political leaders have by far the greatest power to rid our society of this hateful and vile abuse.
Racist
attitudes and
behaviour
have
probably
been with us since the earliest interactions of humans from
different
ethnic backgrounds.
Some
psychologists believe that racism is a way of defining our social group as
different
from others.
However
,
even though
it may be partly understandable, those in power should take steps to ensure that nobody
is treated
differently
because
of their ethnicity or race. Our political leaders are
uniquely
placed to intervene.
The
first
area which
governments
need to target is education. All youngsters- from
pre-school
infants attending nurseries to undergraduates at institutions of higher education- should
be taught
to identify, challenge and oppose racial prejudice and aggression wherever they
see
it. Youngsters need to learn how it feels to be
racially
abused and
they
must
be
given
the opportunity to embrace difference and diversity
rather
than feeling threatened by it. The Minister of Education can ensure that this happens.
In conjunction with this approach, the powers-that-be
must
confront the media. Websites, newspapers and TV
programmes
sometimes
contain
racist
stereotypes and
negative
images of those from ethnic minorities or individuals with
different
skin
colour
. Politicians should appoint knowledgeable specialists to monitor and
check
media outlets. Those in charge of the press and TV channels need to
be made
aware that
racist
opinions or images will not
be tolerated
.
The third and final part of a national strategy should
be related
to law-enforcement. Stronger legislation should
be brought
in to punish anyone guilty of
racist
abuse or violence. All members of the public should
realise
that we
live
in a society where this kind of
behaviour
is unacceptable and will lead to a custodial sentence.
Of course
, individuals have a role in stamping out racism. We
must
stand up to
racists
.
However
, political leaders have by far the greatest power to rid our society of this hateful and vile abuse.