Prince Harry is right on unconscious bias

Tackling issue of ingrained racism in society will take more than protests, laws and toppling statues

Most people are not racist. The majority would surely abhor all forms of discrimination based on the colour of your skin or where you were born.

We may support Black Lives Matter protests and back calls for new legislation to ensure equality and deliver harsher punishment to offenders.

We may confidently tell ourselves that we are welcoming and inclusive as we condemn all forms of racism, determined to call it out wherever it rears its ugly head.

But is that enough?

Prince Harry brought the issue of “unconscious” racial bias firmly into focus yesterday when he told how it took him many years and the experience of living with his wife to understand how his privileged upbringing shielded him from the reality.

Only by spending time in his wife’s shoes did he finally grasp the problem.

"No one's pointing the fingers,” he said, in a video discussion with the Black Lives Matter activist Patrick Hutchinson.

“You can't really point fingers, especially when it comes to unconscious bias. But once you realise or you feel a little bit uncomfortable, then the onus is on you to go out and educate yourself because ignorance is no longer an excuse.”

The prince has of course never been far from controversy in recent years but on this he is not only absolutely right, but speaking from a position of experience.

Sure, not many will have had such a privileged upbringing but such unconscious bias undoubtedly exists throughout society, and recognising that is crucial.

Tackling the issue, however, is less straightforward. It will take more than removing a few statues, passing new legislation or renaming a university building.

It begins – and continues – with education and requires us all to challenge ourselves and our actions.

Prince Harry should be praised for speaking out in this way. The more high-profile individuals who bring this to the fore, the greater the chance we all take a minute to stop and think. In short we need to bring something which is unconscious into the public consciousness, to have any hope effecting real and lasting change.