Good people torn apart for revealing a complex truth
THIS last week has shown how difficult it is to have a nuanced discussion on race issues in the UK, especially when you belong to an ethnic minority. The Commission for Race and Ethnic Disparities was set up last year following the emotional outpouring of Black Lives Matter and evidence that Covid-19 was having a disproportionate impact on minority groups. It was established to understand the root causes of these inequalities and to find solutions.
Its members represent a crosssection of people, all but one from an African, Asian or Caribbean background. They are not a part of the race-relations industry, but come from all walks of life and include a space scientist, a police officer and a teacher as well as Dr Tony Sewell, an educationist who runs a charity helping young black people into science and maths careers.
They are united in their desire to make this country a better place for everyone, whether they are black, brown or white. And their mandate was to produce recommendations based on data and evidence, not just personal opinion.
The way they have been treated since the report’s publication has gone well beyond the boundaries of robust debate, however. And this clearly highlights one of the reasons why conversations on race have become so toxic. The fact is that some people have made it their mission to punish any member of an ethnic minority who steps out of line and dares to give an alternative view. This creates a chilling effect.
I know that many black and brown people disagree with the usual suspects who dominate the discussion. Yet they say nothing because the fear of being maligned is too great. In the past few days, the Commissioners have faced death threats, harassment at their places of work and an unbelievable amount of abuse on social media.
Their staff and colleagues have been vilified. Dr Priyamvada Gopal, a well-known Cambridge academic, questioned whether Dr Sewell had a PhD and compared him to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels. Labour MP Clive Lewis brandished an image of a white hood and compared Dr Sewell – a black Caribbean man – to a member of the Ku Klux Klan. To say this is grossly offensive is an understatement.
Dr Sewell’s request that teachings of slavery in the Caribbean should also recognise that black people preserved their humanity and triumphed over adversity has been distorted to suggest he was claiming they enjoyed their subjugation.
The report does not deny racism. In fact, it acknowledges that overt racism persists in the UK – but states that this is different from institutional racism. The report’s authors explain how they came to these conclusions and propose solutions to the disparities they have identified. Theirs is not a controversial view. Yet there is now a concerted attempt to claim that anyone who holds this view is a racist or an apologist for racism.
And, partly as a result, the report’s 258 pages, its findings and recommendations have barely been discussed. Genuine solutions that could help heal divisions in society have been ignored. What message are we sending people who would like to enter public life?
The commissioners do not have the support of any political party. They are accomplished people who came together in public service but now are paying a price for giving an honest opinion. They deserve a fair hearing.
The Sewell Commission was an opportunity to move away from discussions of ‘culture wars’ towards a balanced, informed discussion about race and opportunity in the United Kingdom. I know most people in this country want that, too. I would encourage them to read the report and come to their own conclusions.
They have faced death threats, harassment and abuse