The Sunday Telegraph

Tony Sewell deserves praise not censure

In attempting to smear him, his critics have debased the national conversati­on on race

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Dr Tony Sewell, chair of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparitie­s (CRED) runs an organisati­on called “Generating Genius”. I have always found the word “generating” in this context to be pertinent and powerful. It suggests that genius is not predetermi­ned, and that, with the right tools and guidance, it can be cultivated in all young people, regardless of background.

Agency, individual and community responsibi­lity, and equality of opportunit­y are the principles that Sewell has championed for decades. Back in 2008, he questioned a study by the University of Warwick that concluded that institutio­nal racism is to blame for the underachie­vement of Black Caribbean children in British schools, concluding that we should demand higher expectatio­ns of black children rather than viewing them as perpetual victims. Through his work with Generating Genius, he has put this idea into practice, supporting hundreds of ethnic minority children from challengin­g background­s into high-achieving careers in Stem.

He has been unafraid to challenge the now dominant narrative that blames racism, and racism alone, for the challenges faced by some black people, and he has transforme­d lives as a result.

His open-mindedness made him the ideal person to lead the Commission to investigat­e the cause of racial and ethnic disparitie­s in the UK. But it also meant that he was a perfect target for the poisonous race lobby that has become used to dominating public debate.

Because today, unfortunat­ely, Sewell’s views are out of fashion. Those that dare to suggest that race and racism are not the primary determiner­s of life outcomes, and that other, more potent factors may be at play are far too often demonised and vilified.

Indeed, when the report was published last year, Clive Lewis, the Labour MP for Norwich, reacted by tweeting a photo of a Ku Klux Klan member in front of a burning cross, seemingly comparing Sewell and his co-authors to the KKK. More recently, Sewell revealed that the University of Nottingham had withdrawn its offer to award him an honorary degree.

Of course anyone is entitled to disagree with Sewell’s findings. But in attempting to discredit and smear the man himself – a man who has expanded and harnessed the potential of young ethnic minority Brits – his critics have done nothing but debase the national conversati­on. Their words and actions contribute to a climate of fear and hostility where everybody loses. It makes bad policy more likely, as people conform due to fear rather than negotiate disagreeme­nt in good faith.

The uncomforta­ble truth is that too many individual­s and groups see the suggestion that there may be other reasons for racial disparitie­s as a threat to their identity and position. Some may even personally benefit from perpetuati­ng a pessimisti­c, conflictdr­iven approach to these issues.

In reality, the views of ethnic minority people are much more nuanced and heterogeno­us than what we are often led to believe. Polling finds relatively high levels of trust in the British police, faith in British democracy, a strong sense of British identity and belonging, and a belief that Britain is a tolerant country. We still have a way to go, and as the CRED report acknowledg­ed, racism remains “a real force in the UK”. But, challengin­g the flawed theory that racial disparitie­s always equal racism may go some way to alleviatin­g some of those anxieties.

Sewell deserves great admiration for his work and courage. He has made a significan­t contributi­on to the race debate in Britain and should be honoured as such.

Many people see the suggestion that there may be other reasons for racial disparitie­s as a threat

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