We’re not responsible for actions of the past
HEARING cringe-making stories from a woman who lectures on IT speaking on the radio recently, I was reminded of other examples of prejudice. The radio speaker had a very English sounding name. On arrival at the venue for her lecture she was refused entry because the lecturer was not there yet. She had to explain several times that she was the lecturer. She was not believed, apparently, because the doorkeeper expected a white woman to match the English name.
I belong to Motorcycle Action Group, a political lobbying organisation which fights prejudice against riders. In the run-up to General Elections, we distribute leaflets with the headline ‘Bikers are voters’, with a picture of several people dressed in biking clothes and astride their bike. On the reverse are shown the same people, but dressed in working clothes – including a theatre nurse, an intensive care nurse, a police officer and other professionals.
A few years ago I visited Cardiff Castle, where a guide translated an inscription written in both Latin and ancient Greek. A fellow tourist, judging by his clothes a motorcyclist, was obviously amused. He explained that the guide had translated correctly, but had attached them to the opposite language. I admit I did not expect a rider to be fluent in ancient languages, so I got into conversation with him and asked. He explained he lectured in both languages at a university.
My question was not offensive to him, where much of racial prejudice is deeply offensive, I can understand people subjected to prejudice as in my first paragraph, however
I do feel that such things would improve more quickly if attention was drawn to the great strides made by the media and government in combating prejudice.
For example, look at the racial balance on Strictly Come Dancing. Several of the professional dancers, judges, and competitors are now described as ‘black,’ as are various other news readers and presenters.
Football has many black players, as does athletics and other sports. Not to mention NHS staff at high levels. Dragging up that white men traded in slaves 400 years ago, or even more recently, only ferments ill feeling. No one of present generations is responsible for the actions of British slave traders.
Mike Baker
St Austell