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South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu walked by a construction site on a temporary sidewalk the width of one person. A white man appeared at the other end, recognized Tutu, and said, "I don't make way for gorillas." At which Tutu stepped aside, made a deep sweeping gesture, and said, "Ah, yes, but I do."
A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything. Malcolm X
Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason."
Abraham J Heschel (Jewish Theologian and Philospher)
Note: 21 March: International Day for Eliminating Race Discrimination
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| History of Racism |
The word 'race' once meant simply 'family'. Later, it was used more loosely for national groups such as a French or German race. In the nineteenth century, scientists took it over to describe the 'races of Man': groups defined by their physical differences from one another, such as skin colour, hair type, body shape and so on.
Numerous theories were developed about these different races, but there was no unanimity about what the races were. Some scientists put all Europeans together into a category, others divided them into 'Nordic', 'Alpine' and 'Mediterranean' races, or 'Teutonic' and 'Latin' races, or called all white people 'Caucasian'. Each race was supposed to have a set of moral and intellectual qualities linked to physique. The theorists, all north Europeans, were agreed on the superiority of north Europeans in intelligence and morality. All regarded 'race' as an important determinant of individual character
These theories have long been discredited as unscientific and hopelessly wrong; even though there is obviously a spectrum of variation in human physical characteristics of human beings, the degree of variation among individuals sharing common geographic origins as wide as the variation between individuals with different origins. However, the influence of racial theories on politics, popular fiction and journalism lasted well into the twentieth century. They dominated South Africa's apartheid policies until 1990, as well as the racial segregation of the southern states of the USA.
They shaped United States immigration policies up to the 1960s, with national quotas set to encourage British, Irish and German entry and to discourage Indians and Chinese. They were at the root of British colonialism up to the Second World War, with preferential treatment and self-government for the 'white' Dominions; and after that war they underlay British governments' immigration policies. The essential feature was that 'races' were placed in order, from superior to inferior. The ordering varied, and the characteristics assigned to each race varied, but broadly speaking Europeans and their descendants in other countries came out top; 'Orientals' such as Indians, Chinese and Japanese were in the middle; and Africans and their descendants were at the bottom of the heap.
The nineteenth-century scientists whose theories led to such beliefs were not eccentrics but highly respected intellectuals and leading thinkers. They had influence in high places, but also fed popular prejudices. Racial discrimination was a result.
Source CRE. |
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Still happening in 2008/2009....... |
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While filming, Prince Harry zoomed in on the face of an Asian cadet and said: "Ah, our little Paki friend... Ahmed."
Ahmed is thought to be Ahmed Raza Khan, a Pakistani who won the award for the best overseas cadet at Sandhurst Military College.
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Carol Thatcher referred to a professional tennis player as a golliwog.
"I'm not going to tell you how many golliwogs we sell because I don't want to cause offence," says Joan Bland, who runs a well-known teddy shop, Asquiths, in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. "I will say that the word 'golly' simply means 'doll', and that the golliwog's duty is to spread love and happiness. And they do spread love and happiness. Masses of people buy them and collect them, people of all races. We have no complaints, everyone likes gollies. All it is, is a toy."
David Pilgrim who studied the toy's history says "The golliwog was created during a racist era. He originated from a children's book and was drawn as a caricature of a minstrel, itself a demeaning image of blacks. There is racial stereotyping of black people in Upton's original books, and certainly later golliwogs often reflected negative beliefs about black people - thieves, miscreants, incompetents. Finally, there is little doubt that the words associated with golliwog - golli, wog, and golliwog itself - are often used as racial slurs"
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Amy Winehouse has hit back at claims that she is racist after allegedly being caught on camera singing offensive football chants.
Amy was filmed along with another woman singing racist football chants to the tune of children's song 'Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes' egged on by her husband Blake Fielder-Civil.
The pair replaced the words with 'B*****, P****, g**** and n***' followed by: 'And deaf and dumb and blind and gay' in the video.
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A WHITE police officer accused of making a racist slur about a black Thurrock teenager who drowned off of Grays beach is being investigated.
PC Phil Truss, 48, is alleged to have made the shocking remark at Grays police station while officers were looking into the death of Adunayo Shittu, 18, in July last year.
In front of up to half a dozen other officers, the uniformed constable is alleged to have said someone should have thrown the victim "a rope of bananas" to save him in the Thames.
Several colleagues at the station, complained to their superiors and PC Truss was suspended on full pay.
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French former film star Brigitte Bardot has gone on trial for insulting Muslims.
It is the fifth time she has faced the charge of "inciting racial hatred" over her controversial remarks about Islam and its followers.Bardot has previously said France is being invaded by sheep-slaughtering Muslims and published a book attacking gays, immigrants and the unemployed, in which she also lamented the "Islamisation of France".
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Various Sources
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| Interesting Case Law - Christian Sex Therapist refused to counsel gay couple |
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A Christian relationship counsellor who was sacked after he refused to give sex therapy to homosexual couples has lost his case for unlawful discrimination
An employment tribunal ruled that the national counselling service Relate was entitled to dismiss Gary McFarlane after he said that encouraging gay sex went against his devout religious beliefs.
Mr McFarlane, 47, brought his claim for unfair dismissal after he was sacked in March 2008.
The father of two had joined Relate in 2003 and had given relationship advice to homosexual couples in the past. But in 2006, after he qualified as a psychosexual therapist, he made it clear to his employers that his strong Christian beliefs meant he did not feel able to give sex therapy advice to homosexuals.
Fellow counsellors objected to his stance and claimed his views were homophobic, and in March 2008 he was sacked.
Mr McFarlane, of Bristol, claimed unfair dismissal against the Avon branch of Relate on the grounds of religious discrimination, but an employment tribunal panel unanimously rejected his claim, though the panel decided Mr McFarlane had been wrongfully dismissed as Relate had not followed the correct dismissal procedures.
The panel said Mr McFarlane's claim had failed because: "The claimant was not treated as he was because of his Christian faith, but because (Relate) believed that he would not comply with its policies and that it would have treated anyone else of whom that was believed, regardless of religion, in the same way."
In 2007 Andrew McClintock, a Christian magistrate, lost his religious discrimination claim after his employers refused to excuse him from ruling on cases in which vulnerable children might be placed with same-sex foster parents.
Source: The Telegraph January 2009
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| Diversity Dilemmas - Can staff change a colleague's first name if they find it too difficult to pronounce? |
My sister Sylvia named after my grandmother) is 21 years old. She has recently started working for a catering company that provides Asian meals. Most of the staff are of Asian background. Within the office staff, Sylvia is the only person who is not Asian. Some of the older staff members, including managers have told her that they find it difficult to pronounce her name and now call her Shilpa (after Shilpa Shetty). They claim that Sylvia is as beautiful as Shilpa.
Whilst I can see some resemblance between my sister and the actress, I find it rather difficult when I call Sylvia and I get the response 'oh you mean Shilpa'. Sylvia does not mind being called Shilpa and likes being included into the Asian culture. At times the staff even use terms of endearment in their own language to Sylvia.
Although I am confident that the staff are being inclusive and there is no malice intended, I am finding it rather uncomfortable that my sister's Christian name has been changed. I had a great relationship with my grandmother and referring to my sister as Sylvia always triggers off fond memories of my grandmother.
At my own workplace, I have an Indian female colleague. There was one occasion when another staff member referred to her by shortening her name thereby making it into an English name. There was uproar in the team and my colleague had to apologise to the Indian woman.
Do the staff have the right to change Sylvia's name? Is this a form of racism as they cannot be bothered to pronounce her name?
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| Equality and Diversity Events |
Blue Tulip Training is hosting a series of regular lunchtime events for HR Practitioners, Solicitors, Managers, designed to provide an update on knowledge, share good practice and pool experiences.
Bullying and harassment dilemmas, dealing with discrimination complaints and sharing good practice are just a few of the topics on the agenda.
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| About Blue Tulip Training |
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Its diversity focus has developed into four strands:
Training - Equality and Diversity, Managing Diversity, Bullying and Harassment
Consultancy - Research based or specific development focus E.g. Conducting diversity audits
Independent, impartial and independent Investigations into allegations of bullying and harassment
Coaching - For staff from a Black or Minority Ethnic background or for managers who wish to implement diversity, good practice and effective working practice.
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Our sponsors |
Blue Tulip Training is affiliated with Asian Women Enterprise - A networking solution, bringing Asian Women together to share, inspire and motivate
www.asianwomenenterprise.com
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| Sunday 1 March |
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Saint David's Day (Wales)
Saint David is the patron saint of Wales and was a Celtic Christian saint (sixth century) known for his wisdom and missionary work. |
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Monday 9 March |
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Prophet Muhammad's Birthday -(Islam)
This day celebrates the birthday of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. it commemorates the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet and is regarded as a blessing for the whole of humanity. The most important aspect of this event is the teachings and sufferings of the Prophet.
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Tuesday 10 March |
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Purim (Jewish) |
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Purim celebrates Queen Esther's saving of the Jewish people from Haman, advisor to King Ahasuerus of Persia. The traditional observances of Purim include public readings of the Book of Esther, feasting, gifts of charity to the poor, and gifts of food among friends.
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| Wednesday 11 March |
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Holi (Hindu)
Holi is a boisterous festival with people smearing each other with coloured water and bright powders. Originally a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land, Holi also commemorates some key figures in Hindu mythology
Magha Puja (Buddist)
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Also known as Sangha Day, this day commemorates an important event in the life of the Buddha (Theravada tradition).
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| Tuesday 17 March |
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St Patricks Day |
Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and brought Christianity to Ireland in early days of the faith.
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| Friday 20 March |
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Spring Equinox (Pagan) |
This celebrates the renewed life of the Earth that comes with the Spring. It is a solar festival, celebrated when the length of the day and the night are equal. This occurs twice a year, at Spring and Autumn Equinox.
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| Saturday 21 March |
International Day for Eliminating Racial Discrimination (United Nations)
This important international day reminds us of the work that is needed in all societies to build an awareness of human unity, and to render unacceptable all behaviour based on any sense of racial superiority or separation. The challenge of our time is to foster the ethics of human unity.
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| Sunday 22 March |
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 Mothering Sunday
This falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Although it's often called "Mothers Day", it has no connection with the American festival of that name. Traditionally, it was a day when children, mainly daughters, who had gone to work as domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother and family. Today it is a day when children give presents, flowers and home made cards to their mothers. Centuries ago it was considered important for people to return to their home or "mother" church once a year. So each year, in the middle of Lent, everyone would visit their "mother" church or the main church or Cathedral of the area.
Inevitably the return to the "mother" church became an occasion for family reunions when children who were working away returned home.
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| Other Events for March |
3/3 - National day Bulgaria
6/3 - Independence Day - Ghana
12/3 - National Day Mauritius
18/3 - Flag Day Aruba
20/3 - Anniversary of the Independence Day Tunisia
21/3 - Independence Day Namibia
23/3 - National Day Pakistan
25/3 Independence Day Belarus and Greece
26/3 Independence Day Bangladesh
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