Well actually all lives matter, you might say and of course you would be quite right. It isn’t just black lives that matter in any caring, democratic society but all it’s citizens irrespective of their difference. Surely that isn’t what the “Black Lives Matter” movement is trying to say, is it, that only black lives matter?
It’s trying to say that all lives do matter and in our society and throughout the world we live in, that if you are black or from a minority ethnic background, (BAME) your life does not matter as much as the others who inhabit the uplands of power and wealth, hold sway over your life as a black person, and are mostly white.
Over 1000 black people killed by police and only a minor number of prosecutions.
5 police officers killed by a lone gunman.
Virtual unfettered access to high-powered military assault weapons.
The civilian deployment of military technology, against citizens, in order to kill, rather than arrest.
Over 3000 people killed every year where guns and assault weapons are available to anyone who walks in off the street, with minimum checks on their suitability, to own such a weapon.
All this in the land of the free where all men originally and now women, are born equal!
It couldn’t happen here could it and why should it? We are not the USA and all people irrespective of their background are treated equally and we have legislation to ensure that fairness happens.
Right?
You may believe that, but for BME people in this country that is not how it feels. If one is black or Asian or from an Ethnic Minority (BAME), then what can you expect in this country?
You can expect: –
A higher risk of being stopped and searched by the police.
To be more harshly dealt with in a criminal court sentence than one’s white contemporaries.
To be more likely to receive a custodial sentence.
To be less favourably treated in job interviews, if you get to the interview stage.
To be less likely to rise to high political, legal, military or establishment office.
To be less likely to be well educated than one’s white peers.
To be less likely to own one’s own home.
To be more likely to be involved in crime and drugs.
If you believe that this is untrue then here are some statistics.
The UK population is some 63million. 13% are from a BAME background.
Custodial Sentences at Court. 27% White, 30% Black, 32% Asian.
Prison population is 25% BAME.
Judges, 6% BAME.
Police Chief officers, 5% BAME.
FTSE 100 Directors, 1.9% BAME.
Members of Parliament, 3% BAME.
Teachers, 6% BAME.
Military, 7% and Military Officers 2.4% BAME, with none above Brigadier rank.
University Professors, 92% are white.
There are over 500,000 stop searches by police per annum and 86% result in no arrest.
One is 7 times more likely to be stop searched by police if one is Black.
One is 5 times more likely to be stop searched by police if one is Asian.
All these statistics are available from current government sources and have not improved dramatically whatever political hue has been in government in the last 50 years since the Race Relations Act outlawed race discrimination in the 1960’s.
Yes that’s right!! The 1960’s!
I would argue that discrimination or systemic processed racism in society is so subtle and so nuanced that even some BAME people do not see it.
Let’s take the 2012 and 2016 Olympics as an example of this subtlety. There is a great feel good factor and adoption of many black icons in Olympic sport, which fulfills our need for nationalism and pride in our country. Mo Farah is proclaimed ‘one of us”, British and proud to bear the flag and most of the population will be pleased to see him knighted. None or little mention of his Somalian, Muslim heritage.
The great British public has assimilated Farah into the epitome of Britishness and there can be no room for anything else. One of the worst things a white person can say to a person of colour is “I don’t mean you, you’re one of us,” when referring to BAME people in general.
Returning to the Olympics, Rowing, Cycling, Equestrianism, Sailing, Tennis, Rugby, Hockey and Golf all have one thing in common. They are generally the preserve of the white middle classes, why? Because they cost a lot of money and so why be surprised when the people who dominate the medals in those sports for our country are white and middle class.
Which are the sports that cost very little to participate in and are almost always community based and not dominated by elite clubs and money and so indirectly lack of opportunity? Boxing, Track and Field.
Where does all the money go? To the elite sports where people who are privileged have the best opportunities, not to finding great BAME Hockey players, or Rowers or Cyclists, or Sailors etc from those communities, that because of systemic disadvantage cannot even show what they could do.
In the Sunday Times today 21/08/2016, quite rightly the contribution by LGBT competitors was highlighted. What a pity that all the pictorial representation was, you guessed it. White! Whenever gender imbalances in society are mentioned, again all the pictorial and anecdotal references are of white professional women
Cameron proudly proclaimed “One Nation” and we are all in it together, May declares to govern for all not just the privileged few.
Words are cheap and sound bites sound very nice to welcoming ears.
It is change we want and so when Black people stop holidaymakers heading to the ports blocking the roads by laying down in them under the banner of “Black Lives Matter” –they do!