1. SmartLaw Race Discrimination
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2. Lesson Objectives By the end of this session you will be able to:
Give a definition for the terms race, racism and institutionalised racism
Give an explanation of how the law is designed to protect people against race discrimination
Critically evaluate whether or not you think certain actions and institutions are racist
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3. Flora never got over his death.
Flora is 90 and still doesn’t like the Germans after her father was killed in the Second World War.
Flora never got over his death.
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4. Judd often uses the word ‘Paki’ to describe a person or a shop.
Judd lives in a town where there are many people of an Asian background.
Judd often uses the word ‘Paki’ to describe a person or a shop.
He works as a gas fitter, plays football in his spare time and has many British Asian friends.
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5. Jenny is English and has many friends from ethnic minorities
Jenny is English and has many friends from ethnic minorities. She finds them as pleasant and kind as people anywhere. She can’t stand people who are racially prejudiced.
However, she does find it hard to like Americans. She thinks they have too much money and hates the fact that American companies have so much influence throughout the world.
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6. He has started to hate some of the white people in his town.
Ahmed is from an Asian background and lives with his family in a small town in Lancashire.
He runs a corner shop which has repeatedly suffered thefts, broken windows and all kinds of damage.
He has started to hate some of the white people in his town.
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7. She is afraid that the British will lose their culture.
Jo believes that people who come to live in the UK should adopt British customs and dress, and not stick to the traditions of their former country.
She is afraid that the British will lose their culture.
However, she keeps quiet about these views and does not agree with people who attack immigrants.
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8. Owen is Welsh. He wants Wales to become independent and thinks that Welsh should be the main language in all Welsh schools.
He also believes that there should be no homes sold to English people unless they work full-time in Wales.
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9. However, she wishes her team had fewer foreign players.
Kate supports football with a passion. She has a home season ticket and watches her team whenever she can.
However, she wishes her team had fewer foreign players.
She thinks that overseas players should be limited to one or two per team.
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10. Chen owns a Chinese restaurant
Chen owns a Chinese restaurant. One day, a girl of African-Caribbean origin asks if there are any vacancies for waiters. She explains that she has lots of experience Chen does need a waiter but he turns her down. He believes that all his staff should come from a Chinese background.
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11. Martin owns a local car rental business
Martin owns a local car rental business. As part of his induction for a new member of staff he is heard saying:
“If you get a call from someone who is black or Asian, say that we haven’t go anything available. You’ve got to be careful who you rent to. We’ve had problems in the past.”
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12. What is race? What is racism?
A group of people with particular similar physical characteristics (e.g. skin colour, hair type), who are considered as belonging to the same type of group.
What is racism?
Prejudice, discrimination or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior.
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13. A brief history of the law
1965
Race Relations Act
First piece of legislation to address race discrimination.
Includes a statutory duty on public bodies to promote race equality, and to put in place procedures and policies to promote race equality.
2001
Race Relations (Amendment) Act
Aims to make the law easier to understand and strengthen protection in some situations. It brings together a number of key pieces of
anti-discrimination legislation.
2010
Equality Act
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14. The Equality Act 2010 protects certain characteristics, such as race
The Equality Act 2010 protects certain characteristics, such as race. This means it is unlawful to discriminate against someone on the grounds of race
Race includes:
Colour
Nationality
Ethnic or national origin
People are protected from discrimination in the following situations:
* at work * when using public services
* in education * when buying or renting property
* as a consumer * as a member or guest of a private club
You are also protected from discrimination if:
you’re associated with someone who has a protected characteristic and you are treated unfairly because of it
you are treated badly because you’ve complained about discrimination or supported someone else’s claim
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15. In certain situations you can be treated ‘less favourably’ because of your race and it will not be classed as discrimination, e.g.
If a persons race is regarded as a genuine occupational requirement and belonging to a particular race is essential for the job
e.g. if the local council wants someone to work with the Bengali
community they could insist on applicants coming from a similar
background.
Clubs, associations and charities set up especially for people of a
particular ethnic or national group are allowed to discriminate on the basis
of nationality or ethnic or national origin but not on the grounds of colour
When is it not illegal?
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16. Death in Custody 2000 – Zahid Mubarek sentenced to 90 days in a YOI.
Shortly prior to release Mubarek is placed in a cell with Robert Stewart, a known racist.
Hours before he is due to be released Mubarek is attacked by Stewart and later dies in hospital.
Stewart is charged with murder and sentenced to life in prison.
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17. A Public Enquiry Who should the enquiry speak to?
What questions should they ask?
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18. A Public Enquiry
In 2004 a public enquiry was opened to investigate the death of Mubarek
The report criticised the lack of funding for prisons
It also criticised overcrowding and the failure of staff to deal with racist behaviour.
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19. Institutionalised racism
Institutionalised racism takes place when an
organisation collectively fails to provide a
proper service to people because of their colour,
culture or ethnic origin.
Racial discrimination therefore becomes
established as normal behaviour by that organisation.
Institutionalised racism
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20. Plenary
What is the latest piece of UK legislation that protects people against racial discrimination?
How would you define institutionalised racism? Do you think it is still a problem today?
Name two places where institutionalised racism may occur and describe two strategies that could help prevent this.
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