| It is February again, that time of the year when | | | | Minorities in Britain are virtually invisible in every aspect |
| America celebrates Black History Month, just like the | | | | of life except crime. We hear about them ad nauseam |
| month of October in Britain. But do we really need that | | | | in relation to terrorism and street crime but hardly in |
| kind of celebration? Is it really helping understanding or, | | | | any other dimension. For example, the focus on |
| could the annual nature of it, like a cuckoo in a clock, | | | | celebrities is pervasive in our society. But where are |
| and its exclusive label rob it of its validity and | | | | the minority celebrities? The ones well known in their |
| significance? | | | | communities but are ignored by the mainstream |
| As one who has spent the last 14 years promoting | | | | press? Where are the minority guests and achievers |
| multiculturalism from the rooftops in the UK, through the | | | | on chat shows? On discussion panels? On |
| only book on the subject in Europe, and two annual | | | | entertainment programmes? Once again, they are |
| national diversity awards, I have been pretty saddened | | | | deprived of significance and value through invisibility but |
| to hear government ministers and others trumpeting | | | | take centre stage when it's negative. Such an |
| that 'multiculturalism isn't working' or we 'cannot | | | | exclusive and racist approach keeps minorities in the |
| celebrate diversity because it encourages difference' | | | | public eye as extraordinary and non-contributing beings. |
| and keeps us separate. But both statements are | | | | It uses them in situations that bolster national fear |
| based upon ignorance and fear which does not really | | | | (immigration and crime) while ignoring the vast majority |
| help a diverse community to move forward together. | | | | of law abiding, legal citizens playing their part in society. |
| Every human being desires four things in their life to | | | | Minorities are also used in a cynical way to show |
| feel good about themselves as individuals:a. To be | | | | national pride abroad, as with the Olympics, when |
| significantb. To be acceptedc. To be valuedd. To be | | | | multculturalism was suddenly cool and essential, but |
| included | | | | are largely excluded from the preparations and nearly |
| What I call my SAVI empowerment concept. | | | | all the service contracts. |
| It means that the behaviour of every person in our | | | | Lack of Recognition |
| world is related to at least one, or all, of those | | | | 3. Absent Media Faces. Today I visited the website of |
| requirements because they all underscore respect. | | | | a top national newspaper and, of its 24 writers |
| Minorities in a majority world desire 'significance' and | | | | paraded for the public, only one was Black. I won't |
| 'inclusion' most of all, exactly what they have been | | | | even mention television and radio because commercial |
| broadly denied in the UK through their routine exclusion | | | | radio, in particular, is dismal when it comes to |
| from high office, the media, arts and politics. | | | | representation of their diverse audience among radio |
| There is nothing wrong with celebrating diversity or | | | | staff. Is it any wonder that the views in the media are |
| encouraging multiculturalism. What has been terribly | | | | so skewed against minorities when there is hardly |
| wrong is a marked absence of respect on both sides | | | | anyone giving an alternative view? Especially when the |
| of the cultural divide which makes appreciation difficult. | | | | service provided for them is so negative and exclusive. |
| The word 'respect' is glibly shouted by everyone in | | | | That is why there is very little sensitivity (respect |
| times of crisis, especially in seeking those SAVI | | | | again) to minority views and feelings. Being on the |
| attributes, but it seems to be only in connection with | | | | negative end of any reporting, they are fair game for |
| our own needs and viewpoint and very little to do with | | | | people seeking sensational headlines. |
| others. We all seek respect, we feel we are denied it, | | | | 4. Separate existence. We talk a lot about the need |
| we accuse each other of not giving it. But in reality, we | | | | for integration and the separateness of communities, |
| are simply in love with the idea of the word itself, not | | | | but it has not been minorities who have cut |
| its implementation. This could be because we really do | | | | themselves off from the majority, especially in our |
| not understand the meaning of this important word. | | | | schools, it is the other way around. Many Whites have |
| Respect is not a single word that we assign as a | | | | a negative view of minorities, fed by the media, and |
| cure-all to any situation. Respect has six dimensions | | | | actually move away from areas with a significant |
| within it. Genuine respect starts with curiosity of | | | | minority population to 'preserve their culture'. The result |
| another, then taking the time to give attention, then | | | | is virtual apartheid in certain localities. That is very sad |
| having a dialogue with them, and with sensitivity for | | | | because neither side is making the effort to learn |
| their feelings. These actions should lead to | | | | about one another or mix together. So how can there |
| empowerment and healing. Since 9/11, in particular, | | | | ever be a better understanding of difference? It really |
| there has been little respect shown on both sides, | | | | takes both sides to compromise, to engage in dialogue |
| particularly in the blanket targeting of Muslims, the | | | | and to be sensitive to each other's needs and |
| insensitive way many have been treated and, for their | | | | perspectives. But simple racism has spawned a lot of |
| part, the violence accompanying any criticism of | | | | lip service while discrimination and exclusion run riot. |
| destructive beliefs and behaviour. Vociferous minorities | | | | Diversity is here to stay |
| would also deny the same free speech they enjoy to | | | | Diversity and multiculturalism can work beautifully when |
| any form of criticism or debate which concerns them. | | | | all parties are prepared to compromise, and accord |
| That is not respect. Even worse, an absence of | | | | each other respect, but it has to be genuine in every |
| respect has been alive and well in our daily lives, | | | | sense of the word. We cannot simply demand |
| despite denials to the contrary, which makes it difficult | | | | respect for ourselves while giving none to our peers |
| for one side or the other to cry foul. | | | | because no country can thrive with a divided nation. If |
| Let's cite a few routine examples which get to the | | | | we really love our country, we strive to make it a |
| heart of the matter. | | | | great place to live. There are rights and responsibilities |
| Origins of Disrespect | | | | attached to being citizens of any country and merely |
| 1. Black History Month. This is October and, as usual, it | | | | stressing the rights without the responsibilities is folly |
| is Black History Month to celebrate Black heritage and | | | | and can only lead to isolation, discrimination, resentment |
| culture. This is not just a showcase but an educational | | | | and divisions. Clear guidelines on what it means to be |
| opportunity for the White majority to learn about their | | | | British is crucial if the country seeks the respect of all |
| minority neighbours. It empowers Black people to take | | | | Britons, if it hopes to make them feel empowered and |
| pride in their identity and thus a wholesome cause for | | | | to bring about healing. The Government also needs to |
| celebration. There are also many pointedly 'Black', | | | | add, equally clearly, that if life in Britain is not to one's |
| 'Asian' or 'Muslim' organisations which were created for | | | | liking, a life which we freely choose, there are many |
| both a positive identity and to guard against isolation, | | | | other countries one can go to that could be more |
| primarily because of their exclusion from the | | | | suitable. That should be the bottom line for unity while |
| mainstream. Nothing wrong with that at all. However, | | | | ensuring due respect for those who choose to |
| how would members of minority groups feel if they | | | | celebrate being British, regardless of their culture. |
| suddenly saw signs and promotion for a 'White History | | | | Starting from that base, Black History Month should be |
| Month', 'White Women Forum', the 'White Professional | | | | scrapped and minority heritage and culture celebrated |
| Association' or the 'White Entrepreneurs Club', labels | | | | ALL year round, just like that of the White majority, but |
| which are clearly racist and exclusive? They would | | | | under a diversity label. For example, what about Our |
| rightfully be up in arms. But where is the sensitivity | | | | Diverse Music in January, Our Diverse Literature in |
| (respect again) for the pointedly White exclusion in | | | | February, Diverse Arts and Crafts in April, Dance in |
| those labels? | | | | May, Diverse Foods in June?...You get the drift. It |
| 2. Negative media coverage. There should not be a | | | | means that, instead of just focusing on minority crime |
| need for a Black History month at all. There is a flurry | | | | and negative issues around minorities, the White media |
| of activities in October (February in America), a month | | | | can actually begin to pay some proportional attention, |
| saturated with events where everyone tries to be | | | | throughout the year, to the positivity of being a minority, |
| heard, to be significant and valued, and then nothing | | | | particularly encouraging involvement and patronage by |
| else for the other 11 months. Like cuckoos, they go | | | | White participants, sponsors and patrons. That is the |
| back inside their clocks. That is very sad. But Black | | | | only way to make all people feel included and to |
| History Month emerged because of a lack of positive | | | | engender loyalty and pride. It is also the main way to |
| attention to minorities (respect again!) by the media. | | | | change White perception of their Black neighbours and |
| The only time you hear about minorities is when | | | | for all British citizens, whatever their origins, to feel |
| something negative (like the veil issue?) is being | | | | significant, appreciated, valued and included. |
| reported. | | | | |