This is a guest post by Alexandra Sokolowski, Research intern at the CSC.
Trevor
Phillips, Chairman of the Equality and Human Right Commission, told BBC
Breakfast in January this year that England is a country where "attitude
between individual are really much better than anywhere else in Europe."
However
it seems that some parts of the UK population are determined to disprove this.
This was shown explicitly on this week's BBC Panorama. It showed that, if the
Southmead estate in Bristol is anything to go by, assault, stone-throwing,
death threats and racist attacks are still worryingly common in one of the most
modern nations in Europe.
The
program focussed on two UK-born Muslims who went undercover as a couple living
on the estate, and were subsequently for BBC Panorama. The couple were victim
to both physical and verbal assault, often by children. Comments included being
told to "Go back to your **** country, you're not welcome here", "Bye Bye Paki"
and "You Taliban". Various threats were made, including "I'll put a brick in
your head"; "Do you want my vodka bottle round your head"; "put your hands up
now before I draw for the gun and take your head off. [...]I swear to god I'll
kill you [...]I could flick it [his knife] out and I could cut you right through
there" and "Next time I see you, I'll cut your throat". These youngsters, who
are for the most part well known to local police, already show a fierce hatred
towards non-white individuals.
I am an African woman and I was deeply grieved by the Panorama program. I think tolerance starts with us the grown-ups. Westcliff High School, my niece's school held a Black History Month event on October 20th. I was afraid it would be small group of black kids performing. I was pleasantly surprised to see brilliant mix of children. What was even more pleasant was the fact that parents of all races we supportive of the event. Yes I believe schools play a huge role play in tolerance but ultimately the most important lessons are learnt in the home.