EDITORIAL
Dear Readers,
Attacks against South East Asians isn’t just an American problem as observed by Al Jazeera. It is a global problem, and definitely a problem here in the UK (see “Governments & Communities” section below).
The Race at Work Survey 2021 by Business in the Community’s (BITC) in collaboration with YouGov may also be of interest. It offers participants the chance to share experiences of race at work and lend your voice to drive change on workplace equality.
After a decade of austerity and 12 months of pandemic and economic slowdown, the number of Food banks outnumber McDonald’s restaurants in the UK according to Deutsche Welle. A new report released this month by the Food Foundation also found that “Compared to white ethnicities, BAME households have consistently been twice as likely to be food insecure.”
As a low number of student midwives are from Black and Asian heritage, a free new book, “With Women: A collection of stories from Black & Asian Midwives” (University of Manchester, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Loreto High School and Royal College of Midwives), is hoping to inspire the next generation to consider a career in midwifery.
Keep Well & Stay Safe,
Thushari Perera
A digital resource on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Issues
Previous issues: Black & Asian News
Other Newsletters: Black & Asian Heritage Mix’
Please scroll down and just click on the title to access the full version of the news stories you wish to read, thank you.
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CULTURE, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT
One in three spot hate speech in online videos, BBC News, 25 March 2021
“One in three people spotted hate speech in online video platforms in the past three months, a report by Ofcom found.”
The future of public service broadcasting, House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, 25 March 2021
“It is taking too long to address inequality within the industry and much more needs to be done to increase diversity, notably disabled people and BAME representation and particularly in the upper levels of management.” Read the Report here
Ofcom will not investigate complaints against BBC after reporter used n-word, iNews, 23 March 2021
“Incident prompted more than 18,500 complaints from viewers”
Documentary: Black Power, A British Story of Resistance, BBC iPlayer, 25 March 2021
“An examination of the Black Power movement in the late 1960s in the UK, surveying both the individuals and the cultural forces that defined the era. At the heart of the documentary is a series of astonishing interviews with past activists, many of whom are speaking for the first time about what it was really like to be involved in the British Black Power movement, bringing to life one of the key cultural revolutions in the history of the nation.”
BBC hits back at accusations of racism following Why is Covid Killing People of Colour? Complaints, Metro, 21 March 2021
“The complaints accused the film of being ‘racist or biased in favour of the theory that structural racism might explain disparities in Covid-19 outcomes’.”
Must we wave the flag at every little thing now, good or bad?, The Guardian, 21 March 2021
“A Tory MP invited Britain’s critics to ‘move to another country’, so whatever happened to free speech?”
Slapdown for Jacob Rees-Mogg from Boris Johnson over attack on journalist, The Independent, 19 March 2021
“News website HuffPost is demanding a public apology from Mr Rees-Mogg after he told MPs on Thursday that its correspondent Arj Singh was “a knave or a fool” over a story in which he accurately quoted foreign secretary Dominic Raab saying that the UK could miss out on trade deals if it insisted on partners observing high standards of human rights.”
Clive Myrie announced as new host of BBC’s Mastermind after John Humphreys quits, iNews, 22 March 2021
“The award-winning journalist will front the show as it celebrates 50 years on TV”
Have South Asians been Influential on UK Rap?, DesiBlitz, 18 March 2021
“South Asian artists are becoming everpresent in modern UK Rap, but how deep does the South Asian influence lie?“
EMPLOYMENT & WORK
Race at Work Survey 2021, Business in the Community, 22 March 2021
“Business in the Community’s (BITC) Race at Work 2021 Survey in collaboration in YouGov, offers participants the chance to share experiences of race at work, and lend their voice to drive change on workplace equality.” The survey is open until 30 June 2021.
Loughborough professor to head taskforce tackling BAME and gender issues in the motor industry, Eastmidlands Businesslink, 24 March 2021
“Based on official employment figures for the industry both BAME and women make up just 6% of the workforce. The industry target is to increase this figure to 30% by 2030.”
Tackling race inequality in employment, Scottish Government, 24 March 2021
“The employment gap, comparing rates employment rates between ethnic minority and white candidates currently sits at 13.1%. The work will feed into ongoing activity to tackle racial inequality in employment, including the Race Equality Framework 2016-2030.”
Third of ethnic minority workers have been unfairly turned down for a job, research suggests, People Management, 19 March 2021
“Experts say findings are a ‘sad reflection’ of inequalities in recruitment as TUC study reveals BAME employees are more often overlooked for pay rises and promotions”
Church of England may impose black, minority ethnic quota for clergy, Christian Post, 21 March 2021
“The British magazine reports that the title of the document, slated to be released to the public on April 22, is “From Lament to Action: Report of the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce.” The report recommends a quota for black and minority ethnic clergy, revamping education in schools run by the denomination and dealing with controversial statues and monuments.”
EDUCATION
Black graduates ‘shut out’ of academic science and technology careers, The Guardian, 26 March 2021
“The Royal Society also found that of the 5,070 eligible UK nationals for its early career fellowship grants, just 12% are from any ethnic minority background, and 1% are black.”
‘I was terrified’: pupils tell of being victimised in UK schools, The Guardian, 24 March 2021
“Pupils’ stories raise fears of hidden epidemic of racism with teachers failing to address problems”
Diversity in College art to grow, Imperial College London, 23 March 2021
“Imperial is to roll out new projects aimed at addressing a lack of diversity in the art displayed on College campuses.”
System for supporting special educational needs is failing children and families, new EPI study shows, fenews, 19 March 2021
“There is a postcode lottery for accessing SEND support, with access to specialised provision for children heavily determined by the school they attend, rather than their individual needs”
Bame history to become mandatory part of Welsh curriculum, government says, The Independent, 19 March 2021
“It comes as new report calls for every pupil to ‘explore diverse experiences and contributions’ of Bame people in Wales.” Read the report here
HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Doctors’ union urges government to tackle ‘unacceptable’ social inequalities, The Canary, 26 March 2021
“The BMA’s report made a series of recommendations. They aim to improve the life expectancies of those who had suffered most amid the pandemic. That includes disabled people, ethnic minority groups, and those living in deprived areas.” Read the Report here
Young Black men’s mental health during Covid-19, Centre for Mental Health, 9 March 2021
“Young Black men’s mental health during Covid-19 explores evidence of the unequal effects of Covid-19 on young Black men” Read the Briefing Paper here
Oral histories of Black and Asian midwives aim to inspire next generation, Nursing Times, 24 March 2021
“Nine midwives of Black and Asian heritage working in Manchester have shared their stories in a new book designed to encourage young people from these communities to join the profession.” Download the book here
COVID-19: how to tackle vaccine hesitancy among BAME groups, The Conversation, 18 March 2021
“Alarmingly, lower vaccine uptake and increased hesitancy are also higher among people from ethnic minority backgrounds who are over 80, those living in socioeconomically deprived areas and healthcare workers. These groups are at greatest risk of developing severe infection.”
FOOD
Food Foundation Release New Report Showing Pandemic Effect On Food Insecurity Remains A Crisis, Food Foundation, March 2021
“Compared to white ethnicities, BAME households have consistently been twice as likely to be food insecure.” Read the Report here
UK: Food banks outnumber McDonald’s restaurants, Deutsche Welle, 24 March 2021
“After a decade of austerity and 12 months of pandemic and economic slowdown, the numbers of food banks and food bank users in the UK is rising sharply. And those users include working families”
Nine in 10 councils in England see rise in people using food banks, The Guardian, 21 March 2021
“Local authorities reveal devastating toll of coronavirus on households who have struggled to keep a roof over their heads”
Millions sign up to anti-food-waste apps to share their unused produce, The Guardian, 21 March 2021
“With the average UK family throwing out £730 of surplus items a year, eco-conscious consumers have found a hi-tech fix”
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
British far-right emerged into a ‘digitally networked threat’ during lockdown, report says, 22 March 2021
“The ‘State of Hate 2021’ report launched by shadow justice minister David Lammy MP discusses how civil society and institutions must respond to the burgeoning global danger of the emergence of domestic and international far-right.”
Twitter turns 15: A look back at how the platform changed our lives, ABC News, 21 March 2021
“By amplifying previously marginalized voices, Twitter aided in political movements and societal reckonings hashtag by hashtag — from #MeToo to #BlackLivesMatter. It also contributed to the instantaneity of information — both from traditional news media and citizen journalists, giving anyone, anywhere, an immediate window into history as it unfolded.”
MONARCHY & ROYALS
Podcast: Is it time to abolish the monarchy?, The Guardian, 19 March 2021
“Support for republicanism has always been low. Polling is stubbornly consistent, showing support for a republic flatlining at about 20%. There is a question though, about whether much of that support is tied to the Queen.”
Diversity review under way at Buckingham Palace, BBC News, 21 March 2021
“Buckingham Palace is reviewing diversity policies across all royal households.”
GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITIES
Can Priti Patel’s asylum plan work?, BBC News, 25 March 2021
“In the context of 20 years of immigration crises, the total number of asylum seekers arriving in the UK is actually very low.”
Covid racism: ‘Demonisation of East and South East Asian community over pandemic must stop,’ says Labour MP, iNews, 23 March 2021
“According to the End the Virus of Racism campaign, there has been a 300 per cent increase in hate crimes towards the ESEA community in the UK since the start of the pandemic. Ms Owen said the pandemic had worsened existing stereotypes about the community, referring to headlines about “yellow peril” and Donald Trump labelling Covid-19 “kung flu” and “the Chinese virus”, which led to a rise in Covid-19-related tweets with anti-Asian views.”
The Stark Reality Of Racism For East and South East Asian Women In The UK, Refinery29, 22 March 2021
“In the end, Filipino front-line workers like Velasco pay the ultimate price because a disproportionate number of Filipino nurses in the UK are dying of Coronavirus. And the most chilling incident of all? The case of the missing Filipino mother Bennylyn Burke and her two-year-old daughter in Dundee. They disappeared around the same time Sarah Everard. I’ve barely seen Burke’s story reported anywhere in the media. Where was the outrage? Where was her vigil?”
BAME: ‘Governments failed to tackle racial discrimination’, BBC News, 23 March 2021
“Successive governments have failed to tackle racial discrimination in Wales, according to a leading expert.”
In historic first, Roma included as ethnicity on UK census, Al Jazeera, 19 March 2021
“Campaigners welcome move as opportunity to stand up and be counted, but some are fearful of discrimination and hesitant to participate.”
POLICING & JUSTICE SYSTEM
UK police forces deploy 683 officers in schools with some poorer areas targeted, The Guardian, 26 March 2021
“While police forces say SSOs play an important role in keeping children safe, experts have raised concerns about the risk they say this poses to black and ethnic minority children.”
Birmingham filmmaker gives voice to silent abuse victims in Amazon Prime documentary, Birmingham Mail, 21 March 2021
“The Silenced documentary can now be viewed on Amazon Prime Video and explores why some women never seek justice after suffering abuse”
WIDER EUROPE
A new antisemitism definition to ease IHRA confusion, EU Observer, 26 March 2021
“The result of these deliberations, over the course of a year of workshops and meetings, is a definition of antisemitism published today, which is clearer, more coherent and politically neutral: the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA). The JDA is endorsed by more than 200 scholars of antisemitism and related fields.”
Anti-racism groups claim European Commission guilty of excluding them from flagship anti-racism summit, The Parliament Magazine, 19 March 2021
“The Commission has also refused to rescind the invitation to the European Jewish Congress (EJC) to speak at the summit after being made aware of a video uploaded to YouTube, which was still available until recently, in which EJC’s President Dr. Moshe Kantor engages in hate speech that stigmatises and demonises Muslims and migrants, including by alluding to the need for population control.”
EU anti-racist policy should align with the EU Roma inclusion policy, EU Reporter, 19 March 2021
“The new Roma Framework has been described as a first concrete contribution to the implementation of this action plan and it is remarkable that it does not ignore the environmental justice perspective. Neglected for decades, Roma communities are also beginning to mobilize but more solidarity, and support is needed.”
European countries should lift the taboo on Afrophobia and start addressing this phenomenon, Council of Europe, 19 March 2021
“This situation is compounded by the prevailing denial of the problem and a lack of public debate on Afrophobia in Europe. Cases and patterns of human rights violations affecting people of African descent are not given adequate consideration, even when they are reliably attested”. Read the Report here
FRANCE
Protests in France against police impunity, Andalou Agency, 21 March 2021
“Several groups including the Network of Mutual Aid Truth and Justice, family collectives of killed, wounded and mutilated by violence and crimes by law enforcement and prison officers, Amnesty International and Stop Global Security Law coordination collective, trade union organizations representing journalists, organized and participated in the rally.”
GERMANY
Short Video: Germany’s Catholic Church: Too white and too eurocentric?, Deutsche Welle, 21 March 2021
“People of color often do not have an easy job as officials in the Catholic Church. DW met Pastor Regamy Thillainathan from Cologne and talked to him about his personal experiences and what the Church in Germany must do to overcome racist attitudes.”
Asians in Germany targets of racist stereotypes, violence, Deutsche Welle, 21 March 2021
“Racial stereotypes about Asians abound in Germany, and often cross over into physical assault. As in the US and around the world, COVID-19 has further spurred anti-Asian racism.”
MALTA
Malta’s institutionalised racism, Times of Malta, 24 March 2021
“A Council of Europe report’s findings are damning”
NORWAY
The Debate on Structural Racism Is Far More Polarized Than It Needs to Be, PRIO, 22 March 2021
“Some young people with migrant family backgrounds who themselves were born and have grown up in Norway, for whom Norwegian is their main language, and also the language in which they communicate with their friends, still choose to describe themselves as “foreigners”.”
PORTUGAL
Confront your colonial past, Council of Europe tells Portugal, Reuters, 24 March 2021
“Portugal is preparing its first ever official survey this year asking people about their ethnic background. The border service said in 2019 there were 103,346 Africans officially resident in Portugal while the biggest migrant community is from Brazil, numbering 151,304 people.”
Image Credits: Pixabay
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