32
ISSUES: Racial & Ethnic Discrimination
Chapter 2: Tackling racism
all have to like and do the same thing.
Christian M in his book
Black Identity
in the 20th Century: Expressions of the
U.S and U.K.
Diaspora defines Black
as “persons/groups who can claim
African heritage around the world”.
Blackness comes down to experience
and heritage, and not necessarily
behaviour.
However, behaviour and actions are
affected by our environment. Some
of us grew up in different areas,
surrounded by different people and
cultures, and in the end, that’s going
to affect how we behave.
Dear White
People
is one of my favourite films
at the moment, because it carefully
explores the identity of black
millennials and how we’re trying to
place ourselves in a world that views
us a certain way, but also a community
that expects certain things from
us. The movie explores the lives of
four young black people that have
grown up in a predominantly white
environment, trying to understand
who they are, and if their behaviour
is connected to their identity. One
girl strives to escape the image of
being stereotypically black, she
wears straight wigs, pines after white
guys and laughs uncomfortably at
their slightly racist jokes. Another
is a crusader blazing her way
through campus, screaming against
institutional racism. There’s also a
quiet boy who just likes to write, and
doesn’t feel the need to be pulled
into political issues around his race.
The movie accurately brings forward
the idea that not only are black
millennials trying to understand
who they are in this new world, but
also how different we all are, and
how our different personalities and
behaviours does not take away from
us being black.
14 June 2016
Ö
The
above
information
is
reprinted with kind permission
from Black Ballad. Please visit
for
further information.
© Black Ballad 2017
A female Prime Minister
is not enough: Britain
needs a representative
Parliament too
WhileBritainwelcomes its second female PrimeMinister,
a new report by a University of Bristol academic has
found Westminster remains disproportionately white,
male, and elite.
W
hile
Britain
welcomes
its second female Prime
Minister, a new report
by a University of Bristol academic
has found Westminster remains
disproportionately white, male and
elite.
The Good Parliament
report, launched
in Parliament today [20 July] by
Professor
Sarah
Childs,
shows
Parliament’s working practices still
reflect the traditions and preferences
of those who historically populated it.
The report sets out a clear and
comprehensive reform agenda. It
concludes it is time for Parliament to
accept an institutional responsibility
to become more representative
and
inclusive.
It
makes
43
recommendations, which aim to
transform who sits in the House of
Commons, significantly enhance MPs’
effectiveness, improve the quality
of parliamentary outcomes, and
ultimately raise the public’s regard for
the House of Commons.
Professor Childs, from the School of
Sociology, Politics and International
Studies, was seconded to the House
of Commons in September 2015 to
work on the report, at the request of
the Speaker, the Rt Hon. John Bercow
MP.
Professor Childs said: “As we welcome
the second female prime minister,
we must not forget that Parliament
itself remains far from diverse and
inclusive. Change will not happen
on its own. Parliament needs to
accept its responsibility to ensure a
diverse composition of MPs and that
present members are able to equally
participate. Established ways of
working need to be questioned.”
The Speaker has set up a new group of
MPs – ‘The Commons Reference Group
on Representation and Inclusion’ – to
lead the reform agenda. It comprises
a small number of MPs, male and
female, nominated by the parties.
Formally chaired by the Speaker, it
will meet after the summer recess and
will draw up a programme of action
for the rest of the Parliament.
Mr Bercow said: “I am delighted to
launch Sarah’s report, which is the
result of a great deal of work and
extensive consultation with Members
and staff. Not everyone will agree with
every recommendation or suggested
outcome, which is a condition of
an independent report, but I am
confident that my colleagues on
the Commons Reference Group will
scrutinise its contents very closely,
with a view to taking on board a good
number of its suggestions.”
Each of the 43 recommendations is
attached to a named, responsible
decision-maker, so Parliament and
individual members are held to
account. The recommendations focus
on three elements:
Ö
Equality of participation.
The
report asks how a diverse group
of MPs might be selected for,
“A new report by a
University of Bristol
academic has found
Westminster remains
disproportionately white,
male, and elite”
