2
ISSUES: Racial & Ethnic Discrimination
Chapter 1: Racism & discrimination
– such as people from the same race,
religion or type of job. Stereotypes are
often wrong because they assume that
everyone froma certain group acts in the
same way.
Racial stereotypes often bring out racist
attitudes. Even if it wasn’t your intention
to be racist, using racial stereotypes can
subtly change the way you behave with
someone from a different race.
Racist jokes
Even if it’s not meant to be offensive, a
racist joke can be hurtful to someone and
their culture.
A racist joke is still racist. Going along
with it gives people the impression that
racism is okay.
Sometimes, people make impressions of
people from other cultures or tell jokes
about different races. If people around
you are doing this, it’s important to think
about whether youwant to be a part of it.
Even if someone doesn’t show that
they’re upset at the time, making racist
jokes towards them could still be having
a negative impact.
Making racist jokes is a form of abuse.
Eventually, it will have an impact on how
people feel about themselves and their
culture.
Ö
The
above
information
is
reprinted with kind permission
from
ChildLine.
Please
visit
for further
information.
© ChildLine 2017
Race discrimination and
your rights
By Garry Crystal
S
ince 1976 Britain has had
its own laws regarding race
discrimination and your rights
towards protection under the law.
Race discrimination should never
be tolerated, and there are legal
consequences for those who do
discriminate on the grounds of race.
The Race Relations Act 1976
The Race Relations Act 1976 was
passed by Parliament in Britain tomake
acts of racial discrimination unlawful.
The act was introduced at a time when
Britain was seeing a number of race
related acts in major cities such as
London and Birmingham. The 1976 act
incorporated and updated the original
1965 Race Relations Act that made
racial discrimination unlawful in public
places. However, the original act was
not seen as fair enough as it did not
include any rules on employment or
housing.
What is Race Discrimination?
Race discrimination can be defined
as the act of treating a person less
favourably than another on the
grounds of race, colour, nationality or
ethnic origin. The 1976 act, which was
again amended in 2000, means that
this type of discrimination is unlawful
and there can be legal consequences.
There are a number of areas where
race discrimination should not occur
and rights of individuals are protected
and these will include:
Ö
Housing
Ö
Employment – including
employment training
Ö
Education
Ö
Public authorities and government
agencies
Ö
Prisons
Ö
The provision of goods, services
and financial affairs.
Types of race discrimination
Direct discrimination is one of the more
unconcealed types of discrimination.
It will include acts such as verbal or
physical abuse due to a person’s colour,
nationality or ethnic origin. It can also
include issues such as employees
being passed over for promotion in the
workplace or clubs that operate a quota
rule to limit or eliminateblackmembers.
With direct discrimination it does not
matter whether the discrimination was
intended or not. Direct discrimination
is unlawful and if proven there can be
legal consequences.
Indirect discrimination
Indirect discrimination occurs when,
for example, a company has certain
rules that apply to everyone but will
put certain groups at a disadvantage.
For instance a firm that will not employ
anyone who does not have a British
driving licence. This could be seen as
indirect discrimination against foreign
nationality workers in the UK. Unlike
direct discrimination, employers do
have the opportunity to justify their
actions if the matter comes to an
employment tribunal.
Victimisation and the law
Victimisation is another category
that is included in the Race Relations
Act. This could occur if someone has
brought a claim against a company or
an individual and then been treated
unfavourably because of this action.
It could also apply to a person who
has given evidence, for example at an
employment tribunal, and then been
victimised because of this action.
Victimisation should always be brought
to the attention of the appropriate
authorities and should not be allowed
to continue.
Harassment
Harassment is a type of bullying
similar to the type seen in school
“The Race Relations
Act 1976 was passed by
Parliament in Britain
to make acts of racial
discrimination unlawful”
