The ‘R’ Word
Prior to the week for prayer of Christian unity, I am compelled to write about a subject that causes discomfort, but can hardly be ignored in our work with young people. This is something that I have experienced first hand and so I declare an interest at the beginning and so objectivity might be questioned. However, saying this, very few people in Christian Youth Ministry world have said much about this and this is something that needs to be worked upon in my humble opinion.
Towards the end of last year two high profile footballers have been under investigation concerning this subject. One outcome see here has happened and one is still pending see here. Both perceived role models within the sporting world. Then as I write, one of the same club's supporters allegedly came out with a torrent of abuse to an opposition black player which is currently being investigated. Stan Collymore, former Premier League footballer and now media football pundit, received abuse via twitter in the same weekend. This is currently under investigation as I type.
We then had the MP for Hackney and Stoke Newington in bother about her twitter conversation.
However, the big story was that two of Stephen Lawrence's murderers were found guilty and sentenced.
Yes, the word - Racism - the 'R' word was the connection. Still alive and kicking, sometimes screaming, defiant, death dealing, covert and still sadly, overt. The changing faces of racism are troubling, and should be deeply troubling to us in 21st century Britain. I would ask us to look again if you have not done so at the Lawrence Inquiry report and particularly its recommendations; if we were doing an audit on our work how would we shape up?
One of the questions is how did the young men involved in Stephen Lawrence's murder get to have so much hatred as to extinguish another young person's life because they were different (skin colour)? Before people talk about same ethnicity murders which is equally reprehensible let's just focus a little here before being distracted.
Youth work and ministry, it seems from this week, will need to ratchet up issues around anti-discriminatory practice see here and education for practitioners and young people alike in the light of these last few months. It cannot be a tick-box exercise or an optional extra simply because it affects us all. Denying the existence of this as part of corporate even individual experience is a deep concern.
Racism is a sociological construct that at the heart of it is about power and rendering powerlessness. We sometimes see this through the narrow lense of ethnic cleansing which is a word that has developed in the last 20 years but also, lest we forget, the Holocaust with its memorial day on January 27th.
Please let us remember there is one Race - that of humanity. We have different ethnicities and cultures that shape us. As a Christian, I cannot buy into the language of different 'races' - that in itself supports the construct of racism and divisions of affirming power which cannot be defended as rational.
The issue of power and groups which are homogenous in any way requires vigilance, challenge and action. If we are homogenous (the same) and do not have diversity within our midst, the very least is to be educated to the issues and be informed and take steps to facilitating diversity. With the internet we cannot plead ignorance or the ability to not move very far in our nation to see diverse neighbourhoods, even in our diocese.
This may need a bigger debate but I think it is needed amongst ourselves as practitioners and the young people whom we serve.
Shalom
Dean
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Short links
http://www.albandys.org.uk/go/the_r_word
http://www.albandys.org.uk/go/952