Conversations about race and identity are never easy. They stir deep histories, personal pain, and political responsibility. Diane Abbott’s recent comments on racism and skin colour have sparked debate, discomfort, and reflection. It is not our place to vilify individuals. But it is our responsibility — collectively — to challenge ideas that risk dividing communities or minimising the lived experiences of others.
This document is not an attack. It is an educational tool and a reminder that racism takes many forms — some visible, some not. Whether it appears as a hateful slur, a silent exclusion, a policy gap, or a violent act, racism always leaves a mark.
Jewish communities, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people, refugees, Black and Asian Britons — none are strangers to racialised harm. Their experiences differ, yes, but they are real and ongoing. Racism based on skin colour is not more “valid” than racism based on faith, ethnicity, or culture. All deserve to be acknowledged and addressed with urgency and care.
This resource invites readers to reflect deeply and act decisively. It is a guide, a checklist, and above all, a call to empathy. We urge readers not to compare forms of racism, but to challenge them all – with understanding, integrity, and solidarity.
Responding to Diane Abbott’s Comments on Racism
1. Contextual Response
Diane Abbott recently made comments suggesting that racism based on skin colour is different and more immediately visible than the racism experienced by Jewish or Traveller communities.
While we understand her intention may have been to describe how racism presents differently in practice, it is important that we take care not to create hierarchies of harm.
All racism is serious. It targets people for who they are, whether because of skin colour, ethnicity, nationality, culture, language, or faith. You do not always need to “see” someone’s background for them to be subjected to prejudice, exclusion, or violence.
Jewish people, for example, have faced centuries of racialised hatred, culminating in the horrors of the Holocaust. Their experience is not simply religious discrimination, it is racial, cultural, and often hereditary in perception.
Likewise, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities continue to face systemic and social discrimination, regardless of visibility. This includes denied healthcare, over-policing, and widespread stigma.
The danger of suggesting that racism “based on colour” is somehow more valid or real is that it sidelines the experiences of other groups. It can divide rather than unite. Instead, we need to acknowledge the multiple forms racism takes and ensure we stand up for all communities who face it.
We do not need to compare suffering. What we need is shared understanding, collective responsibility, and a united approach to dismantling all forms of racial injustice.
2. Key Messages
| Message | Explanation |
| All racism is real, serious, and unacceptable. | Regardless of whether it is based on skin colour, ethnicity, nationality, or perceived difference, it causes harm and must be addressed. |
| Racism is not always visible. | Just because someone’s background or identity is not obvious does not mean they are not targeted. |
| There should be no hierarchy of racism. | Comparing forms of racism risks silencing some communities. Solidarity requires listening to and believing all affected groups. |
| Racism against Jewish and Traveller communities is not new or minor. | These communities have experienced some of the most prolonged and severe forms of racial persecution in history. |
| Public figures have a duty to educate responsibly. | Language matters. Comments that differentiate or downplay the racism faced by some can do real harm. |
3. Recommended Actions
| Action | Purpose |
| Share educational resources on different forms of racism. | Helps the public and professionals understand the range and depth of racism beyond visible identities. |
| Promote intersectional anti-racism. | Supports joined-up thinking and solidarity across communities. |
| Amplify lived experiences from Jewish, Roma, Traveller, and other minoritised groups. | Prevents erasure and strengthens public understanding. |
| Challenge generalisations publicly but respectfully. | Ensures accountability without dehumanising or cancelling. |
| Offer learning spaces for public figures and allies. | Creates environments for deeper reflection and better-informed speech. |
4. Checklist: Types of Racism to Acknowledge
| Type of Racism | Who It Affects | Common Features |
| Anti-Black Racism | People of African and Caribbean heritage | Visible skin colour; historic and structural marginalisation |
| Antisemitism | Jewish people | Conspiracy theories, racialisation of religion, scapegoating, genocide |
| Anti-Gypsyism / Anti-Traveller Racism | Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities | Cultural erasure, over-policing, housing discrimination |
| Islamophobia | Muslim people or those perceived to be Muslim | Faith-based and racialised prejudice; hate crimes; media bias |
| Anti-East and Southeast Asian Racism | People of Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, etc. heritage | Stereotyping, scapegoating, post-COVID hate |
| Anti-South Asian Racism | People of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan heritage | Islamophobia, caste discrimination, “model minority” myths |
| Xenophobia / Anti-Migrant Racism | Refugees, asylum seekers, migrants | Language discrimination, scapegoating, policy-based exclusion |
| Mixed-Race Prejudice | Mixed heritage individuals | Identity invalidation, “not Black/white enough”, erasure |
| Colourism | Often intra-community | Preference for lighter skin tones; internalised racism |
| Anti-Kurdish, Anti-Roma, Anti-Sikh Racism | Ethnic and cultural minorities within larger regions | Often overlooked in data and the media; political scapegoating |
Conclusion
From Division to Dialogue: Holding Space for Every Story
In a society still grappling with structural inequality, public figures must tread carefully with their words. Unintended harm can echo loudly, particularly when it reinforces harmful assumptions or dismisses others’ realities.
Diane Abbott has long been a powerful advocate for racial justice. But her recent framing of racism risks creating a hierarchy where some communities are seen and others are rendered invisible.
Racism is not only what you see it is also what is felt, feared, and endured.
This moment offers a valuable opportunity for growth. Instead of pitting one group’s suffering against another’s, we can expand our understanding and build a shared commitment to justice.
We must:
- Affirm that all racism is serious.
- Acknowledge the historical and current harm felt by all targeted groups.
- Reject comparison and foster connection.
- Use our voices to educate, not divide.
Let this be a turning point; a reminder that the fight against racism requires all of us, all the time, in every form it takes.