Race, Ethnicity, and Culture
Earlier this week, a story from Bilton School made national headlines not because of what a pupil did wrong, but because of how one school’s decision sparked a bigger question: Is being British still seen as a culture in itself? Twelve-year-old Courtney Wright turned up to school proudly wearing a sequinned Union Jack dress for […]
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
Let’s Not Minimise Lived Experiences — A Call to Listen, Learn and Stand Together Read More »
In policing, the term “a normal week” should convey order, service, and professionalism. But for many Black officers and staff within UK policing, a “normal week” is far from acceptable and that is precisely the problem. Behind the uniform, there is another battle: navigating a culture that too often tolerates racism, minimises harm, and fails
When Normal Isn’t Good Enough: The Unseen Toll of Driving Change in Policing Read More »
Despite growing multicultural pupil populations across Greater Manchester, the boards governing these schools remain overwhelmingly white and older. National data reveals that just 5–6% of state school governors in England are from ethnically diverse backgrounds, compared to 30% of pupils https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jun/29/only-5-of-state-school-governors-in-england-from-ethnic-minorities-report. A recent survey shows 95% of governors identify as white, with 41% retired and
The Diversity Gap in Greater Manchester’s School Leadership Read More »
Introduction Black employees in the UK are disproportionately subjected to workplace surveillance and algorithmic management. According to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), these patterns are not just coincidental they are systemic, rooted in historic and ongoing racial bias in employment practices. As technology advances and workplace monitoring becomes increasingly sophisticated, employers must ask:
The Reality of Workplace Surveillance Read More »
In memory of Leonard Moore and the Windrush Generation They came not as strangers, but as builders of dreams,Carried by faith across oceans and streams.From sunlit isles to grey British skies,They arrived with hope burning deep in their eyes. The call was clear – come help rebuild.To heal the broken, to get the buses filled.To
Windrush Day – 22 June 2025 Read More »
The recent report “Racial Disproportionality in the Youth Justice System (YJS)” from MetroPolis, the University of Bedfordshire, and Manchester Metropolitan University makes for sobering reading. Despite years of policy commitments, the harsh reality is this: ethnically diverse children, especially Black and Mixed Heritage children, continue to be over-policed, unfairly penalised, and systematically failed by diversion
Still Unequal: Confronting Racial Disproportionality in the Youth Justice System Read More »
Introduction: Why Brit(ish) Matters Brit(ish) is not simply a memoir or a sociological analysis, it is a courageous and necessary interrogation of what it means to be both Black and British in a country that continues to struggle with its imperial legacy, institutional racism, and national identity. The book is a deeply personal and politically
Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch – A Journey of Identity, Truth and Action Read More »
What is “New Racism”? Unlike the blatant racism of the past, new racism hides behind cultural language. It doesn’t rely on skin colour or biology; it focuses on perceived cultural differences and the belief that “they” don’t belong. It’s subtle. Often unconscious. And dangerously divisive. It’s when “fitting in” becomes code for “be like us.”
“New Racism”, Belonging and the Future of Community Cohesion in Britain Read More »
We’ve been taught to believe that policies equal progress. That having a policy on anti-racism, inclusion, or equality means an organisation is “doing the work.” But for many of us and especially for ethnically diverse individuals that illusion shatters the moment we seek help, report harm, or simply try to be seen. Recently, we’ve experienced
