The Unkindness of Strangers

At a time of such a tragedy as the one in Berkeley balcony collapse, it was truly heart-warming to see how the country pulled together and stood united with the victim’s families and friends.  We also did ourselves proud recently when we votes ‘Yes’ on the Marriage Equality Referendum and show cased ourselves as a kind and empathic nation that stands with people who are sometimes faced with adversity.  This is how I had always viewed the Irish people, until I read the article in The Independent about how Joanne O’ Riordan was treated on a recent train journey from Tralee to Dublin. 

Joanne O’ Riordan was born with the condition Tetra-Amelia syndrome and has been a voice for people with disabilities for the past couple of years.  She challenged Taoiseach Enda Kenny about cuts to allowances for disabled people, addressed the United Nations and discussed technology advances with Apple.  She has been named Cork Person of the Month and Young Person of the Year at the People of the Year Awards.

What happened on her train journey conveyed that, unfortunately, there are some individuals in this great country of ours who are not as understanding and kind as I had previously thought.   Joanne and her brother received abuse on the train after asking fellow passengers to move their bags out of the space which is designated for wheelchair users.  According to Joanne’s brother, no one on the train stood up for Joanne or moved bags out of the way and he expressed his utter dismay at the situation in the article.  He spoke about how it had an emotionally traumatising effect on both him and his sister for the duration of the journey.

This kind of discrimination and disregard for wheelchair-user travel facilities was appalling and completely left my reeling after reading what the two siblings had to endure that day.  For a country who are becoming renowned world-wide as a tight-knit,  accepting community of people,  it certainly seems we have a long way to go until we can fully live up to this title.

Readers' Guide to Racial Bias in the Mass Media

 With the explosion of mass media and its availability to more people than ever before in Europe, how the media manages and monitors its attitudes and beliefs towards issues of racism and how they’re covered is crucial for the fair representation of everybody on a local and international level.

The media is collectively responsible for the influence it has on society as it feeds its audience with attitudes, beliefs and stereotypes that are then devoured so willingly by our collective unconscious or, perhaps, conscious, thus creating new negative ideas surrounding different groups in society.

Every media outlet should then continually ensure the presence of any act of inequality is wiped from their organisation’s belief system if they are to commit to enhancing and improving society rather than hindering its progress.

This may be tough task, however, as in the US less than 2% of those working in news media are made up of racial minorities, those with disabilities or aboriginals. Stronger representation is key to impose counter views and beliefs to those that currently drive the majority.

UNESCO promotes safe freedom of expression for all but how can we all exchange and share knowledge via mass media and furthermore trust those shaping it if it those in the majority that hold most of the expression?

This is particularly worrying when we consider the different ways in which black and white males, for example, are reported and portrayed in the media for similar violent crimes. Media institutions presenting with racial bias, whether vividly or subtly, coupled with the fact the media is so influential, is a testament to how vital it is that all media and individuals are reporting and representing everybody in a way that does not hinder the progress of equality in the media.

You, the audience member and contributor of all forms of media, have the power to control what messages and beliefs you choose to mimic and uphold. Awareness is key and we must demand these basic standards of fairness from all media providers. So make the choices that reflect change, diversity and fairness in your media.

Below is a guide to help both audience and contributor of mass media alike, engage in fair reporting, advertising and entertainment and so fully enjoy the power of media. 

•Be vigilant when being sold a service or product in the latest clothing or gaming ad campaign. How, for example, are the characters portrayed in a gaming campaign, are avatars overly stereotypical? Is the black man always the gun wielding car thief in the latest violent video game?

•Watch out for how we identify a certain race through images, sounds or words used by media. Ideally no group or individual should be categorised by a sound or image.

•Likewise does some media paint an assumption to the reader or audience about where some races may live? What particular cars they might drive? How sexually overt they may be or not? How they live and work?    

•Be aware of wording used to describe an alleged suspect in a news report. There is no reason why a reporter or a news agency should describe a person’s race unless it is absolutely relevant.

•If it is relevant however, choose wording carefully. The word ‘coloured’ is not appropriate but rather the NUJ advises the use of the word black to imply those of African, Asian or Arabic origin. It’s OK to ask how one defines themselves if you are interviewing them.

•Don’t assume someone’s racial background or guess their possible religion based on their name, this is highly presumptuous and offensive.  

•Your favourite news publication might be your go to source for trusted accuracy but they too may get it wrong. Question everything!

•Ask yourself, due to the continued impact of offending media inequality, do individuals from different races have fewer opportunities and experiences than me due to media assumptions and portrayal?

•Choose your news sources and entertainment carefully but never stop questioning and remain vigilant! 

Be part of the collaboration of justice and fairness for all and above all except nothing less than the clear facts in your news and equality across all platforms.

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The Critical Media Project (2015) Available at:

http://www.criticalmediaproject.org/cml/topicbackground/race-ethnicity/ & NUJ Guidelines on Race Reporting (2007). Available at: http://www.dochas.ie/Shared/Files/7/Guidelines_on_Race_Reporting.pdf

Racist Crime in the EU: Increasing, Under-Reported, Destroying Lives

by Georgina Siklossy, Communication and Press Officer with ENAR

Racist crime recently made its way into the headlines with the start of the landmark trial of elected politicians of Greece’s far-right Golden Dawn party, including the party leader. They are accused of orchestrating a string of attacks against immigrants, leftists and gay people.

This is, however, a rare occurrence. Most racist crime incidents are kept invisible due to gaps in police and criminal justice systems – despite the fact that every year thousands of people are victims of unprovoked, often extremely violent crime, motivated simply because of the real or perceived colour of people’s skin, ethnicity or religion.

This is particularly the case in Ireland, one of the few European countries without any legislation recognising the hate or bias motivation of racist crime and taking it into consideration for the purpose of investigation, prosecution and sentencing.

Black and Asian ethnic minorities, Roma, Jews and Muslims – or those perceived as such, are those most vulnerable to racist crime, according to ENAR’s latest Shadow Report on racist crime in Europe, covering 26 European countries.

A total of 47,210 racist crimes were officially recorded in 2013 in the 26 countries covered in the report, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Most EU Member States do not properly record and report racially motivated crimes. In some countries there is no official or systematic data collection of racially motivated crimes; and in others, including, Ireland, information about the racial, ethnic or religious background of the victims is not disaggregated.

In addition, because they feel ashamed, do not trust the police, or think their testimony will not change anything, many victims often do not come forward to report racist crimes. It does not help that they are also often treated with suspicion by police and emergency workers. Another issue, highlighted in Ireland, is the fact that asylum seekers, migrants and refugees are particularly reluctant to report crimes for fear of deportation or unfair treatment because of their migration status.

The investigation and prosecution of racist crimes is also problematic. Ireland stands out in this respect as the Irish criminal code currently does not have a provision to deal with racist crime. This results in incidents not being recorded, investigated or prosecuted properly. It is at the discretion of judges to consider racist motive as a factor when determining a sentence in a case.

Under-qualification of racist crimes – i.e. treating a crime motivated by hate as a less severe crime or as a crime committed without a bias motive – takes place throughout the justice system, from police reporting to court judgements. In Ireland for instance, a man believed to have links with the small neo-Nazi Democratic Right Movement was found guilty of assault by Mullingar District Court but in spite of having shouted “Paki” at his victim, the judge said that “this does not make him a racist”.

Racist crime is one of the worst implications of racism, a threat to people’s lives, safety, health and property on the sole basis of their real or perceived race, ethnic origin or religion, and it should not go unpunished. Racist crimes are message crimes, which have detrimental consequences beyond the victims: their whole community is threatened as potential next victims, and possible escalation can put liberal and democratic societies at risk. Ireland, as all other EU Member States, must step up efforts in this area. It should ensure that existing EU legislation on combating racist crime – although imperfect – is properly implemented. Beyond this, it should strengthen the legal framework so that it recognises and clearly defines racially motivated crimes, provides for real obligations to investigate the racist motivation, and punishes these crimes more severely. We also need better training for the police and all law enforcement and criminal justice staff on racist crime, as well as adequate support offered to victims of racist crimes. Real political will is urgently needed to ensure better reporting, recording and sanctioning of racist crimes.

Marriage Referendum 2015; Vote YES for Equality and Progression

by Michelle Mitchell
                                                                                                
I don’t think there is anyone in Ireland by now that is unaware of the upcoming marriage referendum on May 22^nd.  If this referendum is passed what will occur is that homosexual couples will gain the right to have the same status of marriage that heterosexual couples in Ireland presently obtain.  With this referendum of course those for and against it passing have implemented a very visible and vocal campaign on their respective opinions.

All of the major political parties are calling for a yes vote and associating it with inclusivity in society, along with equality and fairness for all Irish citizens. Many celebrities are also advocating for a yes vote such as Hozier, various Irish rugby players and Sir Ian McKellen, which is showing a strong backing for the yes campaign. I have to say I am one such advocate and simply struggle to understand how anyone can comprehend or defend their decision to vote no. If two people in a relationship that I am no way involved in, decide to get married then how exactly does that affect me? Why does this issue even give cause for a referendum, as by even doing this we are essentially in some respect deciding as to whether or not gay and lesbian people deserve the same rights and status as anyone else in society?  We would also do well to remember that we also voting for the right of our children and their children to marry. So any future relationships our children may enter into, we are therefore influencing its legal and social standing on May 22^nd. I currently have no children but when or if I do and if any of them should be born gay or lesbian well then I would like to think they would be equally valued in Irish society and that I have played a small role in contributing to that by voting yes on May 22^nd.

Turing my attention to the no campaign, whilst I do respect everyone’s right to promote their views and opinions in any referendum or poll, what I do not respect is using lies and children as pawns to do so. I think their argument essentially has proved counter-productive as the yes campaign has responded by making it clear that in no way is this referendum a vote for surrogacy. That is an issue for the legislature and the legalities surrounding surrogacy will not be affected by the result on May 22^nd.  As for the call to not redefine marriage, everyone’s concept of marriage is different. We have a tenancy in Ireland to associate marriage with the church. This is not the case, the Catholic Church nor any other church did not invent marriage, it is in fact a pagan tradition in this country before Christianity arrived and therefore they do not own the concept of this union. I do respect that the church are entitled to their own understanding and beliefs of marriage however it is not the only one and claiming ownership of this union is simply wrong. Finally in relation to the no campaign using child protection as a reason to vote no is simply ignorant, discriminatory, wrong and there is no justification for it. If we want to look at institutions and groups of people who have damaged the family unit and hurt children in inconceivable ways in this country then let’s turn our attention to the church and state. Mother and baby homes, forced adoption, clerical abuse, Magdalene asylums, arranged marriages, enough said!

To conclude this piece I would like to urge everyone to get out and vote yes on May 22^nd as by doing so we are showing the world we are a progressive, egalitarian and fair nation that values all of its citizens equally. We are closing a divide in society that currently exists and this need's to happen as when a social divide prevails in society it damages it. Social divides promote discrimination, prejudice and social isolation. However most importantly by voting yes we are showing all members of the LGBT community that yes we do value you as equal citizens in our country and we recognise your right to love and marry whomever you choose.  Finally, what I visualise should a yes vote occur, is that twenty years into the future  finding it so unbelievable and shameful that we once didn’t allow homosexuals to marry, just as now we find it hard to comprehend that blacks and whites were once not allowed to marry or the stigma attached to Protestant and Catholic unions. 

I'm Not Racist But....

By Ruth Daly

In this, the first of my monthly blog posts for ROI Against Racism, I want to discuss the language of everyday racism in Ireland and beyond.  It is easy to recognise and call people out on overt racist behaviour – we see videos popping up on social media every day capturing racist attacks on public transport.  Just last week in Ireland, a 19 year old was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a vicious racist assault on two teenage cousins.  The assault, which took place in 2013, has left one of the young victims blind in one eye, and both young men have talked about the devastating emotional consequences of the violent racist attack they were subjected to.  While people are quick to condemn such overt racist assaults, many choose to overlook the more subtle, everyday forms of racism that are often presented in the guise of a joke or stereotype of some description. 

It is imperative that we recognise that language is not simply a means of communication. Rather, it is fundamental to everything we do, essentially housing the value through which we live our lives, a theory proffered by many critics.  It’s particularly worrying that a most insidious form of racist behaviour has become so commonplace and normalised in our society that prejudiced views and opinions are given the space to become validated. 

On a number of separate occasions, I have found myself in the company of people who have prefaced a statement with the words: ‘I’m not racist, but…’ what Sociologist Bonilla-Silva calls a ‘discursive buffer.’  He writes that this use of language became ‘standard fare of post-Civil Rights racial discourse.’  While the person uttering this disclaimer might think themselves unprejudiced, this all-too-common use of language is hugely problematic.  For one thing, these words carry with them inherently racist connotations.  In my experience at least, the subsequent remark is usually an explicitly racist or derogatory one.  Ultimately, in using this ‘discursive buffer’ a person is both acknowledging that they are going to say something racist while simultaneously absolving oneself of all responsibility in perpetuating prejudiced rhetoric. 

The idea that one can remove any sense of accountability for one’s use of racist language with a trite disclaimer is wholly unacceptable.  It illustrates the immense power of language as it points to the issue of a deeply embedded racist discourse which is often accompanied by a tone of cultural superiority. This of course leads us to another, huge, manifestation of racism, white privilege (which I will discuss in a later blog) which proves rather difficult as a point of discussion with someone who vehemently denies they harbour racist views or behaviours.  Lest we forget, as long as someone proclaims that they are not racist first, they can then make all manner of racist remarks.  So what can be done?  If we refuse to challenge the insidious, surreptitious everyday racism that has comfortably settled itself into our everyday lives, are we complicit in acts of racism? I would answer that with a resounding Yes! As Desmond Tutu puts it, ‘If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.’  We know that racism is by no means an inherent thing, but rather, it is a learned behaviour.  In educating ourselves about the deep-seated nature of racial discourse, and our complicity in that discourse if we choose to remain silent in the face of racism and prejudice, we can continue to work towards an inclusive Ireland…

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1. Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Racism Without Racists (Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield, 2009), p. 57.
2. Ibid.

I Love Tea But Not In That Mug: Controls on Immigration on the Table

by Lorraine Lally

As a tea lover the misuse and abuse of a mug which is a common household item to send a message was upsetting because these items will survive even if the Party does not get elected. This mug was not Ukip either which another worrying point is.

 

To quote Diane Abbott a member of the Labour Party “This shameful mug is an embarrassment. But real problem is that immigration controls are one of our 5 pledges at all”.   I was severely distressed and sickened almost to the point of not wanting a cuppa tea at the United Kingdom Labour Party selling red mugs with a pledge.  They are being purchased for 4 pounds, can you imagine buying a mug stating “controls on immigration” there were no mugs stating “Increase Disability Supports” or “Promote Child Welfare” or “Report Domestic Violence”. The United Kingdom is our closest neighbour and the discourse that is present there is equally present in other EU States such as Spain.  Barcelona has a serious issue with illegal immigrants like most European Countries.  And on a recent trip it was clear the ghettoization that had occurred in the City. I hate seeming the use of high rise buildings with large amounts of impoverished migrants who are all surviving in unacceptable conditions often in accommodation that is not appropriate.

 

When talking to a member of staff in the hotel about racism he stated that there was a symbol on the entry to some nightclubs as blacks/Arabs and other foreigners are not welcome. The person telling me this was of African descent with a Spanish mother.

 

I asked him if it bothered him and he reckoned that it was easier to keep the peace and stay away from where you are not wanted.  I mentioned segregation and he did not understand I stated to keep people separate like apartheid. He told me there were no apartheid just cultural and religious issues. He told me that Spain was struggling and that it would improve. What was going to improve?

 

As a tourist in Barcelona you are harassed on the beach by individuals trying to sell you drinks and sun glasses none of the individuals are natives to the country with broken English and equally broken Spanish. I wonder if they are trafficked. Are they struggling to pay off a debt? Are they sending the entire money home to their families? Are they depressed at the thought of their entrapment?  You could sense the desperation which was a little unnerving for someone looking to lie in the sun on the beach which is what I really wanted.

 

The situation is bad in Spain through the eyes of a tourist and on the last day we saw the individuals on the beach mainly African men fleeing toward us at the top of the pier there was an immigration control police car.  On returning to Ireland I read an article that made me smile when I saw that Spain will allow illegal immigrants access to public health care. 

 

In Ireland illegal immigrants can access public health care and are provided with medical cards based on need and income.  This situation will change and we need to be aware of all the changes within the EU to ensure that we protect the most vulnerable people who are trapped. They are often stuck in a foreign country what we need to realise is that country maybe our country.

 

I once met a woman who was over 8 months pregnant and had not seen a single doctor out of fear. I reassured her that she could give birth in Ireland and that the staff would take good care of her. I was lucky to know a midwife who reassured her over the phone that her welfare and that of the baby were the only concern of the hospital. She asked my friend to confirm they would not take the baby from her as she sat before me wearing slippers her feet were so swollen. She told me that she had been preparing to give birth at home. I told her about Noel Browne and the Mother and Child Scheme and explained that we have a proud history of providing good care to pregnant women .We need to make sure that we make good policy decisions and that our changes going forward in relation to health look at international best practice and not the budget costs involved.

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 Spain to Allow illegal Immigrants access to free public healthcare http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/11509227/Spain-to-allow-illegal-immigrants-to-access-free-public-healthcare.html

Racism; How We View Each Other

by Nyasha Mhandu

Race for not simply the colour of a person’s skin, it is all things cultural combined that make someone who they are. Where are you from? Where were you born? Where do you live? Innocent questions that I will live with for the rest of my life, when I am in Ireland I am not fully Irish but when I am in Zimbabwe I am not fully Zimbabwean so how do I identify myself? The development of technology has had an increasing effect on migration all over the world and the lines are blurring between who is of this and that race. Ireland as a small society has only began to experience multiculturalism in the last 25 years especially in Dublin although there is still major racial issues evident. The new generation of Irish is not the stereotypical red haired freckled Niamh and Eoin, I know Liam and Nathan born to fully Zimbabwean parents who may never get the chance to see Zimbabwe now that most of their relatives are spread around the world so where are they really from? Being racist or not racist does does not directly imply the dislike of another person because of their race but in our everyday manner and respect for other people. Words such as ‘chink’ ‘paki’ and foreigner itself are wrongly embedded into Irish colloquialism and the negative association with them mirrors an unwelcoming society. Although many of us don’t admit it there is an element of racism in all of us in that when we see someone who is of  a certain who sounds or dresses a certain we confine them to a box of stereotypical mannerisms.

‘Do they walk their dogs?’ ‘Do they have blonde hair’ I distinctly remember asking my dad on the phone before I moved to Ireland, this was my perception of varungu the Zimbabwean term for white people. To 12 year old me if you weren’t black you were white and I was going to live in a country with white people racial diversity was not a notion I had thought of before. I had mostly seen white people on the television prior to the big move and as I look at my attitude back then there I had been raised with an embedded superiority of white skin over black skin. This racial superiority is not something only common in Zimbabwe as I noticed it during the time I spent in Thailand. When the volunteers introduced themselves we all had to share where we are from and I would introduce myself as being from Ireland and so would another pale red head girl I had worked with and there would be a common muddled look on the children’s faces. As I worked mostly with children I noticed a lot of them instantly attracted to spending more time with my white colleagues where as it took them some time to relate to me. However as time developed one of the children got comfortable enough to really get to know the difference she touched my hair skin eyelashes and compared them to hers and I felt satisfied we all equal we really were.

The widespread consensus that has been highly encouraged by the media is very much of a whitewashed society, in black communities there is a significant amount of effort put into having long straight hair or lack of appreciation for very dark skin. I myself have been subject to this as a young black woman I have seen myself making a lot of effort to fit in by getting a very long weave instead of braids just so I can have the same silky smooth hair as all my friends. The older I get the more aware of this I am and it is in my best interest to love myself as I am afro and all. Racial stereotypes about black people that have indirectly affected me include the stereotyping of black people loving chicken or being seen as loud. Growing up in a predominantly white society made it significantly more difficult for me to accept my awkward puberty phase, I grew hips and a bum a lot faster and bigger than the majority of my peers. The body shape I developed is the same as that of my mother and my aunty but I cannot say it is that of all black women. It is only since Hollywood has accepted the current trend of a big bum not being ridiculed and associated with being fat I see people commenting on my figure in a positive manner.

Prior to writing this blog I had not fallen victim to any comments I would have found deeply hurtful however on St Patrick’s Day this year a comment made by a homeless man on Henry Street really hit home for me. Walking out of work with my colleagues he struck up conversation about the violence and noise and immediately he turned to question me about ‘the likes of you’ and why we like fighting. Although the comments were not taken personally it is the fact that no matter how hard I strive to be a better version of myself to someone else my melanin levels will always be more important than my contribution to society that always play on the mind.

Racsim ; Learning from Living

by Hannah Church

When I first sat down to write this post, I struggled. I didn’t know what I could bring to the cultural diversity and the media discussion. I don’t know what wisdom I have to impart on the topic. All I can give is what I’ve learned from life and growing up in the world I have. I feel that the best education a person can get comes mainly from experience. If you have a bad experience in a restaurant you’re not likely to return or give it a good review. If you go to a film and absolutely love it you’ll rave about it to your friends and encourage them to see it as soon as you can. And what about people? If you have a negative encounter with a person, you react. Some fight back, some take note to avoid in the future and most recount their experience to friends. This can often affect the friends’ judgement regardless of whether or not they’ve had their own encounter. This could be a far too confusing and convoluted analogy of how I believe media representation of different cultures can work. I don’t agree that traditional media is the best place to learn of other cultures. It can narrow our minds. With the introduction of new media however, there has been a new sort of revolution in the way people of all different cultures are exemplified and represent themselves and show their lives and struggles. We can be exposed to so much more now than we ever had been before. Our minds can broaden and so can our attitudes.

            I’m a twenty year old college student with no real worries or stress other than what I’m going to do once I’ve graduated. I’ve had it relatively easy. I’ve lived a sheltered, happy life and I, unfortunately, have not had many life changing or mind blowing experiences of different cultures. Other than visiting a few European countries every now and then on a family holiday, I’ve never travelled anywhere than takes more than four or five hours on a plane to get to. So I can’t actually regale you with any stories of my travels and the cultural education I’ve gained from each trip. All I have to offer what awareness I’ve developed over time of different cultures and how they can be represented or misrepresented and the obstacles that are still hindering a culturally diverse and developed world.

Living in my sheltered existence meant that many of my cultural experiences, outside of what I’d encountered on a few family holidays, came from outside sources. Mainly the media. The media nowadays is a regular form of education. We get our news and current affairs, our Information on people, places and events, and it can help to expand our knowledge and broaden our minds. Traditional print media and television can help in our education of the world. However, it can also end up interfering in our view on certain cultures. I watched a lot of television as a child. I would watch shows and cartoons on Nickelodeon, I would rent every Disney movie I could and I would love every minute. This is where my cultural knowledge started. Or lack thereof. The most popular shows at the time, and probably most impactful, were the American shows. I would notice small messages here and there within the shows. For example, all Asians are smart or nerdy or high achieving and not very social. Or all African Americans are cool or trouble makers. I would later learn that this was stereotyping and how damaging it is. We were fed closed minded messages like this so often. It’s really troubling how much of this stereotypical content is in children’s television.   I’ve never had to really face racism in my life. My only experience was in second class in primary school, I wouldn’t share my crayons with a class mate so she called me a racist. I remember getting incredibly offended, even though I didn’t fully comprehend what she meant, and I quickly assured her that she was wrong and actually I wasn’t sharing my crayons with anyone. After that day I stopped bringing in any crayons because I’d rather avoid the drama. I grew up not understanding racism until it was discussed in school. We were told in history class about the racism experienced by the Irish by the British. We learned about the atrocities Africans Americans were subjected to for centuries. We read roll of Thunder Hear My Cry as a class to teach us how wrong racism is and what it did to families and entire cultures. Though we knew that racism hadn’t suddenly become extinct it was easy to feel that it had only really happened in the past. To believe it happened when people were less civilised, when they didn’t know as much or understand empathy like we did today. “That was ages ago”, we could reassure ourselves. Having been exposed to the internet I can see that the world did not fix itself in the way we had been led to believe.

Through the internet we can be exposed to so many harsh truths. Not everyone has grown up with the same sense of what is right and what is wrong that I have. We can now see through YouTube, social media, bloggers and online news outlets racism is still out there. More so than we’d like to think. Scrolling through comments sections on videos or articles it is common place now to see at least one or two racist remarks. A simple YouTube search will bring you page upon page of videos with someone sharing their experiences with racism or even videos containing racist content. It’s eye opening. I am a particularly empathetic person, you cry, I cry. So consuming this content can be hard. But I’ve learned so much more about what is really happening in the real world than I had before.

With the introduction of this new media I feel like the conversation about racism, cultural diversity and identity has really taken off. Because though there can be some dispiriting content out there, there is also an army of people who are ready to defend and speak out and fight against the way things are. For example, the tragic cases recently of the shooting of Mike Brown and the death of Eric Garner in America were covered extensively online. Thousands of people came out in protest of the racist treatment of these men, showing their support in so many ways through social media. Stories like this may not have had as much coverage and may not have had a chance to gain as much support as they did if it had been left to traditional media to decide what story takes preference. With social media and new media the story, the issue and the outrage could all be heard clearly.

I believe that a culturally diverse and accepting world is so much more obtainable now with new media. There are so many incredibly intelligent and broadminded people from every corner of the globe ready to give support, speak out and defend themselves and others against oppression, racism and cultural ignorance. There are so many people ready to learn more than what traditional media has told them to be true. There are also people who will abuse their right to freedom of speech and will offend and insult and attack the developed and diverse mind-set. But it is important to know that there are people like that out there, and not just naively believe when your teachers tell you that racism was in the past. This is the only way we can continue learning and growing and fighting for a diverse, accepting future. 

A World of Cultural Diversity

by Adam Halpin

Ireland is not the most diverse of nations, with less than 5 per cent of the population being of an ethnic origin other than white. As a result, one would expect a low level of discrimination and racism. In my opinion, while racism in the sense of colour is not a massive problem in Ireland, there seems to be a lot of discrimination based on origin. I find that people often comment and complain when they hear an accent from overseas as they immediately associate that accent with preconceived notions of a particular nation. These generalisations need to stop and as a nation we need to become more open and accepting, we are not all the same, but we are all human and share many similarities. I’m glad to say that I haven’t witnessed many racist acts in Ireland, but unfortunately they do happen and are mostly based on traditional stereotypes.

To be honest I feel that overall Ireland is a very welcoming country and most people will treat people with culturally diverse backgrounds in a respectable manner. In my opinion, most racism in the world can be dealt with through education, as once people know more of the world and its people they will be less likely to discriminate against those from elsewhere. Currently Ireland seems to have a system of cultural integration in that immigrants tend to respect the cultures and traditions of Ireland while keeping their own beliefs, cultures and traditions, as opposed to cultural assimilation which sees national identity forced upon all citizens. While at the outset, a clear national identity may seem favourable, in some cases it may result in negative outcomes, for example in France, where cultural assimilation has led to many racist attacks in the past. The first extreme case of racism that I have encountered occurred in France when I was 16 as part of a cultural exchange program in Transition Year. My exchange student had racist views, believing that all black people and “Arabs” were thieves who wanted to take over France. While comments such as that were disturbing, I was even more shocked when he told me to put my hands in my pockets whenever anyone that wasn’t white passed us. Attitudes like this need to disappear and can only do so if cultural diversity is respected and accepted. If that experience taught me anything, it is that as world citizens we need to be open to different cultures and look at what makes us similar rather than what sets us apart.

Last summer, I worked in Orlando, Florida in the United States as part of a J 1 programme and was pleasantly surprised to see how well racism is dealt with in America. While on the outside America may seem similar to Ireland, it is a much more culturally diverse nation and has often been seen as a melting pot of culture as all cultures tend to exist together. This was particularly evident to me when an African American colleague jokingly asked me if black people existed in Ireland. My immediate response was that they did exist in Ireland, but not as they do in America, as I would consider most black people in Ireland as Irish. Whether or not this is a good thing I do not know, but I do find it very interesting that  cultural diversity is treated differently in different parts of the world. I find America particularly interesting in how it treats multiculturalism. Minority or ethnic groups are established, e.g. Italian American, Irish American, Asian American and African American which differentiates these groups from the rest of the population. As a result, the majority of these groups keep traditions from their place of origin, often creating their own communities which led to the development of ghettos or “China-town” like areas where people of the same ethnic origin live together. While these minorities may be accepted now, it has taken a long time for America to overcome discrimination and it is still a work in progress, with racism still occurring in some areas.

It is difficult to say whether integration or a “melting pot” can deal with multiculturalism adequately, as there are even more ways that other nations have dealt with cultural diversity. While the melting pot of the United States celebrates the different cultures of American citizens it also creates minority groups, which separates them from the wider society, in a way alienating them. On the other hand, cultural integration also has its issues in that people are forced to let their heritage become more refined in order to respect the national traditions of the new country.  As a result it’s hard to say if either is suitable for a world without racism, but a mixture of both could allow ethnic cultures to better blend in with mainstream culture.

It may take a long time for racism to vanish, but in my opinion, Ireland has already taken small steps which could be built upon. In general people need to become more informed, whether this is through school or public information campaigns, everyone needs to be encouraged to be more open in their outlook of the world and its people. It is clear that people may have established judgements which may negatively influence their actions. However, if people know more about different cultures, they may be less likely to make racist comments or attack people out of discrimination. A recent experience which has allowed me to see the similarities of cultures was last week, when I visited a mosque for a college assignment. During this visit it became clear to me that Islamic beliefs are not that different from Christian or Jewish beliefs with many more similarities than differences. I found this particularly surprising with the amount of violence cause by Islamic extremists which shows that even minor differences can cause disruption. These differences really shouldn’t separate the world, but unfortunately they do. In my opinion if we all embrace our similarities rather than differences we may be one step closer to a world without racism.

That Was Then, This Is Now

by Anonymous

My story begins in 1988. The new wave of mass emigration from Ireland in the 1980s was a different animal altogether. Emigration was most concentrated at two ends of the class/education/wealth spectrum. Unskilled and semi-skilled workers were still leaving in droves and I was one of them.

 “The world is your oyster”, my mammy said. I had just been for a second interview as a trainee manager within the hotel industry and had been successfully. Out of the 350 people from around Ireland who applied for the job only 35 people were selected and I was one of them. I couldn’t believe it I had got the job. My whole family were so excited. I was going to Las Vegas. Although I was very excited myself, I was also a bit apprehensive as I had never been outside Ireland before and I could sense from my mam and dad, while they were happy for me they were nervous about the idea too. But they knew that opportunities like this only came once in a life time. Not only did I have a very good relationship with my parents but I was also daddy’s little girl out of the 5 children my daddy doted on me the most.

The day came for me to set off on my adventure and all my family came to the airport to see me off. I remember in particular my dad holding me in an embrace so tight I thought I was going to faint. “You take care now and be safe I love you Catherine”, he said.  My heart was breaking and I cried tears of joy and sadness.

I arrived in Las Vegas dumb struck. The place was amazing everywhere was opened 24 hours, nowhere shut. The strip at night was lit up like a great big disco ball it was fantastic. After two weeks of orientation and training we were all given our shifts to work in the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. I had made a lot of friends and when we had time off we would go out and about exploring all the different casinos in Las Vegas. It was all so incredible and wonderful. Life couldn’t have been better!

Then one night while a few friends and I were out in a bar having a few drinks and listening to the band that was playing. I noticed the guy that was playing the saxophone; he was so handsome all my friends thought so too. We both exchanged glances and before the end of the night we were laughing and talking about everything and anything, we hit it off real well his name was Kenny. Life had just got better!

Everything was fantastic I and Kenny were going strong and I had told my parents about him too. They were so happy for me especially my daddy and he said that he couldn’t wait to meet him. My work visa had finished and I had to return home to Ireland. I was devastated on having to leave Kenny and he felt the same way too. We decided that we would have a long distance relationship as neither of us wanted to be without the other. Kenny had promised to come to Ireland to visit and I had promised that I would also go back to America on holidays.

After lots of tears and hugs I took out some of the photos I had taken and was showing them to my family. Then within that one second of having my life complete my whole world was turned upside down “Jeysus he’s black” my sister shouted. My dad grabbed the photo and I seen the look of disgust and disappointment in his face as he inspected it. “No Niger will ever step foot in my home and I will certainly not allow any daughter of mine to be seen with one” and he stomped out of the room. Silence fell around the room. My mother asked why I had not told them and I said that I didn’t think that it was relevant. I loved him no matter of his colour race or religion. And I was going to continue to be with him

The day came for Kenny to arrive. I met him at the airport and the love that we had for each other was even stronger than before. He knew that there was something wrong and asked me what was bothering me. The gut feeling I had in my stomach was wrenching I felt like I was going to vomit I broke down in tears “my father is racist” I said. I had never known this before and I had never even spoken the word before, it was all too much. “Don’t worry darling we will stay in a hotel”, Kenny said, because we had decided initially to stay with my parents. When I told my father he told me that if I stayed with him in the hotel that I was not welcome in this house again.

Having to choose between the two men in my life that I loved the most was the most difficult thing I had to do. I had never thought before now, that love could be so difficult, hard unfair and racist. I naively thought that love was equal and just among all.

We spent the next two weeks in a hotel in Dublin and Kenny did not meet any of my family as my father had forbidden it. Although I brushed this aside for the sake of Kenny there were many other incidents that occurred during his visit to Ireland that made me realise how negative people were on accepting people from other countries, and cultures into their society.

Besides all the looks and slide remarks that we got when we were out together it didn’t have any hindrance on our love for one another. One example of theses was when we were walking down O’ Connell street and two white Irish lads made a comment, saying” isn’t your own good enough for you love” my reply was “well not if there like you ignorant f….”. I was not only shocked at their racist remarks but with my own reply as I would never have talked in that way to anyone. My blood was boiling, I was outraged not only because of what the two lads had said but also because of the feelings I felt towards them I didn’t hate those two lads but I certainly didn’t like them either. This was not my character I couldn’t understand it. I’d never had such bad feelings towards anyone in my life before. 

Kenny told me although he had experienced racism before and the majority of the time it didn’t bother him he said that he felt like he was living in a time warp and that Ireland had a long way to go before we could accept that all people are the same no matter what colour, race or religion they are. That was 25 years ago and although our relationship ended because we lived so far away from each other, we still remained friends.

Kenny was the first black person I had ever met. Back in Ireland in the 1980s if you walked down O’Connell street and seen a Chinese, Japanese or black person (which was quite rare) you automatically thought that they were on holidays. Now over 500,000 foreign nationals are calling Ireland home. We have come a long way but we still have a long way to go. Even though we live in a society were multiculturalism, globalisation and cultural diversity is more customary, there will always be those slide remarks, presumptions and in cases violent behaviours that need to be overcome.

As for my father, he is now more aware of not how different people are but how different we can be in realising that we are all the same no matter of race, creed or colour.

Racism in Ireland; An Angled View Through Real Life Encounters

By John Mc Cormack

Racism was something that I once had only heard of. To me it was something portrayed on TV and in movies that how showed African Americans were once treated in America.  As a child and a teenager I believed that these encounters of racism towards blacks, often very inhumane treatments, were records of the past, and were now displayed in a form of historical story-telling that brought tension and interest for the viewer.  Soon, topics of socialization during secondary level education brought to light the realities of racism, and that racist behaviour still existed. Until this point I had still not experienced any racial discrimination on a personal level, or witnessed it inflicted on anyone else.  Having experienced bullying to a large degree, I held a degree of empathy with the hurt that can be endured by the unnecessary treatment from one person to another because of how a person looks or where they come from. The one thing I did not understand was how and why people could possess the evil characteristics it takes to do this.

Years later I travelled overseas, open to accept the ways of other nations. In doing so, I also learned that the racism I once saw in movies and on TV did not only exist as an entertaining form of history, but in the shocking reality of the present.

Two memorable incidents on two distantly separated continents remain very clear. Although both were non-direct, and part of an opinionated conversation the mentality of the perpetrators to hatefully separate humans into very different categories in such a manner shocked me.

The first incident was in the U.S.A. where an employer was advising me where to find accommodation for the duration of my stay. I was advised not to buy or rent in a particular area because it was “full of n…”....” once they move into an area, they destroy it”. I questioned my employer’s view, only to receive the response that “when you live around them long enough you will know”. 

The second encounter happened in Australia, where another employer, angered by an employee not showing up said “Sure he’s only a dirty Abbo” When I also questioned this statement, the man replied “Yes, all Abbos, Aboriginals, are useless drunks, they’re primitive, they should be rounded up, given some land, fenced off, and let them live there, away from normal people, because they are not normal”.

 Although non-direct or physical, the incidents I described are clearly racial, and I use them because they were my initial encounters of very outgoing racist comments from people I knew at nearly opposite areas of the globe. In both incidents I found the people in question (victims) to be very likable and one remains a friend today.  

There is clearly racism, and discrimination joins it hand in hand. I believe both come in many forms and begin as a mind-set, progressing to a verbal stage (as the two examples) on to actions and physical behaviour. 

But is there racism in Ireland? Let me explain that in a very personal way. Discrimination falls under many categories, often not involving clear race/ethnic differences. I say this because the most outrageous and discriminating incidents I encountered were attacks on myself by fellow Irish men with enormous hatred towards me being from Dublin. The attacks were physical assaults, one causing grievous bodily harm, and the other causing property damage. Both were based on the fact that I was not from the area of Ireland where these attacks took place, and in both cases it was clearly stated that I was from Dublin and did not belong in these rural areas. ‘Jackeen’ and ‘Blow in’ are discriminative terms still used in rural areas of Ireland towards Dublin people or people not born in those particular areas.  Perhaps also here refer to the experiences of travellers? Who despite being of the same ethnicity/religion they are very much discriminated against perhaps in ways that parallel those of black Americans and Australian aborigines

The little country of beauty with some remaining primitive ways, still holding a reputation of being welcoming and friendly, may only hold valid to ‘money-spending’ tourists and certain nationalities.

In the same way that most of the world opened its doors to Irish immigrants to come and share their way of life, when Ireland became part of the E.U. it opened its doors to foreign nationals to come here share our way of life. But the famous Irish welcome may not have greeted all that came. While I did not witness any cases myself, I know there have been many cases of racist attacks due to their exposure in the media. I see good caused by the exposure of racial discrimination in Ireland and I feel there has been a certain amount of fear injected into the minds of members of the Irish public not to behave in a racist manner.

As mentioned at the start, my experience of bullying helped me empathize with the endurance of racism abroad, but now I have empathy towards people of a different race living in Ireland due to the experiences of hate I endured from fellow Irish. What I once had to travel to see, I shamefully see deeply ingrained in many of the people of my country of birth, Ireland.

Although racial acts may have decreased in Ireland, or at least that is what the media portrays, I feel that many Irish people possess the ability to hold a deep hate towards others who are not local. While I think it is great that many of the racist cases were addressed, I feel that discrimination, race based or not, need to be the main focus. I think every act that stems outside the norms of how society should treat each other, no matter who is the victim, needs to be treated for the crime it is.

Absolutely Fabulous? Absolutely Not!

by Anonymous

I was born and raised in Dublin until 1995 when my parents uprooted and moved the family to Amacao de Pera in Portugal, where I would spend the next twelve years of my life. Over there, my parents ran a successful restaurant and with that came long hours and what could have been a lonely childhood. However, I had my amazing older brother, Peter who is fabulously gay with clothes brighter than the sun. He’s amazing, always has been always will be. My week consisted of School, homework, church and the occasional swim, granted Peter would bring me. We used to do everything together just the two of us. Then Gustavo appeared on the scene. He was Peter’s boyfriend who was just as amazing he was. While my parents took care of the restaurant they took care of me.  Everywhere we went people loved them. Everyone in church knew them, my teachers frequently asked about them and my friends depended on them for fashion advice that was much needed at the time. These are the fondest memories I have from Portugal.

 

After twelve years there my father decided it was time to return home, much to my dismay. Little did I know that I was in for the biggest culture shock of my life. Upon arrival, I quickly learned of the prejudices that surround Irish culture. Walking through the airport we were getting odd looks and smart remarks none of which I got too upset about. One of the first prejudices I encountered was when I visited my Grandmother for the first time since I moved back. I was so excited to tell her all about Portugal and Gustavo and Peter. However, when I showed her pictures she let out an exasperated yelp and said ‘Oh, I didn’t realise my grandson was one of them.’ Those words still ring in my ear as it was the first time that I realised people saw my brother as different. He was classified as ‘them’ not ‘us’. It broke my heart. However, after the initial shock, I put it down to my grandmothers age and thought nothing more of it. However, over the coming weeks I began to notice a major difference in Peter. First it was his clothes. The bright colours and bold fashion statements were replaced with jeans and plain jumpers. He retrieved within himself and it got to a stage where his voice even changed to a toneless, arguably more ‘manly’ one. Suddenly, whenever I spoke about Portugal and what Peter and I did I was shushed. Gustavo, Peter’s boyfriend was known as ‘Emily’ Peter’s girlfriend to friends and extended family and everyone carried on as if it was normal. In school, I was judged when I told my ‘friends’ about my brother and his boyfriend. I was met with taunts with words I had never encountered in Portugal such as ‘queer’ which I had an extreme hatred of. Suddenly, my world was turned upside down. Something that I saw as normal was now a secret and to my understanding, in Ireland at least, was wrong. I couldn’t understand it. The entire meaning of being a homosexual was drastically different in Ireland, that was a mere two and a half hours away from Portugal. I soon learned to go along with my families lies and continued to refer to Gustavo as ‘Emily’ not because I was ashamed but because it was what peter wanted. I’m not sure what was worse, the fact that society in Ireland on a whole felt homosexuals were different or that Peter now felt like he was different.

 

It’s four years on now and not much has changed. Peter is now happily engaged to his fiance Ross however, I am the only one who knows. Peter is too ashamed to openly tell his family and friends and Ross is an entire different story. His family disowned his brother in 2009 for coming out and he is too afraid to tell his friends as he fears he will be seen differently in his profession.  

 

With all of these thoughts running through my mind, the secrets, the lies, the stares and the taunts something clicked in my head and my eyes were wide open to the extent of Ireland’s prejudices. I began to think, if this is how the Irish culture views Irish people from their own land based on their sexual orientation, what sort of discrimination do they place upon other races in this country? Was I discriminated against in Portugal? Was I seen as a foreigner that should ‘go back to their own country’? Everyday, everywhere I went I saw people from various ethnicities; African, Chinese, Spanish, Korean, French and an overwhelming feeling of disappointment came over me. All this time I had worried about my own experience that I neglected to see the racism that surrounds Ireland in everyday life. You wouldn’t have to sit long in an Irish pub before you heard someone complaining that ‘they took our jobs’ or ‘they should go back to their own country’. These comments are taken lightly everyday by the Irish, however how does it make people from those countries feel? People who consider Ireland a home are being constantly told that it isn’t and that they should go back to theirs. Racism in Ireland is a topic that I feel a lot of the population is ignorant of due to the light heartedness towards most comments made. It needs to change. United, we can make magic. If we keep letting our differences separate us, we will never progress.

 

Ireland, in my eyes has a long way to come with regards to LGBTA rights something that I feel very strongly about but we have even further to go to combat racism in this country. I do not understand how people from one socio cultural group think they have the right to deem another group different due to their own differences from them. I believe being different makes a difference and that is why I encourage anyone who is reading this to get out there and vote yes to marriage equality in the upcoming referendum. We can combat discrimination together, one step at a time.

Do The Movies Fuel Racism?

by Ailish Logue

One cannot not deny the important role which media plays in relation to racism. Media plays a huge role in the representation of different cultures in societies;which can portray different cultures in either a positive or a negative way. I have learned from an early age throughout my education in Ireland that racism is wrong and we are all equal regardless of the colour of our skin, or our religion or whatever biological differences we hold. Ireland is becoming more and more of a multicultural society and teaching Irish citizens we are all equal is key to ensuring peaceful co-existence between people of all cultures and most importantly ensuring equality for all. But a question which has been on my mind is how is this possible when we are allowing films which hold a deep racist content to be shown? This question has been in my mind after seeing the recent blockbuster American Sniper. Ireland is a multicultural country, but how can this be if we allow films like this to be shown which totally disregard the Arabic culture? Should we as Irish people stand up to this?

 

For many typical successful blockbuster films, there's a role of a protagonist and an enemy. For many years these enemies in Hollywood films were portrayed as Russian spies; take for an example the famous James Bond film 'From Russia with Love'. During the period of the Cold War it was socially acceptable to allow a Russian character to be portrayed as the typical villain in films, as they were seen as an enemy of the United States of America. Due to the end of the Cold War, the typical enemy is no longer the predictable Russian villain; since 9/11 a new villain emerged in films which are the Arabs. American Sniper endorsed the idea of the baddie in the film being portrayed as Arabic. This stereotype of Arabic people being the 'baddies' in films is beyond damaging to the reputation of Arabic across the world and this disregards all the beauty of their culture.  Through films like American Sniper, negative stereotypes in people's minds are therefore created and once these stereotypes are engrained it is very hard to remove. These films and television shows can help create the perception that Arab countries are the enemy of the United States; this is modern day propaganda which is in endorsed by Hollywood. Through this propaganda, Islamophobia is created; a growing problem which must be stopped immediately. This can be seen as a 'direct result' which media have helped create. A question which was on my mind is are we helping to create the increasing problem of Islamophobia by watching films like this?

 

I was unsure of the synopsis of American Sniper before I went to see it in the cinema, but it was not long into the film I realised this film was endorsing Islamophobia. The protagonist Chris Kyle is portrayed as an all American man, with a passion of guns from an early age. The enemy is viewed as Iraqis. Kyle joins the SEALS in order to become a sniper and fight in America's war on terror and shortly after completing training he was deployed to Iraq. Kyle's colleagues quickly learn he has a good aim at shooting, praise given quite frequently throughout this film creating the perception that he is heroic and a legend . This film starts with some horrific scenes; take for an example a child being shot. A child being shot in films is horrific and extremely hard to watch for most people, but I did not hear total awe in the cinema like I expected, as this child was viewed as an enemy of the United States of America. This is influence of propaganda. I found this film to portray a lot of propaganda; take for example Chris Kyle is known as a hero because he has 160 confirmed kills (although he could have killed more). If an Iraqi man shot 160 American citizens, including women and children he would not be viewed as a hero; he would be viewed as one of the most dangerous terrorist America have ever seen. Throughout this film a clear message was portrayed 'Americans lives are worth more than an Arab's life'. There was competition throughout this film between characters to see who killed the most Arabs. Little regards is shown to the Arabs in general, as throughout the film they are known as ''them''. Films like American Sniper are adding to the increasing social problem of Islamophobia as they are portraying to us as viewers that Arabs are bad people and killing 160 of Arabs, including children, is okay and a heroic act because 'these people' are enemies. How can we in Ireland learn to be acceptant of all cultures when films like this are shown?

 

The role of media plays an important role in our societies; subconscious to many. Many films can show struggles which African-Americans faced, one can think of such movies like The Help or Twelve Years a Slave which were two very successful films which showed the African-American struggle of slavery and civil rights. This is a positive way in which the role of film can be used, as it allows us to see the harrowing struggles African-Americans went through. But the example of  American Sniper has a negative impact as once a negative stereotype is engrained by watching a film it is very hard to remove that stereotype. This film promoted the Arab culture in an appalling way and placed the value of an Arab life below the life of an American. This film was a huge success in Western countries; does this mean Western countries accept this? It is beyond worrying that films like these can become blockbuster sensations. Do we as Irish think Arabic lives are less important than those who are American? As Irish citizens we should stand up against racism in films and promote equality.