Lift-the-flap Questions and Answers about Racism (Questions & Answers)

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Sometimes we feel uncomfortable talking about things we don’t know much about. If a child asks you a question which you don’t know the answer to, it’s okay to suggest that you learn together. The following resources can also be a great way to improve your understanding of race and racism: Covert racism can be much harder to identify and challenge than overt racism. Especially when other people deny it, downplay it or become defensive about it. Or if you have an ongoing relationship with the other person. Internalised racism is when we hold negative views about ourselves because of our race. Internalised colourism is when these views relate to our skin shade.

It’s important to remember that someone’s ethnicity or national origin may not be the same as their current nationality. For example, someone may have Indian national origins and be living in Britain with a British passport. Give it some time. It can take time to build trust. And some sessions may be more challenging than others. Learning about race, racism and privilege can lead people to consider what else they can do to combat discrimination. Sometimes, the next step can involve committing yourself to becoming actively anti-racist but it’s not always clear what that means. But when people talk about being anti-racist, it includes: Often when you're offered therapy, you might not be sure who your therapist will be. It can take time to develop trust and confidence in them.Covert racism can come from unconscious bias. This is when someone unknowingly accepts racial stereotypes, and this influences their behaviour. Make us feel cut off from parts of our identity and culture. This can leave us feeling unsure about who we are.

calling out racism and discrimination wherever you see it and using your own privilege to draw attention to it Covert racism can affect young people’s self-esteem and support the idea that’s it’s okay to challenge a person’s experience. Institutional racism is when an organisation treats us poorly or unfairly because of our race. This can be intentional or unintentional. Many organisations don't realise how their policies and practices disadvantage people. A system is something that is made up of lots of different connected parts. So systemic (or structural) racism describes how experiences of racism in many areas of life reinforce and fuel each other over time. This may make it harder to develop a good relationship with them. In some cases you may end up feeling more upset, stressed or isolated.At system level we can see the wider impact of the inequalities and power imbalances, for example those set up by colonialism. We see how these are maintained now in policy, law, economics, culture and wider society. And how this creates White privilege. How systemic racism can affect individuals Stressed. All kinds of racism can contribute to stress. This might be events such as sudden, unexpected abuse from another person. But it can also be a more long-term impact of encountering regular microaggressions. Or from the ongoing effects of systemic racism on your life. This can partly help explain links between racism and physical health problems, like increased blood pressure. Anxious, fearful and unsafe. You may worry about how people are going to perceive and treat you. You might feel visibly different and vulnerable when you are around lots of people of a different race. You may spend time thinking about how you'll protect yourself before entering certain spaces.

Have they had any experience of supporting people with the effects of racism? You can ask them directly. A responsible therapist will answer your questions honestly and openly. For example – experiencing institutional racism at school as a child might make it more difficult to find work as an adult. Bias in hiring processes can make this even harder. Intergenerational trauma. This describes how racial trauma can get passed down in families across generations – from parents to children. This is a new field of study, and researchers aren't sure of all the ways this transfer happens. But we know that when our elders have been harmed by racism, this can affect us in turn. It can impact our self-esteem, sense of safety, and view of the world around us.Forced to suppress how you feel. You may find that you can't show or even fully feel your natural responses to your experiences. To avoid more abuse, and keep yourself safe, you may feel like you must not react to racism. This can leave you feeling numb, or mean that the experience stays with you for a long time. Both types of racism are equally distressing for children and young people and can have a significant impact on their mental health. It can mean the historical end of colonial rule. But it can also mean challenging the cultural dominance of Western ideas over others. It can mean breaking down the lasting impact colonialism has had on society.

Be conscious or subconscious. You might not realise that some of your negative feelings stem from internalised racism or colourism. Blaming yourself. There are many reasons for this. Sometimes it can be the way your brain tries to make sense of what has happened. This means it’s illegal to discriminate against someone, or treat them differently, because of their race. Then at work, institutional and interpersonal racism can be a barrier to promotion. These barriers can affect your income. This type of racism is subtle and can make it seem like it’s okay to dismiss racial prejudice or discrimination with comments like, ’it’s in your head’, or telling someone they’re ‘playing the race card’.Not having enough money can have a negative effect on your health. This also contributes to people with first-hand experience of racism being under-represented in management jobs. Which makes it less likely that services will meet people's needs. Do they recognise how your experiences of racism may intersect with other parts of your identity? For example your gender, religion or sexuality. Racism and racial abuse or bullying can be really distressing for children and young people. When a child is bullied or treated differently because of their race, it can lead to feelings of isolation, depression, anger or even shame about their race or how they look. Do they take your experiences of racism seriously? For example, by being respectful and not downplaying or denying them. Avoidance. For example, you might find it difficult to remember or talk about your experiences. It might feel hard to believe they really happened. You may also avoid people or places that remind you of your experiences.