Racism and the Riots
As I sit here glued to the internet and telivision, I am struck by two things. All the *commentary* starts with an analysis of racism in London - particularly the overt racist policies of the police, and used that racism as an explanation of why these riots are happening.
All the photos, videos and you-tube clips show white rioters in equal or higher number to BME rioters.
Racism is a huge problem here in London. It is one of many massive social problems. it is good that there is some liberal sympathy coming out from the riots, but the danger I fear is that this focus on racism only will allow the history books to record that these riots were something that 'those BME people' did. That is not accurate. These are not (just) race riots. These are poverty riots, and youth riots, and class riots. This is an angry generation of young people shat on from a height by a system that has consigned thome to the scrap heap just for existing, finally finding thier voice. But please, history, do not record this as an instance of the 'bad guy' being the 'black guy' however sympathetically you may pretend to be doing so.
All the photos, videos and you-tube clips show white rioters in equal or higher number to BME rioters.
Racism is a huge problem here in London. It is one of many massive social problems. it is good that there is some liberal sympathy coming out from the riots, but the danger I fear is that this focus on racism only will allow the history books to record that these riots were something that 'those BME people' did. That is not accurate. These are not (just) race riots. These are poverty riots, and youth riots, and class riots. This is an angry generation of young people shat on from a height by a system that has consigned thome to the scrap heap just for existing, finally finding thier voice. But please, history, do not record this as an instance of the 'bad guy' being the 'black guy' however sympathetically you may pretend to be doing so.