What is Racism?

Racism is a term used to describe prejudice, discrimination and / or harassment directed a person or people because of who they are or who someone thinks they are on the basis of their colour, nationality, race or ethnicity. It can be an incident against a person or against property and includes materials posted online.

The Equality Act 2010 provides protection for individuals from discrimination, and makes it unlawful to harass or discriminate someone on the grounds of their race. Harassment is defined as unwanted behaviour related to a relevant protected characteristic such as race and that this behaviour has the purpose or effect of: violating the other person's dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that person. 

Some examples of racism include:

·       Written or verbal threats or insults.

·       Being sent offensive mail, text messages or receiving offensive posts online. 

·       Abusive comments or ridicule.

·       Derogatory name calling.

·       Racist "jokes".

·       Damage to property or the display of offensive graffiti or insignia.

·       Bullying or intimidation by children, adults, neighbours or strangers.

·       Physical attacks such as hitting, punching, pushing, spitting including violence or assault.

·       Harassment.

·       Being left out, treated differently or excluded.

·       People making assumptions about someone because of their race.

·       Displaying or circulating discriminatory literature or posters. criminal damage.

·       Murder.

·       Incitement of others to commit any of the above.

Many behaviours that people experience are often quite subtle forms of harassment and these less obvious everyday forms of racism are called micro aggressions. They have been defined as: brief, everyday interactions that send denigrating messages to people of colour. Whilst this is not a legal term and does not necessarily constitute harassment under the law, microaggessions are still offences which can leave the victim confused, distressed and frustrated and the perpetrator oblivious of the offense. Whether they are deemed unlawful will depend on the effect of the behaviour on the victim.