I’ve wanted to write this article for days, but the truth is I’ve been too exhausted with the weight of it all to put my thoughts together.
Like many of us, I watched in abject horror as waves of hatred flooded our streets like a tsunami intent on destroying everything in its path. As a mixed-race woman, I have felt scared to leave my home. Despite the deep trauma inflicted by the images I’ve seen, I have been unable to turn off the news or stay off social media as I desperately watch out for scraps of information about what might happen next in a bid to keep myself and my family safe.
I have seen bodies emblazoned with swastikas; people pulled out of their cars and beaten, their houses barricaded, the graves of their loved ones vandalised simply because of the colour of their skin. I have seen videos of children proudly chanting racial slurs. I can’t help but think: how are we still getting this so wrong? Our children deserve better than this.
Meanwhile, many of my white friends and colleagues have continued to go about their day-to-day lives. Some have been completely unaware of what is happening, enjoying the privilege of not needing to keep up with the news. Some have been aware but stayed silent, either too uncomfortable to talk about race or unaware of the extent of the fear ravaging through ethnic minority communities because they don’t feel it themselves.
Too often, these acts are dismissed and minimised as the work of a few. I get it; it’s much more palatable to believe that is the case than accept that race is not just an American problem, it’s a British problem too. Instead, we collectively ignore the systemic and institutional racism that underpins our society; the tabloid headlines, the dehumanising political rhetoric and the damaging stereotypes paraded in front of us by the media, designed to create division, legitimise fear of the ‘other’ and devalue the lives of people of colour. Racism is still alive in Britain because it never left.
While the swarms of anti-fascist and anti-racist counter protestors who reclaimed our streets on 7 August provided a much-needed moment to breathe during a suffocating week, it is important to remember that people of colour remain on high alert. We have too much at stake to rest on our laurels.
After the tragic murder of George Floyd in 2020, I remember feeling an overwhelming surge of optimism that things would change and people were finally listening. I thought that this painful moment of collective learning would help propel the fight for equality forward, and yet just four years later here we are. For those who hope this violence will be a watershed moment for change, let me be clear: it can only be a turning point if we commit to consistently taking meaningful action long after the current news cycle fades.
Children are like sponges; they absorb everything from the world around them. We cannot pretend that they do not hear, see or experience racism, prejudice and bias. Educators who fail to recognise the importance of creating a dynamic learning environment that enables all children to develop a positive sense of self and an inclusive view of the world allow prejudice to fester. Every experience that children have teaches them something. If they see us staying silent, we unconsciously tell children of colour that their fight is not our fight.
As educators, we are in fantastic position to counter harmful stereotypes and positively impact young children’s lives to raise empathetic and compassionate citizens of the world. There is so much that we can do:
- Reflect on your own bias and how this may be impacting your practice. I know this can seem daunting, but we all have bias and it’s only by holding up a mirror to ourselves that we can truly engage in conversations about race without being defensive or projecting our own fear and discomfort. Harvard University’s online Implicit Association Test is a helpful and free starting point, alongside books like Reni Eddo-Lodge’s ‘Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race’ and Robin DiAngelo’s ‘White Fragility’ if you’re looking to improve your general understanding of race.
- Create meaningful partnerships with parents and your local community. Invite parents into your setting and ask for their views on how well your resources meet the social and cultural needs of their children. Do they see themselves represented, valued and respected in the activities you’ve designed, the books you read, the music you teach etc.?
- Make anti-racism training mandatory for all staff in your setting. Everyone should feel comfortable and equipped to have conversations with children, their families and their colleagues, otherwise we stifle progress.
- Embed anti-racist approaches to education throughout your setting. Consider the materiality of your setting (e.g. your book corner, display boards, dolls, pretend food and role play area), as well as the content of your activities and curriculum. Avoid tokenism and placing the burden on Black and Brown staff when it comes to teaching children about different religious festivals
- Role model a zero-tolerance approach to racism by being clear on your values, reporting it and providing constructive challenge when you see it. Did you check in with the children, families and staff in your setting who have been targeted on the streets and online because of the colour of their skin when the rioting began? What support did you provide those who were scared to come to work or drop their children off to nursery? What more can you do moving forward?
- Review your policies and practices regularly. You can minimise the risk of personal bias impacting a child’s development by regularly discussing observations as a team and encouraging outsider perspectives. As a setting, you should also have clear and visible policies and procedures for dealing with racist incidents and consider whether your safeguarding policies deal with how to address the risk posed by children being raised around dangerous far-right ideologies.
And most importantly keep doing it!
Hannah Betteridge is co-author with Dr Stella Louis of Let’s Talk About Race in the Early Years, published by Routledge
