A major new survey has revealed that more than a third of people from minority backgrounds have experienced racially motivated or verbal abuse.
Alarmingly, the researchers found that racism is “part of daily lives” after questioning 14,000 people from 21 different ethnic groups.
It is reasonable then for the authors to conclude that Britain is far from being a “racially just society”. The overwhelming majority of people would never consider racially abusing anyone.
And most of the country is welcoming and open to those who were not born here. While Glasgow activist Mohammed Asif talks about his experiences of racism, he also talks with warmth about his new home.
He told the Record: “We love it here and feel welcomed by our community.” But a significant minority continue to let everyone else down.
Like the individual who texted a racist message to a Dumfries & Galloway councillor as he was finishing a speech welcoming Afghan refugees.
People of all races and creeds help make Scotland a special place. We are at our best as a country when we come together and support others.
But the report, led by Scottish researchers, shows we still have a long way to go to a achieve that “racially just society”.
To get there, we all have to play our part. We must call out racism when we see it and demand our political leaders strive to create a better and more inclusive Scotland.
Biden's visit to Northern Ireland to mark 25 years of peace is welcome
President Joe Biden’s visit to Northern Ireland today to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement is hugely symbolic
The US is a co-guarantor of the historic peace deal that ended decades of conflict and changed lives for the better.
A generation of young people have grown up in Northern Ireland free of the threat of violence that was once an everyday occurrence.
For many, the images of barricades and armoured cars must seem like something from the history books.
The challenge for today’s leaders – in Northern Ireland and beyond – is to make sure the Troubles recede even further into the past.
President Biden, with his proud Irish roots, will emphasise the need for peace. As the leader of the free world, his words have real clout.
His visit to Northern Ireland to mark this historic anniversary is welcome.
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