In this scheme, only exceptionally “bad” people can be racist, and therefore the mere suggestion of racism is often treated as more serious and hurtful than racism itself. A now retired female manager once told me that, although sexism was still an issue at Cambridge University, racism was not. “Racism towards white people” is not, however, systemic and does not have policy consequences. Far from “wallowing in victimhood”, people who challenge racism are acting as responsible agents of change. If we don’t choose to have difficult and urgent discussions openly, then “diversity” will remain a meaningless buzzword where people’s bodies are included in institutions but their voices are silenced.

Source: The Guardian October 08, 2019 10:00 UTC