A recent Black Equity Organization (BEO) report revealed how most Black people in Britain said they’ve experienced discrimination in work and official settings.
The survey has been the largest of its kind. Black people in the UK stated how they face discrimination from the healthcare and the criminal justice system.
More specifically, 65% of black respondents stated healthcare professionals had discriminated against them, and 61% had been passed over for promotion or employment due to ethnicity.
Furthermore, 59% of black respondents said that they or someone close to them had been stopped and searched or were victims of wrongful arrest. 42% elaborated that this happened more than once.
There’s also the fact that half of the parents of children under 18 answered that their children didn’t see themselves represented in teaching staff or curriculum.
Simultaneously, they also have confidence in their future in Britain and remain resilient against racism.
More accurately, 55% of respondents were confident in their and their family’s future in Britain, and 69% were confident they could fulfill their potential in the UK.
BEO’s report analyzed polling by Survation of 2,051 Black and mixed Black adults between October 2021 and January 2022, and another survey of 2,049 respondents, including 1,721 white British adults, in October 2021.
Chairwoman Dame Vivian Hunt said BEO’s report highlights the increasing scale and scarring impact of discrimination against black British people throughout all walks of life.
In the past, we’ve written about discrimination in the arts, specifically the fine arts museums and the acting scene.
While the Black Lives Matter protests and the George Floyd riots helped push Black people worldwide into the spotlight, not all industries have done so sincerely.
A common theme seems to involve white decision-makers pushing Black contributions such as art, music, or workplace positions to appease a social responsibility agenda.
When Black decision makers at the top balance the scales, things will change.
Addressing racism systematically is the best course of action to change its insidious effects in modern society.
Interestingly, the report also dissected differences between Black groups. Apparently, Black Caribbeans and those living in London were more likely to have experienced wrongful arrest or knew someone who had experienced it in the past.
Many of the respondents agreed that footballers taking the knee also raised awareness of racism, and 64% stated that Black Lives Matter made a positive difference in addressing racism in the UK.
The British government stated it’ll consider the BEO’s findings to better tackle racism.
