Racism begins in the home

We may not always think it or feel it, but we parents are the most influential people in our children's lives. If we pick out particular individuals or groups of people for unfavourable treatment because of the way they live, the way they are shaped, their intellectual abilities, their beliefs, the colour of their skin, the language they speak or because they come from another country, our children are likely to behave in the same manner. We can lead our children to believe that they count more than others because of their social position, and in doing this we are sowing the seeds of racism; we are in effect telling our children that some other people are not entitled to the same rights and chances that we are. The message they get from us is that it is okay to be racist and we give them a licence to validate their own future racist behaviour .

Racism is a form of bullying where we use our power or our position to abuse and mistreat others. When we are racist we can abuse others through using the strength and power of our own group, through playing on the fears of our own group, through intimidation or preying on the fears of those we are abusing. If we cannot accept difference, and if we use our power and position to discriminate against and disadvantage individuals or groups of people because they are different, we are truly racist. If we believe that human abilities are determined by race, or if we believe in the superiority of a particular nationality, race or group, we are racist. We can be socially responsible, liberal and open-minded in regard to many issues, but if we are hostile towards and not inclusive of everyone in our communities, we act in a racist manner. There can be no ambivalence or equivocation about racism. Children of different nationalities will play together without problems. However, when racism comes into the picture it is we, the adults, who model it for our children. Whether it is through naked prejudice, arrogance or racist jokes, we adults are the ones who create the barriers and the culture of disrespect and inequality which separate people as children and, later, as adults.

Ireland is fast becoming a multicultural society with hundreds and thousands of people from other countries settling here. We appear to be very welcoming of those from the developed countries, whose skin is white, come with skills or have professions and can speak English, even if haltingly. Our record shows that we are not so egalitarian towards those people who come from Africa or eastern Europe; many of the worst aspects of our society are demonstrated in our treatment of these often poor and vulnerable people.

I have met parents who are afraid that immigrants will come here and deprive them or their children of employment. They are fearful that the same thing will happen with regard to housing, and most of all they are afraid of short-term or long-term relationships developing between them and the "foreigners".

Our fears, often baseless and fuelled by others, drive us to hatred of our fellow human beings and to promoting injustice.

I believe that we really should think about and discuss the subject of racism within our families, with our friends and in our communities. We hear much talk about Government policy, but racism starts with us parents and other adults. We can ask ourselves questions about where we stand on racism, and among the questions we might consider are:

Do we recognise the need for us to be inclusive of those who come into our communities, particularly those from abroad?

Do we make disrespectful comments about foreigners even in jest, or do we tell and/or encourage racist humour and jokes? Surveys in Britain in the 1970s and 1980s showed people's attitudes and actions against different ethnic groups were very definitely influenced by racist jokes, which stereotyped ethnic groups and presented them as inferior.

If we are not inclusive, what are our reasons and are they just?

If we have fears, are we entitled to act on them, or are we being merely self-seeking and protective in some way of our own pre-conceived ideas of what is normal and safe in our families and communities?

Have we at any time been discriminated against and been the subject of racist attitudes? How did we and do we feel about them?

Are our attitudes and behaviours in keeping with our beliefs if we belong to a religious sect, communion or grouping?

Are our behaviours and attitudes supporting unity amongst the people in our community or are we, in effect, promoting disharmony and ill will amongst its members?

Would we like our children to be the subjects of racist behaviour and attitudes if they decide to go and work and live abroad?

Would we like to be involuntarily away from our families in a foreign country where the language, customs, climate and way of life is very different?

Would we like to be unable to use our skills, experience or our professional training because we cannot communicate effectively in the language of the country?

We hear of communities preventing Travellers, people with special needs or foreign-born people settling among them - because, outrageously, we are told that the arrival of any of these groups will cause disruption in the area and, most importantly, cause property prices to drop.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu told the UN some years ago: "Racism is a cancer in a community or in a society and it starts with the individual and the family."