London riots: 2011 and Beyond

Over the past few days London has been rocked by scenes of rioting, but unlike other riots in recent memory, this has not been localized. It has been wide spread, and the rioters have been many in number. But what has caused this wide spread malcontent far and wide across London.

Initially the riots began in Tottenham, after a protest in which another black man dies in Police presence under suspicious circumstances, but it is unlikely that a large number of the rioters were friends with this young black man or were associated with him in any way. So why would they take to the streets in the manner that they have, and why was it not immediately after his death?

It is my belief that the treatment of the protesters was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. Still reeling from the death of Smiley Culture in police custody, and not believing the official line that he committed suicide, yet another black man dies shortly after and his family are not being given clear answers or information regarding what happened. When there is a peaceful gathering outside of the police station to protest the treatment of this family, the police then respond in a heavy handed manner and thus throw a lit match onto the volatile combination of suspicion, mistreatment, poverty and injustice - both social and legal. And it is perhaps the latter of these ingredients that can address why the unrest has spread so far and into so many different communities in London.

Due to the recent government cuts, Haringey Council has seen its youth services budget slashed by 75%. Given nothing to do, and no where to go to have questions answered or their views heard, resentment and frustration was bound to grow, and it was a matter of time before it was expressed. That it was expressed with such destruction and vehemence should serve as a wake up call to the government that the social repercussions of making cuts in the manner they have done will only alienate youth and minorities in a similar manner to that of the 1980's. There is a burning question in many peoples minds as to where the parents of these youths are, and although I cannot answer that, I will say that in the growing poverty and hardships that many are facing, they are possibly working two and three jobs just to make ends meet. In 2008-09 22% of the British population was living below the poverty threshold with a greater proportion of those in Inner London in the low income bracket. Government cuts have placed an even greater strain on families and support services aimed at assisting those that need help the most.

A crucial factor in this I believe is the recent wide spread vilification of the police in the media and in the halls of Westminster, for their role in the phone hacking debacle. The fact that the wide spread corruption has now been outed, it only reinforces in the minds of youths and minorities that they cannot trust those that are supposedly meant to protect them. No matter how much the Metropolitan Police may talk about a few bad apples among their ranks, the truth is their image and reputation has not been tarnished as much as it has been completely destroyed. In the wake of the McPherson report the Police force was found to be institutionally racist, an accusation they could in large parts claim ignorance to. But to now be found not just institutionally racist but also knowingly and willingly corrupt is a wound that may be so great, that among ethnic minorities, the Metropolitan Police may never recover from.

In large parts the Government of the day has also played its part in encouraging these riots. (In Egypt, in Syria, in Libya, William Hague calls them protesters, but in the UK they are known as rioters). By encouraging people to rise up against a government that is un-elected and refuses to listen to the people, the British government has only itself planted the seeds of revolt in the minds of its own people. The current coalition government that finds itself in power in Britain is not elected, and for an example of refusing to listen to the will of the people one need think back no further than December 2010 and the student protests and the heavy handed crackdown and response to them. There will be those that say that the circumstances are different, because people's lives are not at risk, well that is clearly not true, and further to the black men that have died at the hands of the police, think Ian Tomlinson.

This is only a brief outline of some of the possible reasons for the events taking place in London today, but it is by no means an attempt to diminish the suffering that many people have had to endure, and sadly will endure because of these riots. I only say with regret that I do not believe this to be the end of the riots as the systems and policies that gave rise to such discontent still endure.

Play Racist; Real Implications

Many years ago my sister played the Virgin Mary in her school play. It was claimed that it was a sign of how far the system has come. A black girl taking a lead role in the nativity play was meant to be an indication of how far people had gone to tackle the issue of racism within the British education system. But the cynic in me says that for them to cast a black person in the role of a pregnant and unmarried woman was not to hard a concept for people to reconcile.

I have attended two of my nieces school plays, and on both occasions I have left with a bitter taste in my mouth. It was great seeing my niece dressed up in her crazy costumes, trying to make up words to a song she was supposed to know, and looking around for her family and loved ones... But something was missing.

After the first play, I tried to convince myself it was a one off, but after the latest play I can no longer lie to myself in the vain hope that I can retain faith in my fellow man.

The education system is broken, and even more so it is unevenly balanced in the favor of those that are the majority in this country. Now, there are those that would say this system is fair, after all, not everybody can be pleased as so the majority should be catered for. That seems logical. It seems sensible.

But when the criteria for the majority is along the lines of colour then I have a problem.

You see, at both of my nieces plays there was the distinct absence of anybody from an ethnic background that took a lead role, a speaking role, or a role that was front and center on stage.

Ok, I exagerate.

There was the token ethnic. But even then she was one of the narrators placed in a dark corner so that her colour and heritage was so ambiguous that if I was asked where she was from I would not know, and if you asked me what color she was, I would be forced to respond 'grey'.

I have serious misgiving where there is no person from an ethnic background represented front and center stage as it provides nothing for young children from minorities to aspire to. As they look at those on the stage, instead of mirroring an image of their class, they see a landscape that would not be amiss is apartheid South Africa. Instead of being able to acknowledge, applaud and admire a cross section of their peers; both those that look like them and those that don't, they are instead a willing, even if unknowing ego boost for the white majority.

I guess its a matter of early preparation for the rest of their life.

I will undoubtedly be accused by some of being idealistic, or told that this is political correctness gone mad. However, let me say unequivocally, I do not believe in affirmative action as it laid out in the US of A. The concept that because you have one white cheerleader you must have a black one too is in my opinion insane if that black person is not qualified for the role. However, where there is under representation, and there are qualified people for the position I do believe an opportunity should be given.

Take for example my nieces play in which there were four snowflakes. Each snow flake could have been played by a child of a different race, dressed in white, as all the snowflakes did was turn in a few circles around a scare crow. (Please, don't ask. I already stated the education system is broken). Sadly, it appeared to me that skin color formed part of the costume and had to be white too.

A school play is not just something that is done to waste time. It is an important tool for expanding horizons (Drama, dance, music) , but it also gives children the opportunity to stand in the spotlight. To claim some accolade. To have people congratulate them and say well done. If children from ethnic minorities are not given this opportunity at a young age, or presented with the images of those from ethnic backgrounds being given this opportunity, then the chances of them being comfortable with the spotlight on them when they are older is decreased.

Looking at the stage at my nieces school play made me think back to my sisters role as Mary. If that nativity play was a sign of just how far things had come in the 1980's, then my nieces play only served to highlight just how much further things still need to go in the 21st century.