#SRtRCSpotlight: Exploring the Impact of Everyday Racism
In July, our North West team delivered a full-day training event with Unison Chorley.
22 participants attended the day, and engaged enthusiastically in a range of discussions and practical activities, exploring a range of themes, including:
- Unconscious Bias
- Racism in the Workplace
- Everyday Racism and Microaggressions
- Language and Terminology
- Privilege
- Challenging Racism
Attendees participated in conversations and group work throughout the day, sharing personal stories and experiences with the team.
Many of the participants expressed concern at the way in which racism nowadays often appears to be characterised by anti-immigration rhetoric, and shared their opinions on the challenges associated with how to address this.
While exploring the impact of everyday racism, participants considered different comments and questions some people might make, that they might initially consider to be harmless and inoffensive, but which actually have the effect of excluding, othering and invalidating. This led to conversations relating to advantage and disadvantage, and how the privilege that some of us hold, as a result of not facing certain forms of discrimination, can allow us to be allies to those who do.
The group then explored a range of workplace scenarios, and shared their ideas on how to challenge the racism they depicted.
The day ended with an activity and discussion around the use of terminology, and what people considered to be acceptable or unacceptable language to use when discussing race and ethnicity.
One participant said afterwards that this explained terms for them that they didn’t know previously, which they felt was very useful.
Other feedback from the group, who represented Chorley, South Ribble, Pendle and Hyndburn was highly positive, with the training being described as informative, enlightening, impactful and thought-provoking.
Other comments included:
“The information and methods of delivery were informative without being overbearing. This took pressure off, and helped me to absorb the information in a more open way, leading to a better understanding of the subject.”
“Interactive elements and allowance for honest conversations”
“Caused everyone to challenge thoughts”
“Just the right mix of thought provoking learning and role playing”
