Anti-racism training, blue eyes/brown eyes role play

[FridgeMagnet]

This course is about a short-term, intense oppression of a particular group, to give them an idea of what it's like to be part of a discriminated-against one. It's intended to forcibly instill a certain empathy.

I don't see the problem with that in itself. The problem comes if it's not actually effective, but I think it's a help. The fact that you don't think it includes sufficient class analysis is neither here nor there. One can have more than one item to concentrate on.

 

[cathal marcs]

This course is about a short-term, intense oppression of a particular group, to give them an idea of what it's like to be part of a discriminated-against one. It's intended to forcibly instill a certain empathy.

I don't see the problem with that in itself. The problem comes if it's not actually effective, but I think it's a help. The fact that you don't think it includes sufficient class analysis is neither here nor there. One can have more than one item to concentrate on.

In what ways does it help though? Any evidence? Is it just blue eyed folk that are racist? Is it only blacks that are oppressed or are victims of racism? I am criticising this course as it does not deal with that and that Jane Elliot is nothing but a patronising liberal parasite. Furthermore I am criticising the whole idea of work based anti racist 'training'. What is needed is a workplace where people feel comfetable in actually challenging and speaking out against racism than some one pontifcating to us.

 

[laptop]

In what ways does it help though? Any evidence? Is it just blue eyed folk that are racist?

I'm guessing you have blue eyes

For fuck's sake, it's theatre. Expose how prejudice works by picking a group at random and playing out what oppression of the random group would be like.

I suggest it'd work better if it picked out a group using some entirely random criterion - people whose family names start with a letter before K in the roman alphabet, or people whose age is an exact multiple of 7, or people who have phone numbers whose last digit is 2 or 3, or something... but then certain problems arise with the theatre.

Of course it'll fail for those who don't have the imagination to deal with theatre... but that doesn't make it invalid for everyone else.

 

[cathal marcs]

What they leave the room feeling fuck me that was something but do they actually act on it? As I said a work culture that activley engages in a strong and sharp response by ordinary people directed at a perpetuator of any racism would be far better than having some condescending liberal hipster like her or mark steel lecturing how everyone bar them is racist. You only need to look at the police to see how effective this training is.

 

[marty21]

I'm guessing you have blue eyes

For fuck's sake, it's theatre. Expose how prejudice works by picking a group at random and playing out what oppression of the random group would be like.

but does it have to be theatrical to be effective, does it have to humiliate?

 

[revol68]

What they leave the room feeling fuck me that was something but do they actually act on it? As I said a work culture that activley engages in a strong and sharp response by ordinary people directed at a perpetuator of any racism would be far better than having some condescending liberal hipster like her or mark steel lecturing how everyone bar them is racist. You only need to look at the police to see how effective this training is.

for once, good post.

 

[blamblam]

What they leave the room feeling fuck me that was something but do they actually act on it? As I said a work culture that activley engages in a strong and sharp response by ordinary people directed at a perpetuator of any racism would be far better than having some condescending liberal hipster like her or mark steel lecturing how everyone bar them is racist. You only need to look at the police to see how effective this training is.

That's a good post. But don't dis mark steel though - i like him

 

[revol68]

That's a good post. But don't dis mark steel though - i like him

as much as i'm cheering u on in your argument with catch. Thinking Mark Steel is funny is just criminal!

 

[cathal marcs]

as much as i'm cheering u on in your argument with catch. Thinking Mark Steel is funny is just criminal!

Could be worse it could be Lenny Henry eeek

 

[J77]

There's a TV show starting here in the US on the F/X cable network in March. It's produced by Ice Cube, and is called Black. White. The idea is literally to change people's colour and put them in new situations for an extended period.

They did this in the UK - with famous people - think it was called, "Changing Races"

 

[marty21]

there was a book written in the 60s, can't remembere the title at the mo, the white writer dyed his skin to pass as a black man, and then travelled around the south, very good book, just can't remember the title at the moment

 

[laptop]

Black Like Me

 

[Wookey]

I never said anything about legislation or that you should not be safe from any form of intollerance. I cant see how having some 'consultant' such as the one marty asked about is benificial or prevents this.

Equality training is what allows firms to meet their statutory responsibilities.

I know equality trainers, and I know the work they do, and it isn't useless. It's awareness training. Awareness of language issues, of stereotyping etc don't fall from the sky - rules have to be explained. It's just health and safety in another guise. My health, and my safety.

You now seem to be critising soley the consultant mentioned by Marty, as opposed to theatre in education groups, anti-bullying initiatives, gay days, peer support networks, or any of the other myriad ways firms can tackle racism, sexism and homophobia in their training resources.

Even having a standard equality pledge as part of a firm's contract is training, because the worker has to understand and commit to such a pledge to continue working at a firm.

But you seem intent on tarring the entire sector with the same brush as this consultant, and that response is disproportionate and ignorant of the facts.

As I said a work culture that activley engages in a strong and sharp response by ordinary people directed at a perpetuator of any racism would be far better than having some condescending liberal hipster like her or mark steel lecturing how everyone bar them is racist.

Are you for real?? Have you ever suffered racist abuse or work, or homphobia? Or been sidelined because of your gender?

If you had, can you imagine how much help you'd receive if it had been left up to random colleagues to stand up for you? What if the boss is the bully? You think people willl risk their jobs to stand up to that??

There needs to be a statutory level of protection supported by the unions - and effective training in these laws is the ONLY way workers will become aware of their rights and responsibilities.

Your rather hopeful scenario, the workings of which elude me, would be a charter for abuse and intimidation. If you agree with protective employment law, then it's only sensible to realise those laws are implemented through a strategy of public support from firms, and diversity training within firms.

Equality trainers don't try to stop people from being racist, as you've suggested. They stop people from acting upon their racism in their professional capacity. Full stop. Good thing.

 

[marty21]

Black Like Me

that's the one, cheers

 

[mhendo]

Black Like Me

Excellent book.

 

[cathal marcs]

But the point of this exercise is to show people the absurd nature of racism. It is not about teaching them the ins and outs of employment legislation.

Health and Safety Laws comparison is a straw-man-- they do some good however clumsily, inefficiently and insufficiently they operate. But diversity training does not. What is the point of having the laws if there is no culture in the workplace in challenging racism and if you do you maybe socially ostracised or seen as a do gooder in a my word against his mate.

If anything this 'diversity training' can make it more racist. It can provide people with skills to actively preserve a racist agenda with more covert way (tick the correct boxes we are not racist?). You only need to look at the police and the many rounds of diversity training they have gone through or even the BNP and the language they use everyone knows they are racist to the core but they are clever at masking it as they know how to play the system.

Wookie you don’t seem to have acknowledged this likewise in relation to legislation you also need a work culture where people can actively engage in this as I suggested is far better instead you have not criticised my points rather you have made assumptions about me and rather than judge my argument its judged on who I am. I actually have been the victim of xenophobic behaviour and the reason I never actually took it further was I felt the risk of being socially outcast in the workplace and all the legislation in the world does not alter that. Nor will the newfound layer of careerist consultants and race moguls who charge a hefty fee in a corporate hall singing ebony and ivory or role play 3 hour course it is the anti racism equivelent of Live Aid we've had our day in the park.