Reverse racism? Sideways racism? No, it’s just racism

Prejudice directed against ethnic minorities by individuals of the majority indigenous (and typically white in a western context) race is the commonly accepted notion of racism. Although when this notion takes a different format such as a role reversal or the prejudice of one ethnic minority group directed against another, this often evokes a different reaction. Indeed, in such instances, often the label of racism isn’t used with the same acerbity that would otherwise be expected. In fact, sometimes the label of racism isn’t used at all. Yet surely all racism is fundamentally the same, even if by another name or no name at all? Moreover, why is racism from those within minority groups not met as it would be in the more familiar context of such prejudice?

In the communities of some ethnic minorities, undertones of racism appear to be inherent and consequently accepted. This is even apparent in some communities where in theory, multiculturalism should successfully challenge such views.

Race relations in western society have generally improved. Racism is generally challenged and largely considered unethical behaviour. However, largely due to political correctness, it has also become somewhat taboo to candidly discuss.

Arguably, this taboo is what hinders any effective challenge to such attitudes existing within some communities. To suggest that an ethnic minority might be racist is less likely to be received with the same abhorrence as suggesting a white person might be racist. A white person making this suggestion could even be accused by others (including other white people) that in saying so they aren’t culturally or racially sensitive.

The difficulty in challenging these attitudes is also compounded by the insularity of such communities. This further limits the scope for such views to be challenged by experience and wider interaction. Even where second and third generations of ethnic minority groups acknowledge these attitudes to be wrong (often by virtue of their increased interaction within a multicultural society), they nonetheless tacitly accept them, rarely deciding to instead become outspoken of what they know is unethical behaviour.

Some might counter that the reason for insularity within some communities is due to the prejudice they may have experienced. This is particularly in instances where immigration has been met with racism and a frosty reception by governments and the wider public. No minority group can be blamed for such a knee-jerk reaction and a disinclination to integrate within a wider society that once appeared so hostile. Nonetheless, this approach has meant any existing prejudices within such communities remain unchecked as individuals are not subject to positive experiences that would otherwise refute these attitudes. Unwittingly, it also supports wider racist views.

Take the sentiments of the BNP. While being interviewed on the BBC’s Newsnight, Nick Griffin, leader of the BNP, was questioned on his view of “mixing races” and if he opposed this. Rather than attempt to gloss over or deny this, he candidly admitted that this was his opinion (and presumably that of his party) but added that this was a view shared by other ethnic minority groups.

Unfortunately, while in a minority, there are sections of some minority groups that would share these views. In doing so, this gives credence to an ideal of a far-right party that doesn’t even support their presence in Britain. It also illustrates the inconsistency of how racism is perceived based on who it comes from.

In his Bigger and Blacker show, Chris Rock examines modern day racism – Black people yelling "racism!" White people yelling "reverse racism!" Chinese people yelling "sideways racism!" Like much of Chris Rock’s material, a lot of truth is astutely said in jest. And while not the central theme of his sketch on race, the notion of varying labels to describe racism is certainly accurate. The idea of reverse racism is often perceived as a form of positive discrimination or positive action but has also been used more simplistically to refer to racism that doesn’t conform to the more familiar notion.

Racism by another name doesn’t change the fact that someone is racist. Yet giving it a different label makes the flawed suggestion of there being some nuance that supports just that. It also perpetuates an irrational and inexcusable rationale that essentially encourages such attitudes.

It’s fair to say that a degree of prejudice exists within everyone and therefore within every racial group. Yet when it remains unchecked, it leads to attitudes that are simply unethical and should not be tolerated by those that choose to accept and ignore them.

Jamaica "to di world" – the global cultural influence of Jamaica

With a population of fewer than 3 million, the extent of Jamaican influence worldwide is no small feat. Jamaican cultural influences and presence are visible in music, cooking, western vernacular, sport and beyond. Yet how has a relatively small island managed to be so far reaching in its cultural impact around the world?

Jamaican cultural icons have transcended their respective fields to become household names. Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and many Jamaican musicians are internationally known and have achieved iconic status within the mainstream. Similarly, the Jamaican track team has become internationally recognised beyond just athletics aficionados and sports fans. In the UK, Levi Roots’ Reggae Reggae Sauce has become a product that can be found in many households and even BBC children’s programme Rastamouse has brought a Jamaican influence, albeit stereotypically, to a preschool audience. Jamaican influences have clearly touched diverse aspects of society.

Jamaica has always commanded a presence beyond that expected for its size. Jamaica was the first country in the British West Indies to gain independence in 1962. This was following Jamaicans voting to leave the short-lived West Indies Federation in a 1961 referendum. With the British empire no longer being sustainable, largely due to World War Two having taken its toll, the Federation was considered a solution by the British to achieve eventual decolonisation in the Caribbean. At the time, it was inconceivable that a nation the size of Jamaica, and the other smaller islands in the British West Indies, could be viable independent states. However, a year after the referendum, Jamaica gained independence with most of the other islands following suit in subsequent years. Throughout contemporary history, it’s apparent that Jamaica has never perceived itself as a so-called “small island”, as it often (somewhat disparagingly) refers to the other Caribbean islands as. That posturing too underlines the explanation for the extent of how far afield Jamaican culture has managed to be exported.

The Jamaican diaspora is key to understanding the wide reaching influence of Jamaican culture. Post-war emigration from the Caribbean largely found West Indians travelling to Britain, America and Canada. With Jamaica as the largest and most populous island of the former British colonies in the region, Jamaicans made up the majority of West Indian immigrants in their respective new homes and their culture was duly exported with them. In Britain, the sizeable Jamaican diaspora has meant its influence can be found even in commonly used British vernacular. Furthermore, Jamaican culture has often influenced those within the nations the diaspora finds itself in.

Jamaican influences in Black British music are well documented and have been throughout contemporary history. Reggae was not exclusive to Jamaicans or even blacks with acts such as UB40 experiencing success within the genre. Meanwhile, ‘undiluted’ reggae from Jamaica continued to thrive while reggae infused genres such as lovers rock provided an accessibility for audiences that had no connection with the Caribbean let alone Jamaica. Similarly, Snow, a white Canadian artist, was clearly influenced by Jamaican culture as reflected in his music.

The accessibility of the culture has underpinned the success of Jamaican cultural exports that have been embraced in unlikely places. I’ve seen reggae enjoyed by natives in Thailand and witnessed the authentic dancehall (and Soca I might add) scene in Germany where there wasn’t anything contrived in seeing daggering and the nuh linga along with hearing the German DJs speaking in patois. There’s also a vibrancy and welcoming nature that is intrinsic to Jamaican culture that makes non-Jamaicans compelled to experience it even without any connection to Jamaica themselves.

This infectiousness is extended to subsequent generations of the Jamaican diaspora and there’s a pride in the culture and heritage within those of the diaspora that were born outside of Jamaica. As a second generation Jamaican and Bajan, I don’t embrace the culture of one side of my parentage more than the other. However, Jamaican culture is probably what I am more associated with by others who know my heritage.

Within my generation of second generation Jamaicans, the culture is certainly championed as strongly and proudly as it would be by those born in Jamaica. And with the size of the Jamaican diaspora, the longevity and impact of the culture is almost a given. While there are larger diasporas with similar traits, said cultures struggle to transcend to the extent of Jamaica’s, despite the island’s relatively small size and population.

China, the South Asian subcontinent and many African nations to name a few, have sprawling diasporas with subsequent generations retaining the same pride in their heritage as those from Jamaica. Yet while their respective cultures are visible, their influence has not managed to permeate mainstream society in the same way. Perhaps their size affords them a degree of insularity that prevents this. But comparatively, it indicates just how much of an unparalleled impact Jamaican culture has worldwide. Only Latin America comes close with the influence it has largely on American society. Yet to compare a continent with an island the size of Jamaica merely compounds the argument.

Jamaica’s global influence will continue to thrive with its diaspora and the vibrancy and accessibility of the culture. The influence of Jamaican culture has meant it has now positioned itself to be championed by even non-Jamaicans that have no connection or heritage with Jamaica. With the extent to which that influence has already permeated mainstream societies, it’s likely to remain a feature of cultural globalisation for some time.