Shocked

Friends of mine used to live in an area where they were many people of Indian origin. Many bought houses in their lovely road until they were the only non Indian family left there. They had such a good relationship with all their neighbours and were included in all their family celebrations. They did eventually move because they were unhappy with their son’s school. However they did smile because the neighbours often asked to be informed if they ever wished to move as they had friends or relatives who would like to buy their house!

I work with a lot of Indians in my job at a care home and I can honestly say they are really really nice people (well except for one!) and I would have no problem at all with any of them moving either side of me…or even both sides….

Some people hold ‘unthinkinkingly’ racist views and others are ‘deliberately and knowingly’ racist. The effects of both are the same, but with the former there is a real opportunity to engage, and through conversation to expose the underlying racism. I have become pretty adept at challenging racist language and views whilst maintaining relationships. If we all cut off everyone whose views are different they would end up living in ‘echo chambers’ and lose opportunities to be challenged and changed.

Having said that, people who are knowingly and deliberately racist get short shrift from me.