CHURCH COMMISSIONERS’ funding for racial-justice work has been reduced unexpectedly (News, 13 June). Polls suggest that more than 50 per cent of the UK population does not believe in the existence of racism.
This scepticism may explain the lack of support for racial-justice initiatives. Intelligence Squared, featuring Dr Keon West in “The Science of Racism”, dated 29 January, is an antidote to such doubt. He is a social psychologist who explores contemporary forms of racism through his research. He demonstrates how bias works to the financial and relational detriment of white people, who miss out on the strength of effective partnership across ethnic lines.
Dr West illustrates how biases have a negative impact both on individuals and communities. He argues that, while Black individuals can achieve exceptional success, they are often judged more harshly and detrimentally than their white counterparts when they make mistakes. His analysis is grounded in empirical studies from the past decade, rather than historical accounts, and he offers strong, actionable suggestions for change.
One of his compelling recommendations is to foster encounters across differences. How do we to befriend the other? The BBC Sounds Free Thinking podcast episode on “Friendship”, aired on 11 July, is particularly enlightening. It examines how many relationships are structured hierarchically — such as parent to child, husband to wife, and employer to employee — while friendship is characterised by a horizontal, anarchic dynamic, mutually governed by the friends themselves.
The episode explores historical, philosophical, cultural, and psychological perspectives on friendship. Friendships are chosen, and possess the power to subvert existing power structures while creating new ones. It’s a worthwhile listen.
Friendships, however, can become costly when one actively chooses to step away from their own community to align with another group. In the latest episode of Beer Christianity, Sim Kern, the author of Genocide Bad: Notes on Palestine, Jewish history, and collective liberation (Interlink Publishing), engages in a provocative conversation. As a Jewish writer, Kern offers solidarity to the Palestinian cause by exposing how free speech is silenced and narratives are manipulated by the Netanyahu government. They share their experiences fighting in digital spaces, and discuss the need for security at events.
Kern calls for the return of clergy and nuns to the protest lines, unapologetically urging listeners to take action. This conversation left me feeling challenged.
Last, I’d like to mention Wanging On with Graham Norton and Maria McErlane, which is both entertaining and heartfelt. The premise involves the public reaching out with their real problems, while Norton and McErlane serve as agony aunt and uncle, attempting to solve them. In the episode “Fake Personal Assistants, Sober Stags, & a Parcel for Johnny Depp”, listeners are treated to hilarious stories and questionable advice. Thankfully, they also direct people to professionals, and, amid their search for solutions, some valuable insights are uncovered. It’s a light-hearted approach to serious topics.