Systems, not symptoms.

It's always good to look beneath the surface ? Jindy Mann. And when we have a visceral reaction to something there is usually something deeper that's been triggered yet our immediate emotions focus on the surface - the immediate - and yes usually to blame a person! We are all part of and party to our systems - the more aware of them we are the more likely we are to be able to shape them for the better ??

My hope is that these moments build momentum for real change, which, as you say, is the change needed in our systems and environments. The events of the last week have been horrific, but these obvious acts of racism are arguably easier to resolve than the more subtle systemic racism. They're outrageous and undeniable, so we can look at them almost in isolation and tackle that individual event. But, as you say, that doesn't help us understand why these people behave in this way in the first place. Also, as a white person it's easy to distance myself from the overt racists in our society but far harder to do so for covert racism that literally exists everywhere because I'm part of these systems. So for us all to be truly anti-racist we really need to understand how far racism is embedded in everything we know to be able to tackle it.

I think this is what has been niggling me - maybe in a slightly different way. In my work in organisational change I explicitly refrain from seeing people who are angry or frustrated with the idea of change as resistors. Most would label them as "resistors" but my question is why do they resist. They don't just wake up and say "oh today I'm going to resist this change". There is often something deeper, more experiential to the resistance and if engaged can help uncover why their reaction to change is so visceral and perhaps address how this time it is different. The sense I have of all these posts condemning the racists is to take the position that they are resistors. They are born this way and they should be vilified. Sure we shouldn't hold them up or accept their views but perhaps we should seek more to understand and engage as to why this type of behaviour exists. What experiences have they had, what stories do they have to tell. I have been on the receiving end of racial abuse - granted nothing like this but my experience is that men who perpetrate this have been marginalised, made to feel worthless or powerless in a capitalist environment and only been taught violence gains respect. That's sad but its survival.

I agree that the systems we grow up within will shape us, and it is very hard to even be conscious about this. I still strongly believe, however, that it is up to the individual (and an obligation, as far as I'm concerned) to try and understand these systems and the biases and lenses it has created within you, and to actively reject and reshape the facets that don't marry with your moral framework. The latter obviously means having to develop, understand and live your own moral framework. When looking at the racist remarks made after Sunday's game, I think this is what is missing - deciding how to act during hardship and sticking with it is really hard and only rewarding to yourself, so why bother. The next guy is an a**hole so why can't I be?

I'd love to hear your thoughts Kate Franklin Elise Finn Elle Harrison Jessica Gregson James Gairdner Ket Patel Jessica Meredith