How long are we to keep on bringing up the past slavery of Black Africans? I find it quite trying and the requests for reperations from certain parties are nonsensical. It's a simple argument but my ancestors (the Irish) were oppressed in the worst ways by the English for 1000 years but you dont see us complaining about it and kicking up a fuss! As for the authors comment on the apparent inequality in lower paid jobs, I believe it simply depends where you live - if it is an area with more ethnic minorites then there will be more staffing the tills and visa-versa, this is my honest experience of the matter and there is no more to it than that. I think there are more pressing issues regard race than those brought up by the author - only so much blame can be attributed to the native British (particularily the middle to upper class males who take much of the flak), modern attitudes toward universiality and the revision of the 'old fashioned' British way of life also need to be considered

Andy, Birmingham, West Midlands

JS - As a Black person I thrive but that does not mean that I do not face racism - not comparable to ageism or any other ism that you mention for the simple reason that it is DIFFERENT - something the English sometimes fail to recognise. No one needs the stress of a racist regime. How worrying for me that it was the same human nature that led to slavery and colonialism. When you read about the horrors inflicted on other races and study the statistics relating to ALL minorites today in the UK then try Zadie Smith's Novel - White Teeth for a bit of light hearted reading on the subtelties of English racism!

A Reid, Manchester, UK

To JS from London. How many Black slaves do you think were 'held' in this country. Not very many in comparison to those that were enslaved - taken from Africa and forced to work on the plantations in the Caribbean. I was born in the UK but I am a direct descendant of those slaves from the Caribbean because my mother is Jamaican. My father is African and I am a direct descendant of the peoples of Africa who suffered under a colonial regime. Don't you dare to suggest that racism today has nothing to do with slavery. It has everything to do with a nation that has fanciful notions of being superior to every other race and therefore conflicted others to the horrors of slavery and colonialism due to its barbaric greed! I could spend hours telling you of the horrors of such regimes - the genocide, tearing families apart and destroying economies and how today the legacy continues because Black peopleI face that superior notion from whites EVERY SINGLE DAY but I suggest you educate yourself

A Reid, Manchester, UK

As a country Britain has nothing to be apologetic for. Yes we were part of the slave trade over 200 years ago and made plenty of money from it but we cannot and should not transpose current morality and social values onto the past. Times were different then. Racism is not an overhang from slavery it is as has been pointed out about fear and power. To be fair most of the ethnic posulation in this country are not related to ex-salves held in this country but have come from Afica and the Carribean in the last 50 or so years. So the argument that blacks are held back because of the hangover of slavery does not hold water. If racism was to blame how come that other minorities can thrive? Finally we have a legislative framework that ensures that everyone should be treated equally. What legislation cannot stop is human nature, and humans doing what humans do best, disliking and dicriminating against one another for no real reason. This can be racism, ageism, sexism or any other ism thats life

js, london, uk

So, when we have "apologised" for something that happened 200yrs ago, maybe we should extract an apology from the Italians for the excesses of the Romans, or should we demand compensation from Scandinavia for the Vikings rape & pillage.

I think not - instead, let the dead talk to the dead.

Keep branding every white person as complicit in the slave trade, then I might as well vote BNP - cos I'm seriously considering doing so, I've had enough of all this rubbish. Maybe Africans should confront themselves with the fact that Tribal leaders sold their own blood "down the river" when they considered them as troublemakers.

How about an apology for Idi Amin or Muagbe then ?

andy smith, st albans, England

Why is no one talking about the fascism that drives the Arab Muslims in the middle-east to cleanse it out of Jews?
Still think it's about "land"???

Maria, Birmingham, UK

How many black senior editorial staff and columnists are there at News International? Can't say that I have noticed any.

wesley kerr, london, uk

Whilst the majority of you Britons, black and white, asians and all, continue to beat yourself up over the equality or lack of it in Britain today, you should contemplate moving here to France, and as a European citizen come and see how equal life really is. It doesn't exist ! Rascism is alive and well here in France. If you are not French you won't get anywhere. You may pay your taxes but unless you apply for French Nationality you won't get the vote. Here "foreign" children from other EU states in schools are just dumped with the foreign i.e. Maghreban and African kids... In Britain non-Britons get to vote. THAT is fair play UK !

Englishman, France,

As a black Barbadian I cannot believe the comments about racism in Barbados being institutionalized. The majority of the population is black , a large percentage being middle and working class and all of those below the poverty line are black. When last has the term 'poor white' been applied in Barbados. It cannot be said that whites are discriminated against, in civil service,sports, church, politics, and the justice system. There was one white policeman and it was his choice to become a policeman, surely you can't say that if someone chooses not to enter such fields that they are discriminated against. But you do see most white Barbadians entering the businesses and professions of their families, law, accounting, engineering and construction, business enterprise and the plantations. The recent discussions on the imbalance of wealth in Barbados in no way shows any discrimination against whites, it was in fact the other way around. I dont' discriminate nor feel discriminated against.

Karla, Notts,,

Alice,
If you wish to address inequality perhaps a better starting point would be "is there equality in Britain" as inequality can perpetrate in various forms - racial, sexual orientation, sexual, by age, regional and by class. The answer is no. Does that make British society a particularly vile one? No again. Why? Because Britain has been one of the hand full of countries which have taken steps to address inequality not just through criminal sanctions but by teaching the effects of it to those who perpetrate it. As a minority I perpetrate prejudice everyday by taking careful steps that I avoid those who lack basic common sense and I apply that to people of all races, religion, age, sex and sexual orientation. However, in return, I have been blessed with some good friends (from around the world) with whom I can hold decent debates, discussions and some great social occasions. Lets apply some proportion to this debate.

Prabhat, UK,

I applaud Ms. Miles' suggestion, and encourage her to set an example by volunteering to surrender her job to a person of colour.

John, Nakajo, Japan

Please Alice, no more white-guilt hand-wringing for all we've done and continue to do to the poor blacks......for this week at least.... I don't feel in the least bit guilty, we all have the same opportuinities, its up to the individual concerned how they use them.

James, Reading,

I live in a predominantly white neighbourhood, its not exclusive its just an area of the north to which few immigrant families relocate. As such my local MPs, councillors etc are all white - does that make my area racist? Non-whites may make up 8% of the population, but in most constituencies (even those with large immigrant communities) the majority will be white, so it is only natural that white are 'over-represented' in parliament. Why should this matter, do different races somehow have different needs? If minorities are put off from self-advancement because of perceived lack of ethnically-similar role models then maybe they are just as racist as anyone else, if they see someone as being white and therefore different. I for one would like to get rid of all the racial equality forms (as well as anything to do with parents backgrounds) and go back to rewarding those who work hard, even if this means submitting applications without names so is no distinction between Smith and Singh.

Phil, Lancaster,

Black people in Britain have had the same if not more opportunities than other minority groups. Why is the asian community generally doing well in Britain and the black community is not?

VC, London,

"Positive Discrimination" - Ms Miles is obviously not familiar with the principles of equal treatment. As a former American citizen I was witness to the destructive effects of 'affirmative action' programmes on race relations. To introduce such practice in this country would serve only to promote distrust and division between races to the ultimate benefit of fanatics on all sides. We do indeed still have problems to solve but we must do so by promoting equality of opportunity, not by some twisted form of redistribution of opportunity from those that have it to those that do not. If we make a policy of giving opportunity (employment, education...) to a less able or qualified individual because of his/her race we will be destroying 200 years of progress. Moreover, just as redistribution of wealth does not eliminate poverty, redistribution of opportunity will not eliminate inequality.

J K Pepper, Chesham, England

Enough! I am sure you have noble intents, Alice, but this article merely flaunts white power with "reminders" that actually reinforce inferiority. Take the lead Black people and promote positivity. If you want to help, Alice, get more of white friends to take a serious role by mentoring a young black child.
Tim, Newport News, VA, USA

Tim Joseph, Newport News, USA/ VA

As an 20 year old I moved to London from Belfast to work. I was no stranger to discrimination.The rascism I saw there was shocking.I met Chinese who hated blacks ,Somalis who hated Ethiopians and two Pakistanis who thought that Hindus were worse than pigs.Oh yes and I also met a lot of white middle class people falling over themselves not to cause offence.Pathetic.

Peter Anderson, Madrid, Spain

To Pete, Cov
“Peoples of African origin dominate athletics. This has been accepted worldwide as a genetic factor. If peoples of African origin have an innate athletic ability, would it not be reasonable to come to the conclusion that in general, they may be lacking in academic ability?” What a silly and narrow-minded remark!!!
I am a black guy (a Nigerian) and whilst I excelled in athletics at school, I was also a very bright pupil.
At university (here in the UK) I was one of 2 Nigerians in my year and widely regarded as one of the brightest students on the course. I graduated with a first class degree (the only student on the course with a first class degree) and I was awarded 2 prizes by professional institutions and I now work in asset securitization with an investment bank. I should add, same goes for my brother, who also got a first class degree and now works with an investment bank trading equity derivatives.
Pete, I dare say, I am brighter than you & a better athlete.

Ade, London,

As a Black British woman, who grew up in Barbados and has lived in the United States, I admire the tone and purpose of the article and am dismayed by the ignorance and vitriol expressed in some of the comments.
I have found in my life here that there is a fundamental assumption that people of African descent are fundamentally inferior (unless, of course, they originate from West Africa). Even some of my West African friends have found that they are not hired even if they are the best on the shortlist.
In the debate on slavery and the abolition of the slave trade, you forget the damage identified by the Scarman Report: an entire generation of young people of Caribbean origin sidelined and disadvantaged purely by virtue of the colour of their skin. This has changed tremendously and will continue to change once those who do try hard are allowed to reap the full rewards of their efforts and not still told sneeringly that they do not belong. Yes, there is still work to be done.

Maureen, London,

"If you live in a city, go to your supermarket and check out the equality at the checkout."
What does this mean? Am I supposed to be noticing lots of black people or none at all? Most checkout workers seem to be middle-aged women or students; which has been the case for about as long as I can remember. I live in Birmingham, use a few supermarkets and they have a wide range of staff. Maybe that's not the case in the author's particular part of London, but it's no yardstick for the rest of the country! I think I might show this article to the black girl who sits behind me in the office actually, she'd be highly amused.

The suggestion that parliament should be arranged according to racial proportionality is staggeringly dense. Indeed why is it that the only time I ever even think about 'race' is when it's shoved down my throats in the 'news'papers? I'm sorry but all this positive-discrimination, proportional-representation, middle-class-guilt nonsense has no place in serious discourse.

Adam Neilson, Birmingham,

Oh for goodness sake why cannot employers give jobs to the best person for the job. I have always had to fight, study, be flexible etc to keep a job and as a woman I have expected no favours and now at nearly 60 have still to up with whatever is required, spoon feeding and positive descrimination is out of order and will certainly not be a vote catcher you cynical politicians out there. Lets get back to some tough love do it for the sake of the future generations born equal yes, its up to the state to see we are educated well and those with the greater ability will achieve whatever colour they are do not give in in to pandering to pathetic I'm a victim culture

CRH, Durham, UK

Dawn Butler's astute and correct analysis of inadequate black youth academic achievement is spot on. Some of the inherent disparities between the socio-economic groups( although primarily young black youth) is lack of motivation at school, lack of recognition from some of the teaching profession over the last three to four decades, leading to some of the despair and lack of achievement by some of the kids. The views of Walter from Taipei, for someone so intelligent seem quite naive, and do not answer the core analogy of the piece. Positive Discrimination although not the ideal policy, is possibly the only way that any quantitative progress will be made to differences in the advancement of 8% of the population, by the next Slavery Abolition Day. The perpetuation of the same elites(men included) in the upper echelons of government, business and society can only be changed by equality policies that are enforced by forward thinking and controversial pieces like this one.

Phillip Alexander, London, Croydon

I grew up in Belfast, was raised a Catholic and from a very young age new that in the system at the time I would not progress to the highest levels in society because i was a Catholic. This blatant discrimination has changed in NI but people in Britain were happy to ignore it.
If you want to reverse this 'black' and 'white' divide then at least stop referring to a whole plethora of people as a single 'black community' because I never refer to myself as part of the 'white' community. Its too vague and doesn't respect the family and cultural ties that everybody has. It perpetuates the 'them' and 'us'mentality which may be an intrinsic human attribute but I think we are all mature enough to overcome it.
And now we see the same cultural tag of 'Muslim' appearing. Or 'moderate Islam' and 'extremist Islam'. And from Tony Blair. An easy way to pigeon hole and create broad brush policies rather than deal with the complexities of society.

The Doctor, London, UK

Watch the news.If it's a story about success or achievement of any description you will struggle to spot a white english speaking boy.If it's about bullying,obesity,under achievement etc,the room will be full of them.Racism exists in a form that is promoted behind closed doors by Alice and her dreary kind.

Terry Nicholas, Radstock, UK

Picking up on the sexism thread which, for some unknown reason has appeared in these comments about a Racial Equality article, I have to say, let the boys have their jobs and their clubs. We should not be so blinkered by the PC brigade that we fail to recognise that there are some jobs women are not physically or temperamentally suitable for, just as there are some jobs men are not physically or temperamentally suitable for.

Also, this can spill over - there are some groups for whom certain jobs are not suitable! You wouldn't ask a Jew or Hindu to work in an abbatoir, for example. And I know it is a contentious issue, but it is not really appropriate to wear religeous garb which covers all the face but the eyes while teaching small children who learn communication skills by watching the shape of the lips and the expression on the face of the person talking to them. They cannot do this with a covered face! Positive discrimination is just as damaging as negative discrimination.

AuntyP, Reading, UK

There is racial inequality in Britain, but with the race/ religious laws, reporting restrictions, and positive discrimination, this is actually inequality against the whites.
For example whenever an employer tries to dismiss a black/ coloured (I forget which is the politically incorrect word) person for incompetence or bad attitude, they always challenge it on racial discrimination grounds (is it cos I is black) with much higher compensation, whilst a white male person has no similar rights.
Another example is knife and gun crime where ministers deny that it is predominately a black youth crime, or not allowed to report that in proportion to the white population blacks commit more crimes. Or even that racial crime is only measured as whites against blacks, but not blacks against whites which is probably an even higher figure.
I respect and welcome any law abiding black person as much as I condemn any white criminal yobs, therefore I do not consider myself a racist.

George, London,

Great,so all we need is a quota system based on Race and all we be fine.This is nonsense.The sad part is that the PC industry has a vested interest in perpetuating the myth that all black people are victims of evil white racists.Black people must be treated in a different way from whites,indeed treated like children.It is silly white liberals that have done more damage to the cause of race relations because they seek to put one race above another.Please explain why putting one race before another helps race relations?These sad liberals have a funny definition of racist.Its ok for them to discriminate against a person who is the wrong colour(ie white) in favour of people of another colour.What they should be saying to blacks is stop being victims and start by being positive.But then what would happen to all those in the Race industry who rely on the myths peddeled by the likes of Alice Miles.Alice have you investigated why your boss did not give your job to a non-white?Awful thing guilt

Patrick, Nottingham, England

hi everybody!

Welcome to the real world! No UK is not so fair play !

frecnh, paris, france

Oh come on now. Every species, race, profession, age group, sex, team, club, party, etc. has a right to differentiate itself and there are always those who claim pain in each and every instance. Didn't you make the team? Failed to pass the test? They won't perform the operation? Wish you were younger? Don't believe in global warming? Oh come on now.

Pete, Anaheim, USA/CA

It won't do for the black 'minority' and their sympathisers to keep playing the racial discrimination card. In the present regime of political correctness it cannot now be said that the police are targetting blacks or discriminating against blacks. Quite the reverse. Even so, the jails are disproportionally occupied by blacks. Maybe a lot of this lawlessness is to do with the fact that so many of them don't have fathers to exercise control or give them a role model. To illustrate the point, in a new book the author describes how one of our first black footballers has fallen on hard times. This fellow apparently fathered TEN children by different mothers. Maybe the ten kids are now pillars of society. Maybe. That may be an extreme case but fatherhood without responsibility does seem endemic amongst the black population of this country. Ade Alade says things will improve drastically when young black people begin to see people they can look up to. Quite so!

B. Carroll, Hong Kong, China

This article totally ignores the fact that other minorities, equally discriminated against, i.e jews, ethnic indians, chinese, etc, have prospered in this country because of a culture of hard work and family infrastructure. The percentage of Asian millionaires is, I suspect, far greater than the Asian population. Is this discrimination?
I am also surprised that apparently the entire wealth of the UK was derived from slavery. I thought the british working class who lived and worked in appaling conditions up to and including the early 20th century, had something to do with it.

J Noble, Watford, England

In the real world, the races are different.

Given the predatory nature of our species, diversity always injects tension and alienation into a society.

This "experiment" of multiculuralism being performed on the British was never intended to enrich the English, Scots, Welsh and Irish.

It is an act of genocide.

--Promote feminism, which everyone knows keeps the white birthrate below replacement level.
--Look for any ruse to flood Britain with Muslims from Africa and Asia.
--Encourage intermarriage.
--Punish Britons who object.

Genocide.

JoeMorgan, Auro,

I agree with Michael of Cheshire. I live in a part of Berkshire that is almost entirely white and visiting London, which I rarely do, is like a trip to another country.
Except the other countries I go to are as white as where I live...

dave, outside reading,

We cannot promote positive discrimination. Yes there is an imbalance; the ethnic make-up of the Government does not reflect the country as a whole, and yes this needs to be addressed. However, this must be done as part of a long term holistic approach to equality, so that more ethnic minorities will gain positions in Government having been treated fairly and equally along the way, and more importantly they must want to gain these positions. People should be judged by their competency and ability. Nothing else.

Martin Dixon, London,

Could we keep this issue alive throughout 2007? After all the fuss and back-slapping die down, we need to look 'under the carpet' to regard UK BME Deaf/Disabled people's issues. They are very much part of British society yet there are serious inconsistencies of provision and inclusion. Many parents of older BME Deaf/Disabiled young people - over 16 and outside the school system - are having real challenges. Professionals like myself are spending a lot of time establishing fragile links with the families, beyond my contract hours, in order to hold on trust and confidence. The legacy of slavery is still impacting these families, underpinning what is happening, the people who are losing out are Deaf/Disabled people trying to break down barriers to be independent citizens. We have success stories, but employment is awfully low and to be re-employed takes too many times longer than able-bodied people. BME Deaf/ Disabled people are real people!!

Penny Beschizza, London, United Kingdom

Again, it is the "Society" that is to blame for "failing" black boys. How come we "fail" them but not their sisters? Surely they have the same parents? Or perhaps, it is the absent black fathers whom are leaving the black boys with no role figure whilst the girls still have their mothers. Why is this the same problem in other countries too? In America, the absent father is most likely to be black. In Scandinavia we are facing huge problems with absent Somali fathers who are also drugging themselves with khat. Is it time to admit that they have themselves to blame? That their own "black culture" is not a good foundation for giving them a decent living standard. Come to think of it, most of Africa still has this problem. For as long as I have lived, they have been run by tyrants and killing each other. Perhaps there are some natural inequalities at play? Perhaps it is time they did something for themselves and stop blaming the rest of us.

H T Parminter, Oslo, Norway

Alice, I'm still confused after reading your write-up whether you are throwing your mind and thought towards slavery or racial discrimination ,based on colour and creed. There is indeed a marked difference between the two, the act of slavery is more flagrant and refects upon blatant quashing of our fundamental human rights, to survive . And racial discrimination at times goes on in a more undertoned, subtle sense, with ethnic slurring, a prejudiced approach amongs whites, blacks and brownies , be it in jobs, society , schools etc. It could be as hush hush as passing slanderous remarks , insinuations and even non verbal grimaces. In the multicultural society like Britain, one hardly sees slavery in its quintessential sense, where as one could still watch hints of such serfdom, vassalage and enslavement of mankind in Arabic countries, Middle east and conservative Islamic society.Better amend the act from Abolition of Slave Trade to Abolition of Racism ,in today's world.

Sanjeev Dheer, New Delhi, India

The wonderful thing about 'elites' is their total unawarness of anything outside their intellectual castles. The vision of the anointed indeed. Is there racism, yes. We all like our own tribe..People who fit in with our concepts will join us. Stop making 'victims' out of people. Get the Government out of this. If you want to see what happens when people depend on the Govrtnment for everything,...go to New Orleans!! The Missippi people are ten times ahead of the wasters. We have 100,000 of these 'victims' here. We have a special police squad to look after them.

Desmond Taylor, Houston, USA Texas

I think this is a very one dimensional view of 'race' and a rather dated approach. It doesn't allow for the differential performance of different ethnic groups in the UK and the role of group culture.

Yes, black boys do badly at school - but Asian boys tend to outperform their white counterparts. If you draw a rather simplistic conclusion that poor black male performance at school is based on discrimnation then you would also have to conclude that poor white performance viz Asians is based on similar discrimination which, of course, would be complete nonsense. No one can argue that many Asian communities highly value education and career success. It has resulted in some very motivated and talented young Asian men and women entering the professions - if my firm is any guide they exceed their representation in the community generally.

If there is an 'answer' it lies in the black community itself Positive discrimination just creates a victim culture and that just creates victims.

Ian, London,

So what are you saying that we as voters should positively discriminate when casting our votes as too who we should elect into the House of Commons?? That we should ignore who we feel will be able to represent our interests most effectively ignoring policies, in favour of balancing the proportion of ethnic minorities in parliament?? Cast aside who we feel is capable of doing the best job?? Ludicrous. Maybe black people are not as intellectually capable, maybe they don’t have the same aspirations, drive, determination or passion for certain career paths. The point is we are different both racially and culturally this should not be condemned but embraced - we don’t have these discussions when the Olympic team puts forward its selections for the 100m relay! We don’t begin questioning the fact that there are no white runners in the line up - this article does little but exacerbate feelings of racial difference.

Stuart , London, UK

Alice Miles has to distinguish between Black Africans and Afro - Carribeans. Why do journalists including the government always tar black people with the same brush? For goodness sake, Africans are from Africa and the Carribeans from Jamaica etc. Although We all black, but we are from different continents separated by slavery about 200 years ago!

Afro Carribeans are the ones performing 'well' below standard and NOT AFRICANS. Africans by nature VALUE education and family than the Afro carribeans.

Africans are thriving in Britain today compared to my parents generation although we are still held back by racism and the 'old establishment' and that is why there is yet to be black CEO for a FTSE 100 company. A black CEO in America is a norm rather than a 'fluke'

Africans hold very good jobs, can afford to send their children to private schools etc. compared to Carribeans who DO not VALUE Education, have failed to teach their children basic manners. Charity begins at home.

JOB , London , United Kingdom

PART TWO OF TWO:

We all get the same standard of basic education in this country and anyone can continue education and be who he or she wants to be, regardless of colour. Bleating about young black males and females lacking the support from the system, when in my experience many are merely brash, self-destructive, overly negative and misguided in their choice of role models, clearly shows you are using imagined discrimination to explain poor performance.

As for Mr Cable’s observation that that “65 per cent of all the prisoners are from ethnic minorities, and the vast majority are black,” do you think, if you remove the victimhood blinkers for just a moment, that just maybe black people may commit more crime than whites, especially shocking when you see what percentage of the population of Britain is black? I realise by suggesting this, I have instantly become a racist in the eyes of the liberal elite, but ask yourself this – why are figures for this not publicly available?

David Milton, Trowbridge, England

I've rarely read such tripe. Having lived most of my life in predominantly white areas but the last 5 years in an almost entirely black area I am quite certain that the discrimination is almost entirely the reverse of that suggested by Alice. Why, when we spot a difference, do we insist on attempting to blame those in what we perceive to be the superior position? It doesn't always work like that. Why do we invent terms like 'deprived' to explain the differences? Deprived of what, exactly? A free home and enough income to finance satellite TV, food in bellies and two mobile phones (one for each hand/ear, I guess) without the need to work? Hey, I'm outta here

Tom Renwick, London,

Alice,
Lives in her own little wonderland of white middle class do gooders who have very little idea of the real world. Come and live in norwood and I am sure her rose tinted view of the oppressed blacks will change. The place is a mess and looks like a slum when 20 years a go it was a nice place. The arrival of the Poles will at least clean the area up. It is a no go area after 9pm for white people.
Whites are a minority in terms of global demographics a fact she fails to mention, likewise the other slave trading countries. Of course there is no mention of the African chiefs who sold their tribesmen for profit at the time.

Yours against wicked white people

darren, london,

All aboard for the Great Western Guilt Trip! What Alice in Wonderland hasn't mentioned is that there were north African slave ships raiding the English Channel coasts in the 17th/18th centuries ; they even went as far north as Iceland mainly in search of white, fair haired women who fetched huge prices in the slave markets of north Africa.
As for present day equality - how come so many Chinese and Indians do well in the UK? Might I suggest it's hard work and enterprise rather than looking for excuses. Same principle goes for post colonial development. Forty plus years after independence Africa's a mess while countries like Malaysia and Singapore have reached fully developed status.

Peter Michael, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire

The sad truth is that racism and discrimination exist not just in england but in africa, america, asia and all over the world. Blacks dicriminate against themselves in africa, europeans dont want to live and share together as characterised by the failure of france and holland to ratify the EU constitution. Britain must surely be regreting colonialism as it has nearly half the world settling in england due to colonial/ancestral ties. what goes around comes around. I am an african but i would never have settled in England if not for the fact that my country was colonised by britain and my parents settled here in the sixties.God bless us all.

Jude, london,

Just when you thought that the columns by Alice Miles couldn't get any worse, you get this rubbish.
I refuse 110% to apologise for Britain, or for being a white male. Britain is incredibly non-racist. I can't think of a more tolerant, fair minded people, or one that has sacrificed more for freedom all across the world.
This writer is typical of the politically correct - no matter what we have done that is good it must be undermined - we must be made to feel guilty. Any problems that exist are only caused by us - white, native British people. This in itself is a deeply racist attitude. Who says a white MP cannot represent an ethnic minority person? If that is so, then is an ethnic minority person unfit to represent whites?

Charles, Bath, UK

You still have a law that says a Catholic may not become monarch. The monarchy itself is the very symbol of anti-deomocratic elitist tradition, meaning that there are more and less deserving classes of people. You still find Catholics and Protestants knifing each other in Glasgow and Belfast. And you're surprised that blacks aren't well treated? Whites don't even treat each other well. Hardly only a British problem. People all over the world mistreat one another the moment they engage in 'them vs us' thinking. Just look at modern black on black slavery in Africa or the amount of blacks who sold fellow blacks, albeit of a different tribe, into slavery hundreds of years ago. Apartheid. Israeli subjugation of Palestinians. The Holocaust. Decimation of tribes in the Americas.
One solution: start locally. The moment you think another person is one of 'them', stop. They're really one of 'you'. We all are, for better or worse.
Peace.

Jim Miller, Toronto, Canada

What a stupid article. Perhaps the Italians should apologise to the inhabitants of these islands for the invasion by the Romans or the Normans for 1066.

leo, Durham,

And I thought that the left wing liberal press was restricted to the U.S. It is a good thing to see that so many of you realize that YOU (as an individual) are the reason that so many unfortunate people can not make it on their own. I sincerely hope that you change your ways, just as we did here in your daughter country.

Brad, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

So, you would deal with racism by being racist against whites ? ... great .
Oh Alice !, you are sooooo "right on" .You can now tell all your chums at the next dinner party you are at .
Please, go and wring your hands elsewhere.

Graham, Suffolk,

I do have a concern as the writing is based on the existence of deliberate racial inequality. The racism in some form will exist in any society, and which is unavoidable. What we need to look whether, we, most of members of Britain gets equal opportunity to progress well. The answer from black community has to be yes, seeing the success of plenty of soccer players and sprinters. I don’t agree that black community sportsmen came up in spite of inequality.
Every body is born different. There are less politicians or sportsmen from Indian /Pakistani community as they are less interested in politics/sports.
I find most of the so called affected communities portray themselves as victim in order for their leaders to enjoy more benefits at Government cost.
Author’s concern regarding sex trafficking is valid, and it exists because of inequality among countries. We need to make every country to be responsible and develop pride in their country. A difficult task to accomplish.
So long as all countries don’t have respectable leaders, the poverty, and sex trafficking can not be eliminated.

Viswanath, Watford, UK

"They can always go back to Africa, West Indies "

Dear, oh dear, Times Reader, you appear to have conveniently forgotten generations of history. Little point trying to explain things to you though, I feel.

As for positive discrimination - you have go to be kidding. You cannot on one hand argue that ethnic minorities are unemployed because of a white old-boys network, which you imply is anti-meritocratic, and then insist that another, anti-meritocratic, network is introduced to replace it.

There are universities, public institutions and private enterprises bending over backwards to encourage ethnic minority participation/contribution. What you have carefully avoided in your argument is the difficult and potentially inflammatory area of cultural values - victimhood, group-on-group violence, anti-social behaviour - things which have nothing to do with external influences or opportunities. It is these which must be addressed. Positive discrimination only reinforces it.

Alistair, Great Missenden,

There is indeed no racial equaility in Britain but it is white people at the end of the discrimination. I was referred to as a 'white bitch' the other day by a black man at a set of traffic lights because I didn't move fast enough when the lights changed. My daughter has lost out twice on a job recently and guess what?....a black person was appointed BOTH times. My black friends freely admit that they would play the race card at the drop of a hat if it gave them an advantage over whites. Black kids don't engage at school because they regard us as the enemy and they don't like us. Best to stick with other blacks with your 'own gang'. Slavery was appalling, that cannot be contested but enough is enough. The question of race is way too prevalent in Britain because that is convenient for blacks. Kids, black or white, should be treated equally if they continue to operate outside of the law. Stop looking for excuses.

judy, Liverpool, england

Birds of a feather flock together. A workplace, club or other institution is more than just a collection of technically qualified people ; it is a social organisation, and will naturally attract people who have much in common - on the quite natural desire to get along well with each other. From a moral point of view it is hard see anything particularly wrong with this. It is an aspect of our ancient right (hard fought for) to associate freely with whom we choose. And no, I am emphatically not a racist.

James, Norwich,

As a white South African currently living in London because my partner is here but missing home constantly, this subject is one of particular interest to me. I too have noticed that my nice white supermarkets are all staffed by mostly black staff. Sadly, I've gone a step further and noticed that my supermarket's managers tend to be white males. Surely there should be at least SOME promotion internally for competant staff? What confuses me is that at home, I can be in a room of black people (as whites are the minority there, this is not that unusual an occurence) but I still feel like one South African among many. I was on a bus in S London recently, the only white person that I could see, and I felt uncomfortable? Perhaps thats economics, not race. But the truth is that while the people sharing the bus with me that day were mostly relatively poorer than me, that shouldn't have meant they were all black.

Michelle , London, UK

We,in this country seem to be constantly promoting people on the basis of race or sex,whatever happened to best person for the job?.No wonder this country is in such a mess.

niceonecyril, london, England

Well, that's exactly the problem, William from Norwich. What Alice is trying to point out is that many balck people who are 'hardworking', 'do their homework', 'obey the law 'and 'have self-discipline' have been and are systematically being marginalised and excluded by the structures and systems which favours the majority. The problem with many people in this country, and I have to say this includes many black people, is ignorance and the lack of serious study on history and debate on the impact of racism on minorities. The ignorance of the potential of black people to positively contribute to British society and have a sense of belonging is an absolute scandal on past governments, educational institutions, businesses, public policy makers, academics and, worse of all, the media who continue to perpetuate the horrible myth that most black are lazy and have 'no self discipline', etc.

Ade, London,

Positive discrimination would only make things worse for minorities, not better. This is because racial tensions, already an issue in certain parts of the country, woud come to a fore, with many white people (particualrly young white men living in disadvantaged areas) feeling angry and discriminated against themselves. The only people that would benefit from this would be the far-right, the BNP et al.

Tom Morgan-Giles, Farnham, UK

Why, on an article about the disadvantages faced by black people in Britain today, are 80% of the comments from whining white guys? Why do you all protest so much when someone points out your privilege?

Jay, London,

Mr Jeffcott, if we are going to aim for equality for all, we have to have some way of measuring it to see if we've got there yet. The collection of statistics regarding gender and ethnicitiy does serve to reinforce these categories, but not to mark them as inherently unequal to each other - and given what we can learn from these statistics, there is absolutely no proper reason to stop gathering them.

Jay, London,

The anniversary has prompted me to think more careful about the outlawing (let's at least agree to stop calling it "abolition") of slavery. The more I think, the more I see it as a purely economic phenomenon. In places, industries and times where machines could do the work more cheaply than people, it disappeared. In places, industries and times where they couldn't, some of which you list, it didn't.

If, in a fit of pride, politicians claim that the outlawing of slavery was driven by their consciences and was all part of the wider struggle for equality, then clearly it's a job half done and badly done. If, on the other hand, we say the end of slavery is a matter of economics and the end of inequality one of conscience, we can perhaps see better where we are now and where we want to get to.

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

If the writer's arguments are true that "disadvantaged" groups are more likely to be involved in crime etc then that would be true of Jews. Let's face it, it was only 60 years ago that many millions of Jews were murdered or displaced around the world but they are not "failing" at school or rioting or claiming racism.
Funny how one group of people can succeed after much hardship and others can't.
Also the misognist bile that passes as rap music is overlooked by the liberal left while someone who calls someone else a poppadom is vilified.
No wonder so many black boys (and increasingly the white boys who copy them) know that they can do exactly what they like and blame everyone else for their behaviour.

j b, london,

Racism is colour blind. Alice Miles should spend some time in a predominantly black country like Barbados (about 3% white) where racism against whites is practically institutionalized. AM regrets the disproportionate number of black MP's in Britain's parliament.
Hoewever in Barbados there are none, no white members of the cricket team, none in the civil service, and with the exception of a very few token appointees on state corporate boards, none in any visible Government jobs. There will never again be a white elected MP, commisioner -of-police, archbisop, chief justice, national cricketer etc. why? because of the colour of their skins. And woe betide whites facing the law courts.

Rodney, Bridgetown, Barbados

Unfortunately most of the comments here are the very same ones we will read in the newspapers, hear on TV programmes and sadly what most of the population believe. In looking at any situation, it is important to understand how it began before describing the presence talk less of knowing how to move forward.
WE ARE NOT BLACK - WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS OF WEST AFRICAN DESCENT, WE DIFFER FROM ONE ANOTHER GREATLY AS WE DIFFER FROM WHITE FOLK. DO NOT JUDGE ME BASED ON WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT MY OTHER W.AFRICAN BROTHERS & SISTERS. WHATEVER FAULTS WE MAY HAVE CANNOT BE DESCRIBED BY ALICE AS SHE DOES NOT KNOW WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE AND SHE LACKS THE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT 400 YEARS OF SLAVERY & 300 YEARS OF COLONIALISM HAS DONE TO ALL OF US.

Moving forward in 21st century Britain for people of W. African descent will only be possible if all the facts of our turbulent history comes to light, we must first understand it and then know who we are because of it and then we will surely find a way.

Niyo, London,

I grew up in a multicultural country, and my ethnic group once controlled 80% of the country's economy, even though we only make up 25% of the population.

As someone who has been on the wrong end of positive discrimination for 18 years of my life, take it from me: thats not the route you want to go down. There are a myriad of reasons why the black community has not dont as well as the ethnic Indian and ethnic Chinese communities. However, positive discrimination in an attempt to assist the black community will only result in disaffection of whites, Asians and Chinese alike. If you go to far with such a policy, do not be suprised if you see the mass exodus of talented gifted whites to foreign countries, permanently depriving the country of their abilities and skills.

Chee, Coventry,

`Why are they not as wealthy as us? Perhaps because black boys do worse at school than white boys? Yet black girls do as well as white boys — although worse than white girls.' Just wondering what precisely this means? Firstly, are you assuming that your readers are white? And while it is true to say that a disproportionately large subset of black boys underperform at school, the comment that `black boys do worse at school...' is a sloppy generalization that undermines the achievement (and potentially the confidence) of the subset of black boys who do excel academically. There is huge diversity in, and differentiation in achievement among members of, the black community, as with any community, and sweeping generalizations about mean achievement are clumsy and unhelpful.

N. Holman, London,

Dear walter of taipei

You have just echoed what I have long believed. I am certain that a large proportion of ethnic populations Worldwide who have been frequently called "racist" hold the same belief. However, we all fear being branded a racist, hence we clam up.

Peoples of African origin dominate athletics. This has been accepted worldwide (well, by those of non-african descent at least) as a genetic factor. Does this not prove that we are NOT all born equal? If peoples of African origin have an innate athletic ability, would it not be reasonable to come to the conclusion that in general, they may be lacking in academic ability?

The question I pose to anti-racist zealots such as Alice Miles who takes the absence of a appropriate proportion of Black men and women in leading political and economical positions as discrimination is this: Why has the Indian and particularly, the Chinese community of the UK done so well for themselves?

Pete, Cov,

As usual Alice manages to make the UK & white men out to be the bad guys in all of this. Yes, ok white English men are the anti-christ, we are guilty of all wrong doing and misdeeds in all of history and for perpetuity.

What she fails to mention is that using our unmatched naval strength, it was us that almost single handedly stopped the Atlantic slave trade and that this had a knock on effect in the US, ultimately being one of the causes of the civil war.

Also not mentioned is that not all minorities do quite as badly as UK blacks, Jews, Indians, Asians notably Koreans and Vietnamese dont use excuses they just immigrate to this country work hard and encourage their children to work and study hard which is why they are often top in education tables & sought after employees.

If we are so racist why do these groups do so well, or are we only selectively racist. I do not know one white businessman who would sacrifice money in his pocket for hiring the less qualified white man.

Paul Phillips, Birmingham, UK

There is racial equality in segments of our country but not all. As for people stating things like "..Education system because, as well as the points raised above, there is no genuine effort made to acknowledge either, yes, historical black contribution, ..." this is absolute rubbish. I myself sa hindu went to a state school where we were taught facts about our lives, albleit not so much black history, so what !Look beyond the colour and look at what some famous people have achieved that is where you get your inspiration.

The problem stems from parents not taking enough responsibility to raise their kids and the government not helping them to do so. What is striking about some of the spate of violence amongst the black teenagers is that some of them are from the sub-african continent. These people are supposed to be very religious and prefer British values; So I'm quite puzzled as to how they get to these state of affairs concerning gangs and violence.

Jay Patel, Harrow,

If we are truly going to aim for true equality for all, it might be a good idea to stop collating and regurgitating data based on ethnic background and gender

Phil Jeffcott, London, United Kingdom

So, Mr Lowe, white people were refused permission to build a mosque in dudley...Pandya, its very difficult to tell genuine discrimination from whingeing. You should have got that promotion, of course you should., its only because your black that you didnt. A white PC association? Not needed and not wanted, and probably an indicator of racism by those who do. I suffer from the worst discrimination of all, ageism..Black people arent getting blacker every year, but I am getting older. Why should I apologize for slavery, or I will, when I hear the first ethnic minority person do so. My parents are irish and suffered brutal repression in the past merely for drinking guinness. When does the whining stop and the responsibility start?

Elwin parsley, london , UK

It is against human nature to expect those at the top of the tree to come down voluntarily and allow you to take their place. One option would be to shake the tree vigorously and when a few fall try and supplant them. This takes a lot of time and effort and creates discord. A better option would be to simply, grow your own tree. We need to run and support more of our own business (despite the banks making it more difficult).Then you will see a success story that will not only benefit black people but the whole of the UK. Watch this space. PS dont need your handouts or apologies thanks. DO FOR SELF!!!

Reno, High Wycombe,

I don't see why a Government now should be responsible for something a Government of the past, particularly if it was more than 50 or 100 years ago, has done, and therefore be able to either take the credit, or the blame (and therefore possibly have to apologise) for anything that may have happened then. If someone is not responsible for something they they should not have to apologise for it, as it wasn't their fault. This seems like political correctness. Sir Ian Blair may as well apologise for not catching Jack the Ripper and Tony Blair may as well apologise for the Suez crisis, the general strike and the 100 years war as well..mind you he has enough to apologise for already for things on his own watch.

Philip Pritchard, London, UK

The statistics regarding MP's from minorities is interesting. However, it's one of the few places where positive prejudice isn't rife.

Consider the soap operas where upt to 40% of the characters are from an ethnic minority.

The best way to tackle racism would be for everyone to just forget about it rather than have this ongoing industry where whole careers are based on it.

Dave Leighton, Selby, UK

Maybe the reason a higher proportion of ethnic minorities live in social housing is because they are victims of pro- discrimination! I have been on housing lists in various parts of the country and in my previous location was told that I would have to wait around 30 or 40 years (Oxford) before I made it to the top of their waiting list for accomodation!
As for a racist basis obn attainment anyone remember the American who announced such results that place Afro-Americans at the bottom and was roundly denounced. No one it seems bothered about the result that places Asians higher than whites!

John, London,

Instead of nursing past imaginary and real injuries and encouraging every aggrieved group to strive for the coveted status of "victim first class," let's address the very real and growing problem of slavery in the world today. It exists, is growing, and practically nothing is being done to stop it. Ironically, many race cheer leaders in this country are silent about today's slavery.

James, Jacksonville, Illinois U. S.

this is one of the worst columns i have ever read from a times commentator.the people vote for their mps,if they decide to vote for a white person that is their right.to suggest the majority of the british electorate is racist is not right.in all walks of life the best will always be succesful.i see there is no mention of the many non-whites who play for the english national sports teams,the many non-whites who appear on television,the many non-white journalists etc. in all these cases the people mentioned have specific skills which have made them rise to the top.another thing they have acheived is they have succesfully integrated into british life.

joe wilson, glasgow,

What a the relative percentages of Scottish MPs and Scottish population ?
I suspect that it would show that Parliament also " well advertises the fact " that English people are not equal to Scottish people in Britain today.
This childish view of representation is capable of being used to demonstrate alomost any imagined inequality.

David Tomlinson, Poole, Dorset

Your article is missing some fundamental points. The primary motivation for the abolition of slavery was not necessarily altruistic. It might have been economic but certainly had it’s political aspects. Similarly, the decision of the British government to import black labour into this country could hardly be said to be altruistic. In this case it is more obviously economic and political. It was bound to give rise to considerable complications and one of the most obvious or intractable is racial difference. There is no equality in Britain. There are a host of differences, and black people have to make their way just like anyone else. They may have a disadvantage in being black, but if they wish to change their circumstances, like everyone else they have to work at it and it will take time.

Henry Percy, London, UK

How can you equate sexism in the workplace with slavery - think it through! The absolute ownership of another human being whether it is defined by their colour or other means is slavery, discriminating against a person based on their gender is sexism. if discrimination is based on race it is racism don't confuse the issue. Of course we should celebrate abolishing the slave trade just as we should recognise the fact that it took an act of parliament for Britain to acknowledge that slavery was wrong.

James, Taunton, UK

I'm afraid that I have a racist point to add.
It is a probability - rarely mentioned - that there may be differences in average ability between different racial groups. No one tries to claim that the reason nearly all the fastest sprinters in the world are of west African genetic origin is cultural. This may make equality impossible.
It is a sad and uncomfortable probability and It is dangerous to ignore it. The only alternative to it is racism. If racism is fully responsible for the disproportionate black prison population, racism must also be responsible for the disproportionate black sporting population.

walter, taipei,

I disagree with the 'Times Reader' that this publication is trying to deflect people's attention from what is going on in the world. We live in Britain & issues here are what should be our primary concern. Making the case that things are worse elsewhere is a lazy argument. As for people being able to 'go back to Africa, West Indies etc' -a lot of black youths have no connection whatsoever to these places. They are born & bred here & so would be lost if they went back. I don't particulary feel that positive discrimination is the answer; but there needs to be a frank debate on the state of minorities in this country. Getting offended & sweeping it under the carpet just causes resentment.

Akosua, Essex,

As I understand it, Alice Miles lives in London. This is indeed now apparently a multicultural place, as are a small number of cities in other parts of the UK. But for the rest of us, Britain is NOT multicultural. Long may this continue, as the gulf between London and the UK gets ever deeper.

Michael, Cheshire, UK

I'm not saying that racism isn't a problem but it’s this pathetic victim culture that holds the black community back more than anything!
“I was on my play station all night and didn’t do my homework because I was so upset about slavery!”
Equality is about equality of opportunity not equality of outcomes.
If you don’t learn a bit of self discipline, work hard, and obey the law it doesn’t matter what colour you are you will fail to achieve your potential.

William Howell, Norwich,

Spot the irony Alice: you (rightly) identify low expectations as a contributory factor in poor achievement at school, but your expectations of Britain's black people could not be lower: crime, lack of ambition? Not their fault, poor dears, they are helpless victims. Black British people don't need your sympathy or condescenscion, they need the weaker elements of their own community to get its act together. The biggest single element in the lack of achievement at school and greater involvement in crime among black youths is family breakdown, and none of it is helped by the appalling role models in popular culture (to which white liberal types kowtow embarrassingly - where's the feminist outrage against the gangsta culture?). Positive discrimination helps nobody and creates resentment. Perhaps the paternalistic handwringers ought to butt out and give black people the credit to address the issues which affect them.

Anne, Birmingham,

I find it interesting that like the recent TV documentary you seem to assume that racial discrimination began with the slave trade. Rubbish. One ethnic minority has been persecuted and discriminated against for over 2000 years and it continues to this day.

And absolutely right Times Reader. It astounds me that so many young black men are being brainwashed into Islam when it was the arab moslem world who sold their forbears into slavery in the first place. Ignorance appears to be bliss in this case condoned by the trendy left 'meeja' who would never willingly acknowledge that fact of history.

Jay, London,

Many Asians of Indian descent succeed here in the U.K. economy. So the problem is not a coloured one!

If you look at Black and Muslim children, most consistently underperform at school. Therefore, one of the key reasons for this failure to progress is that they simply cannot do the job.

stuart turner, bristol,

Here we go again with another silly view of what it means for Parliament to be "representative of the nation". I was under the impression that my MP would represent me even if he or she were a different colour while Alice Miles seems to believe that blacks represents balcks, whites, whites and women, women. If she would like to play her part in helping black people into the better remunerated echelons of society, she could always hand over her job, which she clearly believesw is hers partly because she is white, to a black journalist.

Cliff Pooley, Cheltenham,

What a load of statistics - pity you didn't mention the racial split in crime statistics which show an enormous over representation of non whites. Positive discrimination already alienates the white population, who have no option to cry racism when they fail to get a job, have planning permission refused (as in Dudley over a new mosque) , and where is the National Association of White Police Officers - non existent, as that would be racist.

t lowe, birmingham,

So, to make up for the terrible inequality of racial discrimination, you would suggest we resort to... racial discrimination. Bravo, another weak minded attempt at a solution. There are a lot of complicated issues at stake here, and simply resorting to positive discrimination is absurd. What we really need is better education for ALL, less moddy coddling, a more competitive environment and a generation's worth of time.

Dan, London,

If everyone really is equal, why should certain population groups get special help? What about the Chinese community in Britain? Are you offering them special help? Why not? Perhaps it is because they don't need it and you know they would express their disgust at such a patronising, self-righteous attitude.

Gervas Douglas, Andorra la Vella, Andorra

I would like to applaud your frank assessment of today's multicultural heritage. I work with a music technology for prisons project called Sonic Db, and am currently working at Werrington YOI, in Stoke, where the vast majority of lads (15-18yro) that I'm working with are black and from London. I find that many of them have been disincentivised to engage with Education system because, as well as the points raised above, there is no genuine effort made to acknowledge either, yes, historical black contribution, or its present day counterpart. Therefore the young men opt out of the system to forge their own cultural expression in sometimes the only way they know how, which sometimes ends up on the wrong side of the tracks. Sadly, it seems to be only in projects like Sonic Db, where time and money is spent in creating a real cultural dialogue with the young men in the institutions that self esteem and raised levels of personal expectations are beginning to be achieved.

Ornette D Clennon, Manchester,

Presumably Alice Miles is now going to take up employment as a supermarker cashier after handing over her nice well paid job to a suitably qualified black male. There again she could just be advocating even more discrimination against young white men and a ' do as I say not as I do mentality'.

Rob, Rochester, Kent

'Positive Discrimination' is what you're urging and it didn't work in the US and it won't work in Britain because it's discrimination and two wrongs don't make a right, a moral fact which crazed left-wing secularist idiots never acknowledge but then, why should they? It was Christians who ended slavery in the West. Let's talk instead about Islam and how the Koran actually mandates for slavery: slavery that is still WIDELY PRACTISED throughout Moslem countries: Sudan, Darfur, Mauritania, Dubai, Saudi Arabia. Time for British media to wake up and acknowledge the poison of slavery in the present day and stop trying to deflect the public's attention with chat about prejudice against blacks in Britain. They can always go back to Africa, West Indies, etc, only problem is quite a bit of Africa is presently Moslem and they'd end up as real slaves under Moslem rule. If I sound cynical, it's because I am disgusted by the Times's failure to confront real Islamic slavery in today's world.

Times Reader, london,

It is a joke to say that there is equality in the UK. There is always the racial undercurrents in the all enviroments in UK. My son is bullied and indirectly racially abused in school. I have been unemployed for over three years despite working twenty years in UK Universities and possessing a PhD. Why? Because the country that was commited to slavery (and only belatedly involved in stoping it) cannot see ethnic minority progressing in all fields of life. One would assume that the employers will always employ the best people. Then why does one have to fill an "Equal Opportunity" form in job applications? Is this to monitor the equality? For whose sake - employees or employers? I think this is to cover the employers in case of racist accusations and nothing to do with offering equal opportunties. Question - how many ethnic minority in govt cabinet? How many ethnic high comminisioners or in the foreign office, how many University VCs? This says it all. UK is basically still racist.

Pandya, Milton Keynes, UK

I agree with Ade. Being a lady I also notice this same effect In the parallel world of sexism. Last year a disapointed lady colleague of mine queried why she was passed over for a particular job in favour of a male colleague, my response was 'boys best friends tend to be boys!'

R. Ince, Istanbul, Turkey

You make some very interesting points but I would go further by saying that only affirmative action like policies would make any real changes.
What we have now is a tyranny of the majority. Best jobs are given to whites based on old boy/girl networks, how your face fits, the school you went to etc. So how can there be a claim that the best candidate is given a job.
Once young black people begin to see people they can look up to in positions of greater authority this will improve drastically.

Ade Alade, london,

The discrimination starts in the school. My daughter goes to a independent school and I was amazed to see all the black children all in the lower set group. With my daughter, I had to persistently fight with the teachers to move her into the higher set. If this happens in a independent school, I can imagine the state ones. Teachers immediately think black children are good at sports but not education.

Tom Brown, Milton Keynes,

Alice Miles
I did not think I would become one of those who's first response to an article like yours is 'How about some social equality. A labour government has just voted in a budget where the lowest paid or in the case of Cornwall NHS workers, the underpaid have just had around 10% increase in income tax. So much media hype before about 'gas guzzlers' and even those who can afford to run such a vehicle [ £40k/annum] only got an increase in car tax of £100 [against around £340 in overall income tax benefit]. If we compare the impact cw the underpaid here on £12k [full time NHS care worker], surely this shows the way this Government thinks about the poor. Isn't it about time the media began to pursue this gross inequality where vital underpaid workers on the verge of despair are beginning to crack up physically and mentally, in a society where the middle classes want their mums and dads looked after in care homes but are not prepared to support fairer incomes for the care worker

John McKechnie, St Ives, Cornwall

Positive discrimination merely perpetuates discrimination. The only rational solution to discrimination is to base criteria on merit and to ensure equality of opportunity. Positive discrimination is a discredited form of social engineering that is unfair as what it purports to replace.

The writer has not addressed the question why other non-white groups in the UK do so well (Asians and Indians). This issue needs to have a serious answer before jumping to the conclusion that whites discriminate against blacks (in my experience most educated whites under the age of 60 are pleasingly open-minded about race. Most think that skin colour is the least important thing about a human being, and they are happy to associate with people of any colour or ethnic background.

I can't help feeling that some people have a vested interest in perpetuating the myth that white people systematically persecute and discriminate against black people. In fact, it appears to be a growing industry.

Chie, Tokyo, Japan