Lift-the-flap Questions and Answers about Racism (Questions & Answers)

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Covert racism can affect young people’s self-esteem and support the idea that’s it’s okay to challenge a person’s experience.

Racism or racial bullying can be overt or openly hostile, such as being called racist names or being sent threats. Feel constant, exhausting and disempowering. For example, we may feel like we have to play different roles in different spaces to stay safe. This is sometimes called code-switching. Give it some time. It can take time to build trust. And some sessions may be more challenging than others.

Sometimes it's very obvious, with a clear intention to harm or offend. This is often called overt racism. It can include: Do they recognise how your experiences of racism may intersect with other parts of your identity? For example your gender, religion or sexuality. Interpersonal racism is when a person treats you poorly or unfairly because of your race. This might be colleagues, classmates, strangers, service staff, and even family members or friends. It can happen in person or online.

Then at work, institutional and interpersonal racism can be a barrier to promotion. These barriers can affect your income. But often racist comments or actions are more subtle, and may not be intended to cause harm. This is often called covert racism or microaggressions.

Institutional racism is when an organisation treats us poorly or unfairly because of our race. This can be intentional or unintentional. Many organisations don't realise how their policies and practices disadvantage people.

Covert racism can come from unconscious bias. This is when someone unknowingly accepts racial stereotypes, and this influences their behaviour. Sometimes we feel uncomfortable talking about things we don’t know much about. If a child asks you a question which you don’t know the answer to, it’s okay to suggest that you learn together. The following resources can also be a great way to improve your understanding of race and racism:

Internalised racism is when we hold negative views about ourselves because of our race. Internalised colourism is when these views relate to our skin shade. Unfortunately, not all therapists are confident talking about racism during therapy. This can happen even if they have had some cultural competence training. Be conscious or subconscious. You might not realise that some of your negative feelings stem from internalised racism or colourism. Health problems can then further affect work and income. Work, study, money, housing and physical health are all connected to our mental health. This creates a vicious circle of disadvantage. Systemic racism and the pandemic

Racial discrimination or racism is when someone is treated differently because of their race, ethnicity, nationality or colour. Any type of racism or racial discrimination is abusive and distressing for children and young people who experience or witness it. Historical trauma (or historical loss). This is when you're affected by the realisation of how your racial group has been oppressed over time. This can all lead us to hold contradictory views about our heritage and skin shade. We may feel both 'too much' and 'not enough' at the same time.Anxious, fearful and unsafe. You may worry about how people are going to perceive and treat you. You might feel visibly different and vulnerable when you are around lots of people of a different race. You may spend time thinking about how you'll protect yourself before entering certain spaces.