The well attended conference was presented by EYST,
the Swansea based charity supporting BAME (Black and Ethnic Minority)
people across Wales, and Race Alliance Wales. A very varied programme of
speakers included Deputy First Minister and
Government Chief Whip Jane Hutt. Ms Hutt brought greetings and
expressions of solidarity from First Minister Mark Drakeford. The Welsh
Government is committed to diversity as a principle. The Minister also
announced some amounts of money that would now
be available for work in the areas of concern of the organisations
represented there. While these amounts were welcomed there was some
concern expressed during the conference that they would have to be
competed for by charities working in this field.
There are many ways in which life for BAME families
is improving in Wales but, particularly since the calling of the Brexit
referendum instances of hate crime and abuse have increased in Wales,
as in other Western countries.
The appalling massacre in New Zealand is a dreadful
example of this horrific trend but here also anti-Muslim hate crimes
reported across Britain increased by 593% in the week after, an
independent monitor
ing group, the charity Tell Mama,
said almost all of the increase comprised incidents linked to the Christchurch attacks.
There was little doubt among the attendees at the
conference that the Brexit process, along with the hostile environment
created by the Home Office, initially when Mrs May was Home Secretary,
are both contributory causes to attacks on immigrants
generally, but these attacks also specifically demonstrate hatred of
Muslims and, through ignorant association Sikhs and Hindus.
The point was made that fear of immigrants is not
being demonstrated by the "left behind" citizens but rather by those
with moderate income.
Wales needs to build a data base of evidence of racial hate acts to provide credibility and veracity.
Some small BAME charities showed presentations of
surveys which, in my opinion, were based on samples that were too small
and unrepresentative but where surveys are well conducted they can
provide illumination. For example: of 15 and 17
year olds going into apprenticeships: 0.6% identify as black, 0.7% as
mixed race, 1.1% as Indian, 1.5% as disabled and 97.3% as white; and a
further clear statistic: the wealth gap. The average assets of white
people £221,000, black Caribbean:£76,000, Bangladeshi:
£21,000 and Black African:£15,000.
The Conference was designed to bring together all
the charities and agencies working with BAME Welsh peoples to help in
creating a united standpoint and to some extent the day celebrated that
unity. However any celebration was overshadowed
by the horror of the Christchurch attacks and the long history of
inequality and exploitation of BAME peoples.
PH.
