I've watched the BBC Big Questions @bbcbigquestions again to focus on what Calvin Robinson has to say. It is interesting in that the overall message appears to be one of bringing people together, it is divisive and does not really address racism in society.

1. Robinson outlines his grandparents experiencing racism when they arrived from Jamaica to what happens now, suggesting that racism (definitive) has decreased. What type is he referring to? Overt or covert? No one can tell because he is not clear.

2. He quotes figures from the ONS on ethnicity achievement and cites the examples of 'Black' Africans doing well as opposed to 'White British kids at the bottom of the ladder'. This ignores the variation within 'white' and also social and economic diff. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/uksectoraccounts/compendium/economicreview/february2020/childpovertyandeducationoutcomesbyethnicity

He reinforces the dualistic arrangement of 'white' and 'black' whereas the ONS data provides more nuance. Therefore, he continues to sow seeds of division despite claiming to want to 'unite us'. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/ethnicity/articles/peopleidentifyingasotherwhitehasincreasedbyoveramillionsince2001/2015-06-26

4. I'm not sure the last time Robinson actually fully taught in a school, but his idea that schools teach 'black' students that the 'white man oppresses them' is hard to back up with substantive evidence. Is this in PSHE? History lessons? The teaching of British Values?

5. Robison should know, especially as a former Senior Leader in schools, that British Values runs through the whole curriculum as part of safeguarding. But this is ignored. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/380595/SMSC_Guidance_Maintained_Schools.pdf

6. Robinson says then that people should keep their head down and work hard as they will succeed. Ignoring the government's own research on the issue regarding work after school and other research too: http://csi.nuff.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Are-employers-in-Britain-discriminating-against-ethnic-minorities_final.pdf
https://www.natcen.ac.uk/media/20541/test-for-racial-discrimination.pdf#page=13 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/594336/race-in-workplace-mcgregor-smith-review.pdf

7. When saying that we are all British and that is what unites us is interesting. I agree, but the notion of citizenship informing Robinson's argument is tenuous because it excludes the constant struggle to reaffirm the meaning of that citizenship. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/874022/6.5577_HO_Windrush_Lessons_Learned_Review_WEB_v2.pdf

Basically, it would really help if programme makers got people who actually know their stuff to talk about these issues (or better yet, make a series about it) rather than people trying to make a political career for themselves.

I’ve just been sent the talk radio clip.