Is there a cure for racism?

Tuesday, 29 December 2020

'Give no voice to racism' is the slogan of a campaign launched by the Human Rights Commission late last year.

OPINION: Looking forward to the New Year, I am thinking about our opportunity to rid Aotearoa New Zealand of the disease of racism – and the shocking effects that disease has had on our country.

As we know, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought racism to the surface as people – through fear – seek to lay blame for the spread of the virus at the feet of Chinese and others from the Asian community. This is on top of the racism already directed at many communities, in particular tangata whenua.

The effects of racism and Islamophobia were further brought home to us with the release, this month, of the royal commission’s report into the terrorist attack on the Christchurch mosques.

In the report we read about an individual who, from a young age and over time, adopted increasingly racist views to the point where he planned and executed mass murder.

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As a child, Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon was taught a lesson on racism by his father.

This is part of the reason I have been lobbying for every school to have bullying prevention programmes. We need to future-proof our children and young people from signing up to racist and extremist ideologies.

Commentators debate whether racism is a disease and liken it to Covid-19. Others argue that if racism is a disease then it is longstanding and still living and thriving in our institutions.

In my view racism is a disease you can catch.

People are not born racist. They learn racism from others and if it is not treated it can be fatal.

I draw on my own life. As a child I did not see myself as different from my peers who were tangata whenua and Pākehā. That was until I was taught a racist chant and, in my naivety, repeated it to my father.

He let me know the chant was about people like me, and him, and that, instead of repeating my catchy new rhyme, I should be proud of my Chinese heritage.

I agree with commentators who suggest racism is a chronic disease. It persists and resurfaces when we are under stress – as evidenced by the racist behaviours generated by COVID-19.

So then what is the cure for racism?

The royal commission's report called for greater ‘’social cohesion’’ in Aotearoa New Zealand.

It reiterates that social cohesion must also be founded on upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Performers sit among the Christchurch crowd enjoying other acts during the Hindu celebration of Diwali, a festival of lights.

As a senior lecturer in law at Victoria University of Wellington, Dr Carwyn Jones, has pointed out, Te Tiriti can help to resolve many of the challenging issues affecting Aotearoa. Working in Tiriti-based ways – including partnership and power-sharing, respecting rangatiratanga and tikanga – is not only the right thing to do, it offers effective approaches and solutions.

Is greater social cohesion then the cure we are looking for?

The way it is described by the royal commission appeals to me. Partly because of what they say it is not. It is not assimilation, the idea that tangata whenua and ethnic minorities are somehow absorbed by the dominant Pākehā culture to create harmony through uniformity.

Thankfully this racist approach is no longer promoted.

Social cohesion is when all individuals and groups have a sense of belonging, inclusion, participation, recognition and have a shared confidence that their public institutions will treat them fairly.

We all know the value of having our own personal identity and culture – and also the benefits that are gained from a diversity of views, experience and knowledge.

If racism is a disease, I don’t believe the antidote will be a magic cure. It will require of us, particularly those in positions of influence, power or privilege, to own mistakes and to learn from them.

A great recent example is Stuff’s owning of the racism and bias in the company’s lengthy history of covering the news and its commitment to Te Tiriti principles of partnership, participation and protection.

Here are some resolutions for the new year:

 Go to voiceofracism.co.nz to experience the racism experienced everyday by real people.

 Do not laugh at, acknowledge or share racist jokes, slurs or memes.

 Speak up when you hear racism.

 Learn about the history of Aotearoa and the impact of colonisation on tangata whenua.

 Take the opportunity to learn about the country’s different cultures.

As we all look forward to 2021, I call on all people to join in eradicating the disease of racism. I wish you all a happy and restful festive season.

Meng Foon is the race relations commissioner.