Diversity schemes for young people - mixed race child.

[Florencesndzebedee]

I have a dc who is currently an undergraduate. I am mixed race, my dh is white. Dc is fair skinned but, through my heritage, also has black heritage (my dad is from the Caribbean).

The landscape is tough at the moment getting work placements/internships but some of these schemes are open to dc of black heritage only. My dc is reluctant to apply as he said he’d feel like a fraud, purely on looks - he looks like he might be Spanish or Greek but has blue eyes. The criteria are quite vague other than under represented people )within the organisation) of black/african /Caribbean heritage. I feel like he is entitled to apply and these schemes would give him more options.

Does anyone have any experience of these particular schemes or how they select?

Why would I lie about something like that?!?! Ffs

It is in an industry that is massively dominated by white privately educated men. Notoriously so.

Get out of your ivory tower and open your eyes. Never watch the news?

Thank you for all of your comments - there is plenty of food for thought and it is a moral (and political) issue I can see.

@onyourwaythank you for the link. I sent it to ds and he said ‘no-one looks like me there’. I think he worries that people will think he’s taking advantage of a scheme that’s not ‘meant’ for him.

I am visibly black and ds knows he is of mixed heritage and is down as such on school/uni records. We have a British name. He hasn’t experienced racism that we know of although these things can be covert I guess. He is very academic but dyslexic.

There are a few schemes now where they’re advertising for under represented groups to apply. The civil service have just announced one? There was a big thread on it recently although that was to do with the social class of your parents.

I find it strange that you don’t think this doesn’t happen. I’ve experienced overt and covert racism in life and in my career. A significant proportion of black and ethnic minority people will have too.

Are you saying that, because it’s not your experience, it didn’t happen?

Didn’t know schemes like those existed tbh.

How impartial do you believe the "news" is ?

I work in one of the most (if not the most ) multicultural employers to ever exist. Funnily enough my black/brown/Muslim/eastern European (I could go on ) colleagues don't get it. They all feel incredibly privileged and most say "back home things are different. You're shunned if you're... Xyz"

Don't start aggro based on your white (because you will be white) virtual signalling and let black and brown people live and be accepted as "normal". And normal means : some will love them because they're funny, some will affiliate with them being because they're important, some will not like them because they're obnoxious, some will hate them because they're ill mannered. You get what I'm saying ? Apply the same values. The good, the bad, the indifferent.

I think one of the problems with these schemes, and I’m not saying they shouldn’t exist, is the racial stratification that they causes. Look at multiple comments on this thread considering whether your son is “black enough”. I think that’s a very dangerous and unpleasant road to go down. Also the presumption that a person who looks “really black” will have suffered discrimination affecting their prospects. I
suspect that the vast majority of students applying for this placement will have had very little serious disadvantage to deal with.

With all due respect, you’ve said that you work in a multicultural organisation. Surely you understand that that is not the case for every industry? I am simply sharing the reality that not everyone is in that situation. You can’t just poo-poo someone else’s experience because it’s not the same as yours. Sadly there are people in the UK who do not see people who are not white as “normal”. And that attitude is prevalent more so in some industries than others. My DH’s is a classic example of this, although thankfully it is slowly improving.

Adding to my point : (there's several colleagues I work with that are black, for example) most blend into the background and I couldn't tell you much about them.

One person is the most positive, smiley, happy person I've ever met. (And she's gorgeous 😍) Got the whole package. I love her (inconsequential piece of info: she's black ) but because I've know her since she took me under her wing at 18 (I'm now old) her "blackness" isn't a factor In anything I think about her.

Another colleague is bitchy, gossipy, underhand, plays nice to your face and is the total opposite behind your back, she's a vindictive cow to be honest. (She's black) Funnily enough I've also known her since I was 18 (she hasn't changed ) and I'm also still old.

Ya know what. That right there : that's equality

That's not an example of equality. Again as with the other thread, words have actual meanings.
That's just a closet racist (you) noticing that black people have personality outside of being black.

That’s how fair people see things. Take people on their actions and character not their appearance. If only everyone was like that.

There’s a tonne of research that shows racism is alive and well in current recruitment and employment practices, it’s not something that can be consigned to the history books just yet, sadly. Schemes like this are intended to counter the impact of systemic racism.

I think he is eligible to apply and definitely should. He may not have experienced any racism yet but being in the workforce is very different. There will be much for him to learn from the other participants and his identity. X

Yep, you’re equally obnoxious to everyone.

But that is not what happens.
there is bias during selection and interview.

People tend to have a preference for those that are similar to them. Eg similar class / accent. Check out amol rajan’s the truth about class as an example.

When I look at my place of work the percentage of ethnic minority staff decreases to 1 the higher up the management scale you go. This is out of a staff of approx 500. So why is that happening? Is it inherent bias or are black and brown people just not capable of being promoted?

The same poster who denied that white privilege exists on a previous thread. ⏫️
The patriarchy chicken thread.

That's your (misguided ) opinion

White privilege does not exist. its a theory. (I'm guessing you're white)

Would you like to detail exactly how im obnoxious ? I'm all ears

Indeed. Apparently I'm "the problem" I suppose my absolute bitch of a colleague deserves a free pass because she's black. Where as my delightful colleague who I hold in the highest esteem who I no longer work with (I miss her 😢. She was one of these people that nobody ever could dislike) can be considered in the same bracket because they're both black.

The only positive is I have realised how much I miss said colleague (the last one) I don't miss the other bitch ! And I should reach out to her. She was one of life's "Pollyanna's" everything was a positive. Lovely way to live life.

wtf!

What gives you the confidence to believe this couldn’t have happened?

Could you actually imagine a company publicly saying they will only hire white people? Imagine the uproar from non-white people? How is this actually allowed? You say white privileged exists, it may do, I don’t know, but I doubt any company has actually ever publicly said “we will only hire white people”. Why is this acceptable?

I remember (with almost tears I my eyes) that woman supporting me and being there for me when I was 18 and green behind the gills, saying "oh darling, we've all been new. Come follow me " and I did. And she was the kindest soul. She's never changed. (Although haven't seen her in 5,years ) The other witch would hang you just for existing. She was in senior management and was sickly sweet to your face but would try to try you sacked behind your back.

Should I accept them as 'sharon' and 'yvonne' (with her fucking issues) or should I class them all under one big "black" umbrella in the name of apparent equality (I'm sure they'd be thrilled)

It’s bias. It exists. What else could happen to level the playing field?

To the op I think if your son qualifies he should apply. But I do understand your son’s pov.

I disagree.
It very much exists, especially today, in this raging racist society.