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?

It is equality to like or dislike people based on their personalities. HTH

That is still not evidence of actual equality at either a structural or personal level.

whether he qualifies or not, if he hasn’t experienced prejudice or hardship as a result
of his race or colour he should ensure his space is given to someone who has.

Most people want everyone to have a fair chance in life - the only real issue is 'how do we do that?'.

'Positive discrimination' is no better than any other type, but clearly goes on, with examples including some RAF recruiters recently being asked to give preference to non-white applicants.

Race is only one thing, of course, with sex, disability, age etc all having their own impacts.

Currently, I think we've perhaps gone a little too far in some of our diversity efforts and will see a swing back at some point, before that too goes too far, and back we come again. Will we ever reach a stable state? Probably not....

Yes, I should have worded that better. I accept that and can see my mistake.

If the scheme is aimed at people who aren't white then he meets the criteria, how someone looks is irrelevant.

My grandson is mixed race, his mother is black... He has very pale olive skin, brown soft curly hair and blue eyes. He's still half black.

There is no justification? Tell that to the black people who don't get jobs because they're not white.

Oh the ignorance is astounding.
My black dil has faced discrimination and racism her entire life, she can't afford courts and solicitors, your suggestion that courts are the solution is ridiculous.

And it's black people that have been telling white people for years that they're seen as less than white people, they've been telling us that they're discriminated against, that employers are racist. How many black police are there vs white ones? Ethnic minorities are disadvantaged in every way this country and if you can't see that you're either ignorant, naive or live in white suburbia and have no idea what daily life is like in an inner city.

In an ideal world but unless you're from a minority you wouldn't know the numerous microagressions which prevent you from progressing. Think of it like a race. There's a starting line. Then take one step back if you're not white. Then take one back if you're female. Then take one back if you're disabled. These are real prejudices. They exist. I don't see them all, because they don't all apply to me, but I do some. You see my point.

He should apply.

I didn’t follow with a theory. I gave examples of how entrenched racism is from centuries of imperialism and colonialism. Calling it a “tired trope” only serves to make you look ignorant.

What happened many years ago is abhorrent.

I don't personally think it's helpful to bring that history into today's employment opportunities. I think division encourages more division.

I do believe that current employment practices are very pro diversity and luckily people from ethnic minorities are rightly backed by our laws if they face discrimination.

I just wish we could stop the division and segregation and foster more 'togetherness'

I am sure most people would love more togetherness. We don’t get that by pretending prejudice and discrimination don’t exist though, you get the opposite. History is very important in understanding how we have got to this place and why schemes like the OP is talking about exist. It would be a marvellous world if that didn’t need to happen and merit was enough in today’s job opportunities.

No one has said it doesn't exist. And of course crimes still happen even though laws are there to prevent it.

Not once on this thread however has anyone provided any peer reviewed studies or EVIDENCE that it still exists. Where is the evidence that we need quota based job positions and not just hire on merit.

I'm well aware of how human history has played out. Yes for a very short time hundreds of years ago black people were kept as slaves. That time was long ago.

As for the civil rights movement... That was a time when black people, and black families, were thriving. Single parent rate was below 20%. Fast forward to 2026, single parent rate is up to 70% and the disparities economically are large. No one would try to argue we are more racist now than back in the mid 20th century and yet black people are doing worse now than then.

If you view people through your eyes as victims that is ultimately what they will eventually become.

You think division causes more division?

You are 100% right. It may be worth considering then why certain people are shouting and screaming that we need MORE DIVERSITY! We most certainly do not.

Racism is a very modern term. Colonialism and slavery had nothing to do with racism. It had to do with a power dynamic between people who came from a poor country, with dreadful food shortages rife with disease and famine and those that didn't.

We really should have some legislation in the U.K. in order to prevent employment opportunities being based on people’s skin colour.

Discrimination, a biased view, is hard to prove.
Obese people are discriminated against, working class people, POC, those with crooked teeth, there are some things that you cannot hide from potential employers or prove that they used it against you.
It has always existed.
That's why we need access programmes for certain groups.

It doesn’t seem that hard to prove, the OP said it’s only open to people of black/Caribbean heritage. Its clear.

The point is that these roles wouldn't have to exist as only open to people of black/caribbean heritage, if discrimination didn't exist, how are we going to stamp out discrimination.

https://www.ciphr.com/blog/what-is-blind-recruitment Personally I think blind recruitment is a better way of reducing discrimination in hiring than these kind of schemes.

This is a very sensible post and thankyou for putting it more eloquently than I was able to. I stopped commenting as I admit, I had worded things in ways where I was just picked apart and then accused of covert racism etc. and that seems to be the problem: anyone that wants actual equality is accused of racism. So everyone goes quiet and retreats.

We have moved such a long way away from treating ethnic minorities and gay people differently. They are now awarded special treatment (that's not sarcasm) in employment and hiring practices and it doesn't help matters. It's patronising and othering (just for different reasons ).

I agree very much about the "victim" mentality. People lapse into it. That's why I am sceptical of things like counselling in certain circumstances as there will always be a parent to blame or a system and once someone has decided they're a victim , it can be very detrimental to their recovery or success, and of course their mindset.

You seem to be saying there is discrimination (a biased view) that we can’t prove and therefore we should overtly discriminate against groups of people in favour of other groups of people to stamp it out? It’s a hard no from me I’m afraid. Hopefully the equalities act is enforced after the next general
election and we put this nonsense in the past where it belongs.

Also, I do firmly believe the biggest detriment to success and the biggest unconscious and conscious bias we have in the UK today : Is class.

But how is he to know whether he has been treated differently because of his heritage. People generally don’t admit to treating someone differently because of his name, skin colour, parents skin colour.
i am pretty sure I’ve been treated differently because im a woman at times. How can i prove it.
check the criteria for it and apply.
surely its not a scheme aimed at how dark your skin is ???
it’s sad that we need these things but there you go

It’s because we’ve made some progress that this is “allowed”. I think, from what you’ve said, you’ve not explored this before but I can assure you that encouraging diversity by any means necessary is beneficial for any institution or organisation, not just the individual. I can recommend “White Fragility” by Robin Diangelo, if you’re curious.