10 years ago I had experienced very little racism in the UK, and when I did, it was so rarely that I could put it down to one bigot being a bit of a knob. It was much easier to ignore. Today, I feel scared. I experience a racist remark from strangers at least once a month if not more, my street is littered with England flags, there is a house on my mum's street that has pictures of Tommy Robinson in the window, I've come off most social media because I can't stand the posts, my son has had racism at school (thankfully the school is incredible and has a no tolerance policy so the child was excluded immediately). I just don't know what to do anymore. It's affecting my mental health and I wish there was something I could proactively do, but there isn't. Not that will make a significant change. All I am doing at the moment is being unapologetically myself, but I still feel like shit. I was born here, and even if I weren't (like my parents), I have contributed so much to society. Worked on domestic abuse hotlines as a volunteer. Been in the charity sector earning a pittance my whole adult life because I want to help people. I feel really helpless and unwanted. Deep down I know a lot of people don't give a shit where my family are from, but equally I know a lot of people do. I'm finding myself becoming paranoid and avoiding conversation with burly white men, not because I don't want to speak to them, but because I just don't know who they are and what they believe. Often I find they are just normal people and are kind, compassionate, and I feel like an utter twat after for ever being worried. Though on two occasions recently my gut has been right, and I have been met with a racist remark, and on the other occasion, I was stonewalled. It was like I didn't exist. I am just so tired.