24th October 2001

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To many people in Northern Ireland racial banter – or slagging – is just a bit of fun. However it is often simply an excuse for deeper-seated prejudices and most minority ethnic people regard it as a form of racist abuse. A new University of Ulster report examines the issue…

The report – The Hidden Truth: Racist Harassment in Northern Ireland – is the third of four on the issue of race relations in the region to be published this year. It is based upon in-depth interviews with over 100 ethnic minority people from all over the province as well as a large-scale survey of and in-depth interviews with members of the majority white population.

Authors Dr Paul Connolly of the School of Sociology and Applied Social Studies and Dr Michaela Keenan of the School of Policy Studies said that many minority ethnic people subjected to this type of banter will either have experienced more direct forms of racial harassment or know someone who has.

The report shows how these direct forms of harassment are essentially random and can take place at any time and in any place. Examples in the report include minority ethnic people being:

· shouted at and abused while queuing in shops and sitting on buses;
· having objects thrown at them while walking in the city centre;
· being knocked off a bicycle while riding down the road; and
· being attacked while waiting at a train station.

“These forms of racist harassment already tend to make many minority ethnic people feel slightly vulnerable and exposed. The trading of further racist insults – albeit under the banner of friendly banter – can only act to reinforce that sense of vulnerability and victimisation”, Dr Connolly argued.

Dr Connolly added: “Banter would seem to be a part of life in Northern Ireland. It is often characterised by the trading of jokes and insults at each other’s expense. This form of ‘slagging’, as it is often known, works on the basis that it is meant to reflect the strength of relationship between those engaged in it and is thus not meant to be perceived negatively.

“In reality, however, it is often very difficult to know what the true motivations are behind the banter of others. This is certainly the case in relation to race where our own research has shown that it is often simply an excuse for more deeply-seated prejudices.”

The report recommends that the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland should include a specific focus on racist banter. The Commission should encourage people to regard racist banter as an activity that is unacceptable and should not be tolerated in any form.

The series of reports arise from a major research study into the nature and effects of racism in Northern Ireland commissioned by the Inter-Departmental Social Steering Group and managed by the Equality Unit Research Branch within the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister at Stormont.

The latest report also urges that initiatives should be taken to tackle racist attitudes among boys and young men who tend to be most involved in incidents of racist harassment.

It recommends that the Department of Education along with the Youth Service should develop a strategy to address the “violent and negative sub-cultures” which exist among this age and gender group.

According to Dr Connolly: “Racist harassment is not going to be simply addressed through general education programmes that increase people's understanding and awareness of other minority ethnic communities. Our research has shown that many incidents of harassment are perpetrated by boys and young men. Harassment is therefore often a central part of male sub-culture. Alongside education programmes we therefore need to do specific work with boys and young men to try to address this violent and negative behaviour.”

Other recommendations include:

· Public and private bodies should develop clear strategies for dealing with incidents of racist harassment.
· The Equality Commission should produce a general guide on combating racist harassment for use by the statutory and voluntary sectors as well as social and community groups.
· The Office of the First and Deputy First Minister along with the Equality Commission should consult with ethnic minorities to improve support for those who suffer racist harassment.
· The NI Curriculum should include an intercultural dimension to increase pupils’ awareness of racism and to help develop their understanding of and respect for cultural diversity.
· The Equality Commission should be responsible for facilitating, co-ordinating and monitoring a broad educational strategy aimed at reducing racial prejudice, with a particular focus on the problems of travelers.
· The RUC should undertake or commission research to see if ethnic minority businesses are specifically targeted by criminals.
· The Government should establish an inter-agency forum – including ethnic minority representatives - to lead the fight against racist harassment.

Further information

For further information, please contact:

Press Office, Department of Communication and Development
Tel: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk