Our supposedly enlightened society is awash with racist ideas and practices. Anti-immigrant and Islamophobic rhetoric is routinely normalised in mainstream media and political discourse. The rise of the far right helps pull the whole mainstream parliamentary consensus further into the gutter, as Keir Starmer’s government tails Reform UK.

But where does racism come from and what does that mean for how we get rid of it? 

We're generally told that it can be reformed out of existence – whether through education campaigns, interrogating our ‘unconscious biases’, new laws and anti-discrimination policies, or more black and brown faces in high places. 

Usually the origins and causes of racism are left unclear. Sometimes it is reduced to problematic ideas in people’s heads unfortunately left behind from outdated ideologies linked to a bygone period of colonialism and empire. So now it's a matter of challenging such individual attitudes and behaviour alongside improved rights and status in society for racially minoritized communities. 

This meeting will explore these different perspectives in order to suggest that current racism has deeper material roots, being inextricably linked to capitalism, the social and economic system that predominates today. It will consider why the necessary fight for anti-racist reforms in the present will always be limited in the face of systematic pressure from above which encourages the ongoing reproduction of racist patterns of discrimination, scapegoating and violence. How, instead, can we really uproot such ideas?

Come along and join in the discussion. Hosted by Bristol Socialist Workers Party.

What to expect at this meeting
An informal, friendly and welcoming atmosphere, in which a speaker will initially introduce the main topic before we break into smaller group discussion. Then we’ll come back together again for a wider discussion and questioning followed by a summing up. The second section of the meeting involves a more practical focus on current activities and campaigns, including how we can put some of the points raised into action. There will also be a bookstall and publicity for upcoming events.