Black lives matter, so let's see some real change

The death of George Floyd in the US has triggered mass protests across the world.

Riots spread across the US, reminiscent of the scenes following the assassination of Martin Luther King in1968.

In Britain, the situation was inflamed by the news of people from the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community being disproportionately represented amongst those killed by the Corona virus.

In Britain and America, an avalanche of anger has erupted, after festering for many years.

Things have moved on a little from the 1960s and 70s  days of notices in bedsit windows saying No blacks, No Irish, No dogs but maybe not as much as some think. Racism has become more covert and less visible.

Incidentally, those bedsit notice days were also when an English Literature teacher in a Wanstead school could joke to his sixth form pupils as to how when he referred to the Black Death, it was not the death of Martin Luther King, he was talking about.

Despite the protests, reports and legislation the inequalities have continued to grow.
Britain and America have to face the fact that they are racist, sexist societies. The hardest hit people over the years of Tory austerity policies were BAME women because they were at the bottom of the pile, 

If you are BAME, then you are more likely to die from Corona virus or go to prison but not attend Oxbridge.

The UK government also created the hostile environment, that in turn brought the Windrush scandal. A policy that saw people living in this country all their lives being deported back to countries they had hardly visited. 

The death of George Floyd is but the latest black death at the hands of the police in the US. There have also been a disproportionate number of black people dying in police custody in this country. In both Britain and the US the police are not brought to account for these actions - they have effectively been granted impunity. The result is that the deaths happen again and again.

Things need to change fundamentally, with a rebalancing of society, from top to bottom. Justice must apply as much to the police, as to everyone else.

The pressure needs to be raised throughout society for change in all areas of life. There must be real equality across society, not just empty rhetoric.

The politicians that represent the people must genuinely reflect the ethical make up of society.

And as George Floyd's brother urged, people need to use their vote to help get that change.

 In America, that means coming out to vote to ensure Trump is ejected from the Whitehouse. In the UK it means voting for politicians really committed to change and the creation of a more equal and just society.If people come together this change can really happen.