Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Royal nod ‘will help fight bias’

By Nadeem Badshah

PRINCE Harry has been praised by campaigners for highlighting how “unconscious bias” can affect racism and his warning that many people fail to admit their prejudices due to their upbringing and environment.


The Duke of Sussex said the perception was learned from family, adverts and neighbourhood and a lot of people did not understand what an unconscious bias was.

In an interview in the September edition of British Vogue magazine, guest-edited by his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry said: “Despite the fact that if you go up to someone and say, ‘What you’ve just said, or the way you’ve behaved, is racist,’ they will turn around and say, ‘I’m not a racist.’

“I’m not saying you’re a racist, I’m just saying your unconscious bias is proving that, because of the way you’ve been brought up, the environment you’ve been brought up in, suggests that you have this point of view – unconscious point of view – where you will look at someone in a different way. And that is the point at which people start to have to understand.”

His comments come after research by the LinkedIn website this month found the kind of words used during a hiring process could be damaging UK businesses’ chances of attracting diverse talent. The study found that only 48 per cent of UK professionals get training in an inclusive language and unconscious bias.

Weyman Bennett and Sabby Dhalu are co-conveners of the Stand Up To Racism group.

Bennett said Prince Harry “has done a service to people, the experience he has in so-called high circles in society shows the high prevalence of discrimination”.

He added: “It is backed up by hard data – people with the same qualifications or more find themselves discriminated against.

“Prince Harry is experiencing that with a mixed-heritage partner and child, seeing the way people behave towards his partner and him. It is a big step forward. It’s not just in people’s minds. It’s good that he has exposed that at the highest level, as people are more likely to listen to him.”

Unconscious bias in the UK has been in the news in recent months.

For instance, the research found that more than half of UK news articles about Muslims showed a negative bias towards them.

The Muslim Council of Britain’s centre for media monitoring found “deliberate misrepresentation and unconscious bias” by sections of the press, where 59 per cent of all articles about followers of Islam associated them with negative behaviours while more than a third misrepresented or generalised about them.

Bennett added: “We have to return to having more anti-racism training in schools, and children understanding their own heritage and where they come from.

“Parents have experienced themselves but education is where you learn wider things beyond your own family.

“We have more in common than what separates us. That is the message we are going to fight for.”

Kishan Devani, vice-president of the Liberal Democrats’ campaign for racial equality, hailed the royal for raising a taboo issue.

He told Eastern Eye: “Prince Harry makes an incredibly pertinent point. By highlighting these often pre-existing unconscious racial prejudices in the minds of people, he is raising an issue that many in BAME communities know exist, but do not often speak about.

“By raising this, he is giving a voice to thousands of BAME individuals whose voices may have been suppressed, who have not spoken out when they have felt they have been unconsciously treated badly due to their race.

“For someone of Prince Harry’s stature to raise this matter and bring light to individuals who may not be inherently racist, but have preconceived notions and pre-existing unconscious bias towards BAME individuals raises the profile of this issue which has been a part of our society for many years.

“This is an unspoken issue in society and permeates through our system and institutions. For Prince Harry to raise this matter highlights the need for our government and various institutions to sit up and take note.”

In response to the Duke’s remarks, a spokeswoman for the Equality and Human Rights Commission told Eastern Eye: “Our work is framed by a simple belief that if everyone gets a fair chance in life, we all thrive.

“Understanding people’s prejudice and the extent of bias in all its forms is key to unlocking the barriers that may hold many people back. By understanding the attitudes that underlie discrimination, we can ensure efforts to tackle it are more likely to hit the mark.”

Separate research in January found that Britons from ethnic minority backgrounds have to send on average 60 per cent more job applications to get a positive response from employers compared to their white counterparts.

The study by Oxford University found that while 24 per cent of white British applicants received a call back from UK employers including shops, accountancy firms, IT companies and restaurants, only 15 per cent of ethnic minority applicants got one. And people of Pakistani heritage had to make 70 per cent more applications than their white peers.

More For You

Sri Lanka forms committee to address UK sanctions
Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Sri Lanka forms committee to address UK sanctions

THE Sri Lanka government on Wednesday (2) formed a committee to recommend measures regarding the UK's decision to impose sanctions on three former military commanders who led the campaign that crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.

Health minister Nalinda Jayatissa told reporters that foreign minister Vijitha Herath, justice minister Harshana Nanayakkara and deputy minister of defence Aruna Jayasekara would comprise the committee that would consult experts for the purpose.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gujarat-blast-ANI

The blast caused the factory’s concrete roof to collapse, scattering debris and body parts across the area, officials confirmed. (Photo: ANI)

ANI

Death toll rises to 21 in Gujarat firework factory explosion

AN EXPLOSION at an illegal firecracker factory in Gujarat's Deesa town killed 21 people and injured several others on Tuesday, officials said.

The blast caused the factory’s concrete roof to collapse, scattering debris and body parts across the area, officials confirmed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Child benefit payments set to rise for UK families

Child benefit, normally paid every four weeks directly into bank accounts, has undergone significant changes in recent months (Photo: Getty Images)

Child benefit payments set to rise for UK families

MILLIONS of British families are set to receive a financial boost as child benefit payments increase from April 7, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

From next week, parents will receive £26.05 per week for the eldest or only child, amounting to £1,354.60 annually - up from the current rate of £25.60. For each additional child, payments will rise to £17.25 weekly, totalling £897 per year - an increase from the present £16.95 rate. This represents a 1.7 per cent increase across all payment categories.

Keep ReadingShow less
Anant Ambani Walks 140 Km in Spiritual Tribute on 30th Birthday

Anant’s padyatra is a reflection of the larger cultural fabric of India

Getty

Anant Ambani embarks on a 140-kilometer spiritual journey on foot to celebrate 30th birthday

Anant Ambani, a director of Reliance Industries Limited and a prominent figure in Indian industry, has chosen a unique and spiritual way to mark his 30th birthday. As part of his celebrations, he is currently undertaking a padyatra—a traditional pilgrimage on foot—from Jamnagar to Dwarka, covering a distance of approximately 140 kilometres. The journey reflects his devotion to Lord Dwarkadhish, the presiding deity of the Dwarkadhish Temple in the city of Dwarka.

Anant began his journey from his family’s residence in Moti Khavdi, Jamnagar, and has been progressing steadily for the past five days. Walking an estimated 10-12 kilometres each night, he travels under the protection of Z+ security and local police, ensuring his safety during this significant journey. The padyatra is expected to take between seven to nine days in total, with plans to conclude at the Dwarkadhish Temple in time for his birthday on April 10.

Keep ReadingShow less
New TB action plan proposed as cases surge

Government urged experts to come forward to help draw up a new five-year TB action plan. (Photo: Getty Images)

New TB action plan proposed as cases surge

BRITAIN on Wednesday (2) urged health experts and sufferers of tuberculosis (TB) to come forward to help draw up a new five-year action plan as it deals with record rises in the disease.

In 2023, England recorded its largest annual increase (11 per cent) in cases since enhanced surveillance began in 2000.

Keep ReadingShow less