With 49 years having passed since the Race Relations Act of 1965, it seems almost certain that racism in the UK must be far from present.

But is that really the case?

The 2011 census showed that of the 55 million United Kingdom inhabitants, 6.9% of them were of an Asian or Asian British ethnicity and 3.0% were of a Black or Black British ethnicity. Despite these relatively low numbers, many people seem to think that other ethnicities are building up to match that of the 87.1% of the White ethnicity. It is perhaps due to assumptions such as these that racism continues to show itself in today’s world.

For example, although we may not have experienced racism ourselves, it is evident merely from the existence of groups such as EDL, UKIP or the BNP that people with these views still exist and race crimes are committed as a result. Events such as the London Riots of 2011 began due to people believing that racism had unfairly caused the death of a young Black individual.

As well as this, after the terrorist activities led by extremist Muslims, which caused the tragic event known as 9/11, a negative stigma was attached to many Muslims around the world that still exists to this day. Many people now assume that all Muslims are linked to terrorism and those who wear the burka or hijab can be susceptible to malicious comments, despite not sharing any views with terrorists and even less likely are involved in such events. For example, one young Muslim who wore the hijab had cigarette butts thrown at her and was told to return to her own country only in Epsom. Racism does still exist in forms as these but in no way is this acceptable.

Other stereotypes have been formed of racial groups and name-calling has derived from this, which may seem playful at the time but in fact is very hurtful for the victim and still a form of racial bullying.

When asked if they believe racism is still existent in the UK, a group of sixteen-year-old students said it was and they felt existed in areas where there were not many non-British people, hence why they were treated in such an isolating way. One 42-year-old mother believes racism can be seen through name-calling and through rude gestures made to those of a different ethnicity.

So even though the Race Relations Act was passed 49 years ago, racism is still very much present in the UK, despite what some people may think.

Yasmeen Hanif