Diverse debate on politics and equality
Adam Hewitt • Published 30 Oct 2010 09:30
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SCHOOLS should dedicate a week to learning more about the Muslim faith and celebrating South Asian culture.
That was just one of the suggestions at a debate organised as part of Black History Month at Reading Civic Centre last week.
Leaders of the four political parties on Reading Borough Council faced questions at the Question Time-style event chaired by Keith Seville, who publishes Urban News magazine aimed at the Thames Valley’s ethnic minority communities.
Mr Seville talked about the bonds going back many years in the Afro-Caribbean and Asian communities in Reading, and between the two groups. He said those decades-old friendships could help defuse tensions that arise.
He said: “One thing people don’t see is that when there are issues, some of the more negative aspects are actually dealt with right there, on the ground, before the police or council know about it. There are issues to deal with and I think the communities work well together.”
Labour leader Jo Lovelock described having to challenge a work colleague about a derogatory remark made about a group of men in Oxford Road and said: “Racism is still not that far from the surface in some people. If it’s that in-your-face you can challenge it, but it isn’t always easy.”
The audience discussed having a “more diverse” group of senior council officers.
Council leader Andrew Cumpsty said tolerance and celebrating diversity were entrenched in Reading and said: “For the first six years of my life it was illegal to be gay - now we don’t even think about it.
“Speaking to so many of the young people in Reading, they celebrate difference.”
Deputy council leader Kirsten Bayes said if young people are misbehaving, then strangers should be able to “pitch in” to help without being accused of interfering, but Cllr Lovelock said: “We must be careful not to demonise young people.”
Mustafa Chaudhary, from Reading Muslim Council, alleged large parts of the media are anti-Islam and agreed with a suggestion that schools do more to celebrate the Muslim faith.
Cllr White said the primary school where he is a governor, Alfred Sutton in East Reading, hosts such events already and said the borough should be proud of Reading International Festival, which ran until the end of October.
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