Lift-the-flap Questions and Answers about Racism (Questions & Answers)

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Do they recognise how your experiences of racism may intersect with other parts of your identity? For example your gender, religion or sexuality. A system is something that is made up of lots of different connected parts. So systemic (or structural) racism describes how experiences of racism in many areas of life reinforce and fuel each other over time. There's no universal definition of racial trauma. Some professionals use it to mean all the effects that encountering racism can have on how we think, feel and behave. Others, like those using the race-based traumatic stress injury model, use it to describe a specific group of symptoms. Racism and racial abuse or bullying can be really distressing for children and young people. When a child is bullied or treated differently because of their race, it can lead to feelings of isolation, depression, anger or even shame about their race or how they look.

Do they take your experiences of racism seriously? For example, by being respectful and not downplaying or denying them. Do you feel able to be honest about your experiences of racism with them? For example, do they help you feel at ease? Health problems can then further affect work and income. Work, study, money, housing and physical health are all connected to our mental health. This creates a vicious circle of disadvantage. Systemic racism and the pandemic Stop seeing them, or ask to be referred to another therapist. This might feel like the right option if they're often making you feel unheard, or unsafe. Unwelcome, lonely or isolated. Especially if people or organisations have said or implied that you don't belong.

Racial discrimination or racism is when someone is treated differently because of their race, ethnicity, nationality or colour. Any type of racism or racial discrimination is abusive and distressing for children and young people who experience or witness it. Covert racism can affect young people’s self-esteem and support the idea that’s it’s okay to challenge a person’s experience.

This may make it harder to develop a good relationship with them. In some cases you may end up feeling more upset, stressed or isolated. We may experience racism and colourism from multiple groups. And we may hold privilege if we're assumed to be White in certain spaces. Unfortunately, not all therapists are confident talking about racism during therapy. This can happen even if they have had some cultural competence training.Racism or racial bullying can be overt or openly hostile, such as being called racist names or being sent threats. Sometimes it's very obvious, with a clear intention to harm or offend. This is often called overt racism. It can include: Blaming yourself. There are many reasons for this. Sometimes it can be the way your brain tries to make sense of what has happened.

Or it can be covert or harder to recognise, involving subtle comments that put a child or young person down and devalue their experience or identity. Anxious, fearful and unsafe. You may worry about how people are going to perceive and treat you. You might feel visibly different and vulnerable when you are around lots of people of a different race. You may spend time thinking about how you'll protect yourself before entering certain spaces. Historical trauma (or historical loss). This is when you're affected by the realisation of how your racial group has been oppressed over time. Angry or frustrated. Particularly if you're being treated unfairly, and if you feel powerless to control it.This can all lead us to hold contradictory views about our heritage and skin shade. We may feel both 'too much' and 'not enough' at the same time.

Covert racism can be much harder to identify and challenge than overt racism. Especially when other people deny it, downplay it or become defensive about it. Or if you have an ongoing relationship with the other person. Learning about race, racism and privilege can lead people to consider what else they can do to combat discrimination. Sometimes, the next step can involve committing yourself to becoming actively anti-racist but it’s not always clear what that means. But when people talk about being anti-racist, it includes: Confused or unsure about whether you've experienced racism. This is especially true if others ignore or deny your experiences. It can make you question your reality. This is sometimes referred to as racial gaslighting. Then at work, institutional and interpersonal racism can be a barrier to promotion. These barriers can affect your income. Often when you're offered therapy, you might not be sure who your therapist will be. It can take time to develop trust and confidence in them.It can mean the historical end of colonial rule. But it can also mean challenging the cultural dominance of Western ideas over others. It can mean breaking down the lasting impact colonialism has had on society. Feeling very anxious, on edge and unable to relax (called hypervigilance or hyperarousal). For example, you might always be looking out for threats or danger.