Medicine, and indeed society, frames its questions...

Medicine, and indeed society, frames its questions in a binary way: it’s either chemical or it’s psycho-social. It’s either incurable or it’s curable. In fact, it has been clear for a long time that the chemical explanation for psychosis was incomplete. If you look at the constituency of people with the diagnosis, black groups are far more likely to be represented, and yet these high rates aren’t found in Africa or the Caribbean. Being black isn’t the problem. It’s being black in Britain. Being poor, being discriminated against, being bullied.

Zoe Williams, on the intersectionality of racial oppression and mental illness.
(via mindovermatterzine)

I mean, we knew this already right (#Fanon). But thanks Guardian for getting it, finally. (via derica)

This is otherwise an interesting article, but: “It’s being black in Britain. Being poor, being discriminated against, being bullied.” Discriminated against and bullied by who? I know I live in London, but I’ve yet to see any evidence that would support such a statement. (via princelytreasures)

Wait, what? You have yet to see evidence that would support the fact that discrimination - structural, not just interpersonal - exists in the UK? (via derica)

Yes. I mean, both me and my Mum have lived in London all our lives, and neither of us have faced any racial discrimination in terms of housing, employment, etc. (via princelytreasures)

How nice. But this is not about your personal experience. If you want to write about that, use the text button on the tumblr dashboard rather than reblogging and undermining an important discussion. Also: wake up, yo (via derica)

Fucking hell, it’s as if I don’t actually exist.

So because my experiences don’t fit an acceptable narrative they don’t mean anything. Fucking “wake up, yo”. I actually live in an area that’s approx. over 50% black, I’m actually mixed-race myself, I live in a 1 bedroom council flat with my parents (yes, 1 bedroom), my dad worked in a factory, I went to a state school where I actually saw someone get stabbed outside the front gates and we were evacuated because a gang was coming to ambush the school, I’ve lived here since the year dot and still no-one, not you, not the media, not the middle-class champagne socialist pricks at my sixth form, actually listens to me. So me and all the other poor sods who live in this ridiculous concrete toilet never actually get to experience anything better than what we’ve got. (via princelytreasures)

You say that you have never been discriminated against nor bullied. Fine you’ve never been taunted by the BNP or a bunch of skinheads, you have white friends etc: you’re right, this isn’t the ’80s. But what you describe above are examples of the kinds of structural and environmental racism that exist in the UK. That’s what the article is describing: the psychic effects of structural/environmental racism that doesn’t just exist but THRIVES in the UK.

You say that your experience doesn’t fit the established narrative on race. Nobody’s life fits that narrative. The point of the narrative is to help us address commonalities amongst our varied experiences as they are harmful or even detrimental to our survival and thriving. What you’ve described is a society in which there are very underfunded state schools, areas of the country where black and brown people live, often because they cannot afford to live elsewhere, or because they are migrants who have been placed there. These areas are subsequently underfunded, overpoliced and lack proper transport links. This is structural/environmental racism.

I could go on, but there are internet resources at your disposal if you want to educate yourself about this stuff like I had to, because you’re not gonna learn this shit in school. While there may be many people trying to shut you up because you’re working class, I am not one of them. (I also like how you assume that I’m not, but I’ll let it go, I’m being nice)

Most importantly, when you intervene in a conversation about racism and mental health, be sensitive. Your comment undermined the whole thesis linking structural racism to mental health based on the experience of two people: yours and your mum’s, Think about the other people reading who need to know that their psychological experiences are not just some random aberration, but have roots and causes in the lives they have to live in a society that chooses to abandon them. (via derica)

(via princelytreasures)

Posted 6 months ago