Racism: What’s that Got to do with Me?

Racism is not just an issue for those who experience it. It concerns us all. Whether in workplaces, public spaces, or everyday interactions, racial bias continues to impact the lives of many. But how often do we stop and ask ourselves: What role do I play in either challenging or enabling racism?

In this blog, "Racism: What’s That Got to Do with Me?", Chishimba Ngulube invites us to reflect on the realities of racism in Finland and the responsibility we all share in dismantling it. With data from recent studies and real-life experiences, this piece challenges us to move beyond awareness and into action. What will you do going forward?

Imagine walking into a room on account of your professional expertise, but you are judged based on your skin colour rather than on the basis of value that you bring into the room. I have heard a story of an African who was invited to speak at a conference. When she arrived, staff who did not know her assumed she was there as one of the cleaning staff.

Imagine just trying to be a human walking on the street or at the bus stop and being met with stares of disdain, occasional slurs, and mistreatment from people who do not even know your name. I have also encountered many people who have expressed having experienced racism while using public transportation such as being told to “Go back to your country” or being referred to in a demeaning way.

These scenarios are examples of racist experiences people have been subjected to stemming from prejudice and stereotypes about people from certain ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

​The issues of race and racism cut across every gender, nationality, social group and have a resounding impact on the quality of life for those affected and their ability to effectively contribute to society. We are living in an increasingly globalised world. Therefore, it is almost impossible to escape the reality that either by policy related issues or personal ties there we are all somehow connected. That is, we may have acquaintance with people from different ethnic backgrounds by virtue of work, or interactions with mutual friends and family members. 

Oftentimes discussions about racism are uncomfortable and difficult to navigate. One of many reasons for this rests on the possibility that one might be confronted by the realities of their own privilege and how they view racism. Nonetheless, data shows that people experience and observe racism in its different forms. 

​According to a Finnish Red Cross survey conducted in 2024: 82% of respondents had witnessed or experienced racism, 59% most commonly observed it online, 38% in public spaces such as shops and public transport and 14% witnessed structural racism in the recruitment and housing sectors (Redcross).

​Burying our heads in the sand and evading difficult topics doesn’t by any means address them. In fact, it makes them worse as the proverbial “Elephant in the room” is constantly ignored. Over half of Finns viewed racism as a relatively minor or non-existent issue in Finnish society, with four out of ten considering it a serious problem according to a poll conducted by YLE in 2024 (YLE News). Racism is indeed a serious problem in our society and we must strive to be positive change makers.
 
Studies show that diverse teams increase performance, innovation and improve problem-solving capacity. This is because different perspectives and backgrounds tend to challenge homogenous ways of thinking and enhance creativity Harvard Business Review . 

Therefore, when a society fails to actively dismantle structural racism and all its other forms, there is a loss in the possibilities of benefiting from talented individuals who would make meaningful contributions to the country through their various forms of expertise, background, and lived experiences. 

In August 2024, the Finnish government launched a campaign against racism penned “Action, not only words”.
The main goal of this campaign is to combat structural racism and it appeals to various stakeholders to commit to making meaningful changes that will actively address racism and advance equality and equity for all groups of people. (Valtioneuvosto.fi). 

As we commemorate racism awareness month, I would like to make a clarion call to think about the role we play in either feeding, wrestling or even attempting to starve this beast we call racism. So if you ask me, “What has racism got to do with you?” I will  say in one word: Everything. So I ask, “What will you do about it going forward?”

Written by:Chishimba Ngulube