Difficult discussions on different types of racism | Letters

It is ironic that Diane Abbott finds herself twice censured on the topic of racism. However, her situation involves more than just the “clumsy” letter to the Observer in 2023 and the radio interview last week referred to by Jason Okundaye (The Diane Abbott row shows how impoverished Britain’s conversations about race have become, 18 July).

Blackness may make some of us more easily visible to those with racist attitudes than some other racialised groups, but Abbott should have recognised that her attempt to explain this on Radio 4 was doomed by her declaration that she had no regrets about the earlier incident.

It is not that she hasn’t a legitimate point (in embryo), but her first iteration of it was crass and insulting, and her second was politically naive – it makes her apology issued the day the letter was published appear insincere and invites unwelcome attention on her judgment.

Okundaye is right to claim that Abbott has been treated badly. But another regrettable issue at the heart of the furore has been largely forgotten: the misconceived, poorly argued Observer article that her letter had responded to.

Abbott’s response seemed to be distorted by anger when what was required was sober argument. Unfortunately, instead of using her recent interview with the BBC to direct attention back towards the offending article, she bolstered the impression of being preoccupied with comparing racisms. At best, this was an intellectual cul-de-sac to be avoided; at worst, it was bound to sound to her detractors like an echo of her original disastrous faux pas.
Paul McGilchrist
Cromer, Norfolk

Jason Okundaye’s article makes some very important points regarding the impoverishment of public discourse about race in Britain, not least the lack of spaces where these conversations can take place without taking away the dignity of black people, like Diane Abbott, which is a usual form of racism in Britain and elsewhere. Trying to express experiences of racism takes a lot of courage, especially if you are deemed not worth listening to.

I would argue that the deep roots of the British establishment’s poor and/or deliberately ignorant grasp of its imperial, colonial, racist history, and its relationship with its former colonised peoples, contributes to this impoverishment in human development.

Coming up with good ideas to promote public understanding of the past (and/or supporting existing efforts to do so – art institutions have been showing a way) might go some way to counter the harmful distortions of reality that people like Nigel Farage are unleashing on especially white people’s anxieties about their place in an ever dangerously polarising world.
Fenella Jeffers
York

As someone with Traveller heritage, I agree with Diane Abbott’s comments on the subtle differences of racism. I certainly do not think that Diane is anti-Traveller. Nobody can “see” my Traveller background, which often leads to an assumption in conversations that I share individuals’ prejudices of Travellers. It’s up to me to challenge their views or stay silent. This would not be the same if I was Black.
Jackie Fisher
Preuilly-sur-Claise, France

It’s a moot point as to whether Diane Abbott’s comments about discrimination against Jews were antisemitic. What isn’t moot, though, is the idea that you can’t see that someone is Jewish. Does she ever visit Stamford Hill, in her constituency of Hackney North and Stoke Newington? Members of the large Hassidic community there are very obviously identifiable as Jews because of how they dress, which makes them easy targets for antisemitism. I’m willing to accept that Ms Abbott meant no ill will by her comments, but they were, to say the least, silly and thoughtless.
Steven Burkeman
York

As a woman of Jewish extraction, and a constituent of Diane Abbott for 40 years, I am, yet again, appalled by these accusations of antisemitism. What she says is accurate. No one knows my history when I walk down Stoke Newington High Street. Do you expect all Jews to look the like the Hassidim? Surely it is racist to assume all Jews are the same. Diane has been a stalwart of the fight against all racism, which people of colour are up against daily.
Liza Dodds
Stoke Newington, London

I am an 82-year-old British citizen of Indian origin and I have been concerned about the issue of racism in comments made by Diane Abbott in the past, and the fact that she says she has no regrets.

It is probably difficult for white people to understand fully that racism is a complex and often misunderstood phenomenon. As Diane says, if you are white, in most cases other people will not be able to tell at first glance whether you are a Christian or a Jew. But a person of colour will never have that experience.

Sadly, I believe that this issue is being used by Labour to justify suspending a fine MP because she speaks about a form of institutionalised racism that pervades our society. Very disappointing.
Krishna Datta
London