"Racism" at WHS? - Chris Snuggs

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I seem to remember being aware of racism at primary school in Camberwell as something to do with the USA. There was I recall a single black girl at the chool and as far as I know she was never treated differently to anyone else.

At WHS the only pupil non-whites I remember were Martin Colley in my year, Khalid Rashid (Orwell 56-64) and John Percival (Halls/Orwell 56-64). As far as I was concerned:

• Martin was a friend and fellow classmate and member of most of the cricket teams I played in.
• Rash was an elegant fly-half and batsman and one of my heroes.
• John I only knew from afar but he always seemed to have a smile.

I do not recall ANY incident or remark of ANY kind that could have been construed as racism. That could of course have been my naivety and/or lack of observation. I never thought at the time nor have thought since to ask ANY of them whether they had encountered any racism at WHS. I hope they would say "No", but I cannot of course be certain.

Then there was Rosa Weekes, but I never saw or heard at the time or since of any racist incident.

The media sixty years later, however, is full of reports about "racism", and why exactly this is is probably the subject of a PhD dissertation sometime. As far as I am concerned, treating someone differently because of the colour of their skin or the race they belong to is a sign of mental illness. That is not to be confused with a distaste, contempt or even hatred for certain CULTURAL practices which are associated in particular with certain religions. Such contempt is of course NOTHING TO DO WITH "RACISM".