Nearly half of minority ethnic respondents in a poll say they have faced prejudice over the past year. Many Britons feel inequality is worsening and that discrimination has become more common, according to a thinktank study.
Key Findings
The report by British Future has found that people across ethnic groups believe racial equality is worsening in Britain. One in six people are from minority ethnic backgrounds. Sunder Katwala, the thinktank’s director, stated:
“"Most ethnic minorities in Britain feel there was a positive change against racism in our lifetimes yet now fear that progress is being reversed."
The research revealed that nearly half of ethnic minority respondents had faced racial or nationality prejudice over the past year, with the problem notably higher among those aged 18 to 24. Prejudice was most often reported in public spaces, followed by social media and in the workplace.
Public Perception
The study found that 62% of ethnic minority Britons viewed racial inequality as a serious problem, a sentiment echoed by 57% of the white population. However, white respondents were less likely to recognize structural barriers in education, work, and public services, and more likely to believe that minority communities received equal or preferential treatment.
The report, part of a three-year study funded by the Nuffield Foundation, highlighted a growing polarization over perceptions that minorities received preferential treatment. Among white respondents, 37% felt ethnic minorities were treated better than white British people, while 33% disagreed. In contrast, among ethnic minorities, 23% agreed and 48% disagreed.
