With the new anti-racism campaign, which will be launched next week, Amsterdammers are being called on to stand up for people who are being discriminated against. A good first step according to professor of science anthropology Amade M’charek, but she also has criticism.
–
The slogan of the campaign is: ‘Come on Amsterdam, be an Amsterdammer’. With this, the municipality wants to appeal to its residents about their responsibility to ban racism and discrimination from the city.
Alderman for Diversity Rutger Groot Wassink considers it important that we not only jointly state that racism and discrimination can never be, but that we also believe that we should stand up for each other. “If you see someone being excluded or discriminated against, say something about it. Do not just keep silent, but stand up for someone else, “said the councilor.
Polarization
There is also criticism of the new campaign. Professor of scientific anthropology Amade M’charek believes that the discussion should be much more substantive. “It now seems like it’s a problem of opinion and how we look at each other.”
According to M’charek, it is often thought that discrimination is a problem of a certain group of people who experience it. But this movement indicates that racism is a structural problem. And the danger of such a campaign is that you produce that polarization again instead of counteracting it. “
“Everyone is against racism”
Groot Wassink does not expect the campaign to have a polarizing effect. “I think everyone is against racism, discrimination and exclusion. At least I can hope so, so in that sense I’m not so afraid of polarization. ”
According to the alderman, it is important that Amsterdammers take their responsibility. “And the goal is not; if you don’t intervene you’re a racist. It is about being aware of what it means when there is discrimination. ”
‘Really continue now’
“This is not all we need to do,” says M’charek. Although she thinks the campaign is off to a good start, she believes that more should be done. “Now is the time to really get going.”
–
