Personal subjective experiences do not solely define my experiences; it includes my academic and research experience, which one can describe as propositional knowledge. I am neither suggesting that your frame of expertise is not the same. Further, many philosophers will argue with the idea that one can acquire true ‘objective’ knowledge, society, cultures define what is consider imperative and what is not.

If you disproportionately stop and search blacks and other minorities, are you statistically more likely to find criminal elements?

I am fully aware of the science behind opinion surveys, having spent two years studying research methods, both qualitative and quantitative. Did the opinion poll ask the participants to define racism and racial discrimination?

Further, I never stated that racism is the only factor affecting ‘black’ people. Those are your words and not mine. However, I would argue, supported by ‘objective data’, that Racism is a major influential factor affecting the lives of ‘blacks’.

Racism is not a contemporary phenomenon; it has its roots in history and language. Like you, I am not comfortable using the word ‘black’ as a label to describe culturally diverse human beings. One can argue labelling a culturally diverse group of people as black dehumanises those it references. However, as is the case in the United States, I did not invent the one drop you are black rules.

Again, I spent a year researching the slave archives at the British Archive museum in London. I did not write the data. I used the language ‘English’ to analyse the texts. You can read how the English dehumanised blacks to justify slavery. The metaphors and analogies used are still alive today in the United Kingdom and The United States. The intricate details of how many blacks were in mental institutions. The amazement expressed that blacks would commit suicide after being subjected to the brutality of slavery and then labelling their behaviour as barbaric. This narrative continues today with the disproportionate numbers of blacks incarcerated in mental institutions and prisons. Some would argue that it has nothing to do with the social deprivation and racism they have experienced. Instead, some will say that it is genetics and predisposition.

Below is data you requested. If you want more I can happily facilitate this. I have just completed a study on the treatment of black afro-caribbeans and Africans in the mental health service in the UK.

https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/assets/downloads/mbrrace-uk/reports/MBRRACE-UK%20Maternal%20Report%202019%20-%20WEB%20VERSION.pdf

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/jan/15/black-women-in-the-uk-four-times-more-likely-to-die-in-pregnancy-or-childbirth

https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/crime-justice-and-the-law/policing/stop-and-search/latest#by-ethnicity-over-time

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57099654

Corker, Elizabeth, et al. “Experiences of Discrimination among People Using Mental Health Services in England 2008-2011.” British Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 202, no. s55, 2013, pp. s58–63, doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.112.112912.

Arday, Jason. “No One Can See Me Cry: Understanding Mental Health Issues for Black and Minority Ethnic Staff in Higher Education.” Higher Education, no. 0123456789, 2021, doi:10.1007/s10734-020-00636-w.Arthur, Carlotta M., et al. “‘Mad, Sick, Head Nuh Good’: Mental Illness Stigma in Jamaican Communities.” Transcultural Psychiatry, vol. 47, no. 2, 2010, pp. 252–75,

De Hert, Marc, et al. “Physical Illness in Patients with Severe Mental Disorders. I. Prevalence, Impact of Medications and Disparities in Health Care.” World Psychiatry, vol. 10, no. 1, 2011, pp. 52–77, doi:10.1002/j.2051-5545.2011.tb00014.x.

Suman Fernando, 2003, Cultural Diversity, mental health and Psychiatry Brunner-Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group.

Athwal, Harmit. “Rocky Bennett – Killed by Institutional Racism?” Institute of Race Relations, 2004, https://irr.org.uk/article/rocky-bennett-killed-by-institutional-racism/http://www.irr.org.uk/news/rocky-bennett-killed-by-institutional-racism/.---. “Rocky Bennett – Killed by Institutional Racism?” Institute of Race Relations, 2004, p. 2020, http://www.irr.org.uk/news/rocky-bennett-killed-by-institutional-racism/.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347639302_Doing_Our_Part_What_Motivates_Black_Family_Engagement_in_an_After-School_Program

I was born in London and spent my formative years in the Caribbean. I have lived in Manchester, Middlesborough, Exeter, Lancaster and Bristol. Some of these places are the most socially deprived areas in the United Kingdom. In addition to this, I have lived in Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Antwerpen in Belgium. I grew up in poverty and fought my way up despite the challenges I have faced. I have travelled extensively throughout the world, from Australia to the East and West coasts of the United States. Travelling to me is the best education one can have. I try my best to immerse myself in the cultures I have visited.

I speak French and have studied Dutch because I am not arrogant about living in a foreign country, expecting people to speak English.

I have worked as a lecturer, a design strategist and a sales expert, both consumer and business to business. In addition, I have created design strategies for some of the largest corporations in the world. But, as you stated, it is not about me, but the me that I am governs my approach to life—always seeking knowledge. I still live in what some will describe as the ghetto because it is where I feel most at home.

I respect your opinion despite disagreeing with it. You have challenged me, and I believe that I responded to this. I may live in the ghetto, but I try not to apply the same to my mind. Again I am not implying that you do. I do not support the extreme left or right. Politically I am in the centre.