Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race

Chapter 2 focuses on structural racism, that is, racism embedded in laws and institutional beliefs, practices, and regulations. Eddo-Lodge defines structural racism as “a form of collective behavior, a workplace culture supported by a structural status quo, and a consensus, often excused and ignored by authorities” (61). Eddo-Lodge uses an example from Britain’s policing and judicial systems to explain the concept. In 1993, a gang of young white men stabbed 18-year-old Stephen Lawrence to death in London. The police and Crown Prosecution Service refused to charge and prosecute the suspects despite statements from an eyewitness (one of Stephen’s Black friends). A public inquiry began soon after. Stephen’s parents then launched an unsuccessful private prosecution against three of the suspects. In 1997, following the completion of the public inquiry, five suspects were found guilty of killing Stephen in an “unprovoked racist attack” (58). Stephen’s parents filed a complaint with the Police Complaints Authority, which concluded the police investigation was deeply flawed. The following year, they called for the resignation of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Condon. Sir Condon refused to step down and denied allegations of institutional racism. However, the public inquiry report concluded the investigation “was marred by a combination of professional incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership by senior officers” (60).