One day this week, during a discussion with my mum, the topic of how fortunate I am to live in the melting pot of multi-culturalism and identities that is London (specifically Croydon) had emerged because “who knows what inferiority complexes could have conditioned me” if I was raised in a less diverse area. As a community in London, we benefit from the exposure to different cultures; it helps our world perspective and views on equality or the lack of it.

Although we live in the 21st century, and relations between races are improving, there are still points of contention, especially in the post-Brexit climate. Race-based hate crimes have had a 123% increase in the March of this year from 2012/3. The nuanced and subtle racism in Britain is becoming more blatant, and it would help the order of society if we were to steer away from this rhetoric.

On the 17th of November, an anti-fascism march procession had walked through the streets of Central London, put together by the organisation “Say No to Racism”. While I volunteered to participate in the march for the experience and the sentiment behind it, I understand those who show hesitation to being involved in such marches. I had questions such as; why people are more likely to gravitate to the notion of being anti a cause rather than being pro the opposite? Or the implications of other ideological groups mixing in with the crowd and causing a stir. Even though these initial questions had appeared, the fear of seeming negative or avoiding confrontation is hidden by the overwhelming sense of community and the will to change how we live.