The purpose of the ‘Young and Black’ research was to investigate the experiences of young Black people growing up in the UK, in terms of crime, education, employment, health, finance and accommodation.
Worryingly, the research found that young Black people in the UK said that they now grow up expecting to experience racism because of the colour of their skin. 95% of young Black people have heard and witnessed racist language at school and 78% have heard and witnessed racist language in the workplace.
In education, young Black people feel that racial stereotypes have the potential to negatively impact their development and opportunities, while in the workplace 54% viewed bias at the recruitment stage as the main barrier to employment. When asked about police attitudes to race, the majority of young Black people said they do not trust the Police to act fairly towards them, with 64% worried about being treated unfairly.
Members of the YMCA BAME Youth Advisory Group said:
“The Young and Black report exposes the true nature of what it is like to be a young Black person growing up in the UK today.
The narrative shows the shocking, depressing and frank nature of what it is like to be young and Black. Findings clearly highlight that this is not just the action of individuals, but institutions themselves that are perpetuating a culture of prejudice, discrimination and exclusivity.
What struck us most was the sheer level of acceptance but also exhaustion in the Black community, for people so young to be so tainted by this. It is time those with platforms, resources and power did some heavy lifting to make society fairer.”
YMCA works to ensure that young people from all backgrounds and ethnicities feel supported and empowered enough to belong, contribute and thrive, both in their own lives and in their communities.
Download the full report, Young and Black, below.
Download the reportIf you want to find out more about this research or if you have a query, please contact our Policy team on policy@ymca.org.uk