ADOPTION POLICY: INSTITUTIONALIZING INSTITUTIONAL RACISM?

In the report of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, ‘institutional racism’ was defined as

“the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin.  It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people.”

‘RACE’, THE POLICE AND THE STEPHEN LAWRENCE CASE[1]

With the conviction of Gary Dobson and David Norris for the murder of Stephen Lawrence, there has been much media comment about the impact of race on the case and comparisons of 1993 and 2012.

It is evident that many commentators still have little understanding of the nature of ‘racism’ – particularly ‘institutional racism.’