2nd December 2005, 07:03 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by rachstebbsI don't see people as colours, I take them as I find them, so I can't understand why the lack of minorities in this profession is such a big issue to some.
As far as I am aware David Lammy, the Minister of Heritage was the person who raised the matter of the proportion of persons from ethnic minorities in heritage organisations. It maybe that part of his concern comes from his position in Parliament where ethnic minorities are under-represented (7.9% of 650 should equal approximately 50 MPs). Lammy said in one of his speeches that, after his appointment as a Minister he attended a reception where every major heritage institution was represented. Lammy was the only coloured person in the room. I think that may explain some of the background to his concern.
I pesonally do not think that there is racism in UK archaeology. I said that several mails back. However, I believe that if a grown-up hardened politican like David Lammy can feel intimidated by being the only coloured person in a room full of heritage professionals, then it must be even more difficult for people trying to enter the profession.
There are lots of professions in this country where the racial diversity has altered over the past 20 years. Everything from football through opera to the police force. Archaeology and museology are not amongst those professions. I was merely wondering if we could do anything more than just sit back and say that the reason we don't have a wider racial diversity is because people of non-white racial origins are not interested in applying for our kind of job. 7.9% of non-white heritage professionals, that is about 1 in every 13 posts, would be a start.