Sociology

Postmodern racism, according to Ramon Flecha, describes a condition wherein racial and ethnic differences become incommensurable and subjects fail to address the important issue of inequality in the face of difference (Gillborn and Ladson-Billings 123).  When one takes a closer look at history, one will realize that there is a major paradox in European imperialism. As colonisers, one of their goals was to disseminate their culture in their colonies.  However, Singh believes that European cultural imperialism was dedicated to denying the colonised subject any identity other than one which that renders himher a non-person (Singh 7).  This cultural invasion happens when the invaders impose their own beliefs and views on another group and make them inferior by suppressing their creativity and expression (Freire 151).  Colonisers have propagated their culture among their colonies but many of them still emphasized the importance of drawing a line between them and their colony.  They regard their culture as superior to that of their colonies. 

It is this difference where postmodernist beliefs of racism are founded upon.  In Murphy and Choi, it is defined as a myriad of practices that are designed to subjugate a large segment of the population (Murphy and Choi 1997 3).  In postmodernist belief, differences are recognized just as long as each racial group acts according to their race.  Postmodernism racism puts more emphasis on the segregation rather than the hierarchy.  With respect to the racism that existed fifty or a hundred years ago, postmodern racism recognizes multiculturalism and diversity. Old theories on racism were centred more on hierarchy and which race was more superior to the other. But times of crisis and uncertainty over the course of social and economic change have often proved to be the periods in which new racist ideas and movements have emerged and provided basis for social mobilisation and exclusion (Solomos  and Back 1996 211). 

However, postmodern racism is not any different from the old racist beliefs.  According to Leonardo, postmodern racism simply assumes the guise of tolerance only to be usurped by relativism, a proliferation of differences rather than a levelling of power relations (Leonardo 2009216).  It was stated earlier that times of crisis have prompted racist ideas to change but they have only changed in theory.  Reality states that they have essentially remained the same. Crimes motivated by racist beliefs have proven that up to the present, racial supremacy still lingers in peoples minds.  Stephen Lawrences murder was motivated by overt racism because before he was murdered, his killers said What, What, Nigger Such statement reveals that the murder was committed because both killers had racist beliefs against black people.

Lawrences murder is one of the few racially-motivated crimes that have been publicized.  But it required a careful effort from the media to publicize his death.  His economic background, for instance, was taken into consideration.  Other black victims of racially-motivated crimes, for instance, do not receive sufficient publicity because the journalists thought that his image as a vagrant would not illicit a sympathetic response from the public (McLaughlin and Murji 276).  Stephen Lawrence was the opposite because he came from a middle class family and his family was not, as stereotypes would say, the typical black family everyone feared. 

The discrepancy between the medias treatment of Lawrences and Brooks respective murders will easily reveal how media still holds racist beliefs.  Moreover, it goes to show that media is sensitive to the fact that the general populace is still governed by old racist beliefs that there are certain races that are superior to the other.  Postmodern racism, then, does not completely hold true and it may only be a sugar-coated version of the old-fashioned 19th century racism. 

Literature Review On This Topic
Racism and Society by John Solomos and Les Back
 Postmodern theories on racism are something to be discussed because unlike the classic theories on racism, postmodernism holds that racism is characterized by diversity and multiculturalism.  Hence, differences between cultures are recognized and the focus is not on the hierarchy of races but on its differences and segregation. This posits that people of different cultures will live peacefully side by side just as long as each race will not act beyond the norms of its own culture.  But negative incidents that are racially-motivated still occur in the society which leads people to question the validity of postmodern beliefs on race.

Solomos and Back have the same stance on postmodern racism.  They believe that we hardly need reminding that the boundaries of the study of the relationship between racism and society are by no means fixed and unchanging, given the recent developments in Europe and in the United States (Solomos and Les Back 1996 xiii).  Notions on race in societies have remained unchanged but postmodernists claim otherwise. The goal of Solomos and Back is to study the racist theories in contemporary society.  In the book, they explore how the term race has been used over history in specific contexts and how it has made an impact on the emergence and significance of ideas about race in contemporary societies (Solomos and Back 1996  xv).  In the last chapter of the book, Solomon and Les Back say that racism, as a set of ideas, is able to provide images of the other which are simple and unchanging and at the same time adapt to the changing social and political environment (Solomon and Back 1996 210). 

This book will enrich this studys analysis on postmodern racism as it provides a critical overview on the recent developments of racism theories. 

The Death of Stephen Lawrence  The Macpherson Report by Gary Younge
This article is a commentary on the Macpherson Report on Stephen Lawrences death, which fell like a bombshell on the British political and cultural landscape (Younge 199 329).  Flaws in what Alan Simpson called a bureaucracy of exclusion made horrific flaws and negligence that enabled Lawrences murderers to get away.  Also, it was because of Macphersons report that a term that most of England had never heard before became common currency institutional racism (Younge 199 332).  It was not only in existence it was prevalent throughout the country. 

Younge supports Macphersons position that the inability of the police to prove their case was frustrating.  The same sentiment also goes for the judicial process.  According to Younge, Short-circuiting the principle that ensures people may only be tried once for the same crime not only misses the target it also gives powers to the judicial system that could, and on their present track record almost certainly would, be used most extensively against ethnic minorities (Younge 1999 330). He asserted that police service should be in accordance to the Race Relations Act and the Freedom of Information Act. 

Younge thinks that Macphersons report was crucial to the racial issues in Britain because it revealed how racism affects all areas of black peoples lives (330).  It gives a broader view of racism that it is not limited to individual prejudices. Racism is also dwells in bigger institutions.  Institutional racism is not merely a term it is a reality in Britain and it is rampant across the country. The Macpherson report shows that racism also operates in macro levels of the society. 

The article is a valuable piece of literature in this study not only because it focuses on Stephen Lawrences death it also reveals the deficiencies in Britains government institutions due to racism. 

Why This Topic Is Interesting
Most parents heavily screen what their children read, watch and hear on television, print and radio because they acknowledge the fact that media are one of the most powerful influences in society.  Children easily pick up what they hear, read and see.  They are so powerful that they not only shape the minds of the children they sway the thought of adults as well. 

In this study, postmodern racism will be examined in the light of the Stephen Lawrence murder, British bureaucracy, and how media indirectly manipulated what came out in public.  Indirectly is the term used here because media did not alter any information regarding the murder.  Rather, as the study will reveal, the media chose to focus on the Stephen Lawrence murder because Stephen Lawrence and his family were not what people would commonly call the typical blacks.  Lawrence came from a middle-class family that, unlike the typical blacks, did not hold extremist beliefs against the white majority in society.  For media men, Lawrence was an ideal candidate for public news because his background would generate sympathy from the general populace. 

However, Lawrences murder is only one of the many racially-motivated crimes that have occurred in Britain.  Racism in Britain is rampant not only in crimes but in everyday routine of social institutions (Abercrombie and Warde 2004 261-62). A study revealed that a third of landlords and employees discriminate against minority ethnic groups.  It was also reported that professional blacks were considered rare by many people and that these rare blacks were subject to racial discrimination.  As early as the 1970s, blacks have become synonymous to criminals, as defined by media.  In fact, almost all media reports on blacks were often negative. Therefore, it is no surprise that attacks on black minorities by the whites were almost completely unheard of until the Stephen Lawrence case came up (McLaughlin and Murji 2001 263).  According to McLaughlin and Murji, black crimes were hardly reported because the police is not usually interested in pursuing the case (268-69). 

This study would contribute greatly to studies on racism because it tackles racism in almost all levels possible.  It touches on how it affects individuals and families how the media feeds on the racism of people by screening their materials and how various supposedly impartial institutions exercise racism. 

In the field of scholarly research, the study will closely look at postmodern racism and whether it is just a mere concept or if it operates in society.  The Lawrence case is not truly the best evidence to postmodern racism theories and as the study will unfold, data and statistics on racially-related crimes and phenomena will be examined and processed.  Some scholars have also claimed that racism has remained unchanged and uniform since the term was coined.  They believe that postmodern racism is essentially the same as the classic, old-fashioned racism that was created since the age of colonisation.

Ethical Issues
Racism is a delicate issue and if the research is not conducted properly, the outcome could possibly be dangerous to all parties involved in the research, whether they are a minority ethnic group or not.  It is therefore important that the author of the thesis be sensitive towards the needs and safety of those who he or she would like to involve in the study.  For instance, the identity of the participants should be an utmost priority (Babbie 2008 440).  Unless the participant specifies otherwise, his or her identity should always remain anonymous.  Unless vital to the study, the researcher must refrain from publishing any information that may reveal the participants identity or lead to his location.  Needless to say, the participantrespondents right to privacy must be honoured. 

An organization or institutions right to privacy must be respected as well. Even if the individuals from that certain organization are protected, a mention of their name in a publication may pose as a possible threat to their collaborations or relationships with other institutions, if there are any.  Hence, it is also important to consider the organizations needs and preferences when it comes to privacy.

In conducting the research, the researcher must conduct his or her study as transparently as possible.  The respondent must be aware of the studys objective and other pertinent details.  The researcher must not resort to covert and illegal measures to obtain data at all costs.  He or she must ask permission from the people involved to obtain the necessary data. 

Finally, it is not only the respondents welfare that the researcher must take care of.  It is also important for the researcher to be really acquainted with his or her respondents and know if they are credible sources or not.  His or her respondents must not involve him or her in any illegal activities or place him or her under circumstances that may conflict with his or her values.  Should this occur, it is left to the researchers discretion to exercise sound judgment.