"As a black woman in Northern Ireland, Maureen Hamblin knows that racism comes in many forms. It's not just the smashing in of shop windows, she says. It can be quiet, it can be silent. Bystanders who hear racist remarks and remain mute, as if oblivious, amplify the hurt and leave victims feeling alone and isolated, a recurring experience that left Hamblin drained."
"There was a time when I'd lost a lot of faith in white people, in white men. Race riots in Belfast, Ballymena and other towns in the past two years might have extinguished the last of that faith but instead Hamblin, who is originally from Kenya, stumbled upon hope. She joined an initiative called the Circle of Change, which connects strangers from different backgrounds rich and poor, black and white, gay and straight and tasks them with a subversive activity: getting to know each other."
Maureen Hamblin, a Black woman from Kenya living in Northern Ireland, endures both overt and subtle racism that leaves victims isolated and drained. Silent bystanders who tolerate racist remarks exacerbate harm. Recent race riots challenged trust between communities but participation in the Circle of Change restored hope by fostering intentional, small-group encounters across class, race and sexuality. Circles of about a dozen meet monthly across Belfast to share experiences, raise funds for tolerance and reconciliation charities, and build common ground. The initiative grew from 174 Trust based in New Lodge and operates from the Duncairn centre, offering support to vulnerable people and a cultural hub.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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