HEALING RACISM

"NO ONE likes to discover they have a problem with race. It's like alcohol addiction - until someone realise they have a drink problem, they won't seek treatment. And the same is true of racism." Abiola Ogunsola teaches Communications Studies at the University of East London, a course which covers issues such as race and identity and the experience of colonisation. Six years ago, when she became a Baha'i, she began running public workshops on "Healing Racisim".

To date, more than 250 people have attended the twelve-week course. The workshops are based on those run by the Attitudinal Healing Connection, a non-profit organisation in the United States which holds lectures, retreats and workshops in California.

"In the Healing Racism workshops, participants learn to recognise the process through which they internalise various ideas and attitudes about race, either as victims or as perpetrators," says Abiola.

"Once they recognise this in themselves, they can make informed choices about their attitudes. We explore the history of race issues around the world, and learn to imagine and visualise the oneness of humanity, so the participants have a clearer concept of what they're working towards - eliminating racism for the benefit of all."

Each week, participants spend two hours identifying the attitudes and prejudices they've developed, consciously or unconsciously, and learn to take control of those attitudes. They're also taught listening skills, to understand the experiences of others.

"By the end of that process, they can see that we're all in this together, it's a problem for black people and white people," Abiola says.

Abiola was studying at the Attitudinal Healing Connection in 1995 when she heard about Baha'u'llah from two Baha'is who were running racism-healing workshops in Chicago.

"I reallly liked the spirit of the community, and by the role of the black people too. I met quite a few African American Baha'is, and saw that they were clearly central to their community, and were valued and welcomed, and that they took pride and dignity in their African heritage.

"And the Baha'i teachings are all about uniting people, which appealed to me. The communities bring together disparate people from different places who wouldn't otherwise come together and try to find ways of bringing unity and progress to this world."

Overcoming racism in the world isn't going to be easy, Abiola believes. "Here in Britain, people are reluctant to engage with these issues, because they believe it's an American problem, not a British problem," she says.

"But you can see from the backlash to studies on racism, such as the Macpherson report, that this is one of our most urgent and pressing challenges, and our inability to solve it will undermine other areas of our lives.

"What keeps me motivated is teaching young people at the university, because they want things to be different and they see the insanity of racism, so that makes me hopeful for the future."