What impact does the murder of Lassana Cisse – and racial tension in Malta – have on the health of migrants:  both emotionally and physiologically? 

The murder of Lassana Cisse has had a huge impact on the well-being of migrants, resulting from a sense of fear, the lack of safety and security and generally feeling threatened. These are a leading cause of trauma and other mental health problems. This sense of fear can, in turn, create an atmosphere of mistrust among the locals, which may create a sense of hostility and an ‘us and them’ mentality on the part of the migrants. Unfortunately, this limits the integration process due to resistance and resentment. On a physiological level, prolonged racism and racist stress can increase the risk of cardiovascular disorders and diseases.

 

What kind of trauma does a victim of racism face and what impact does this have on their psychological and emotional development? 

Racism can lead to various mental health problems and illnesses due its traumatic impact. Research shows that racism not only increases tension and stress in ethnic minority groups but can also be the cause of depression. This is due to its impact on a person’s self-esteem and identity and can lead to a sense of helplessness. Racism, if becomes a social norm, may not only allow locals to deny the value of migrants as individuals, based on their skin difference, but can also lead to an internalisation of such racist beliefs on the part of the migrants themselves.

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop as a result of prolonged racial attacks and racist attitudes. This is evidenced by an increased sense of fear and anxiety that becomes difficult for the individual to manage on a daily basis. Paranoia can also result from heightened anxiety due to a perceived lack of safety and security. As a result, the individual may experience intense suspicion, mistrust and a sense of persecution.

 

What makes a person become racist and what impact does this have of on the individual’s psychological development? 

There are many reasons for people to have a racist attitude. No one is born racist. Racism is a learnt attitude that is influenced by the stereotypical views of people around us. Most of our attitudes are shaped at a very young age. Children who are taught not to be racist and encouraged to embrace and respect the differences of other people are less likely to develop a racist attitude than those who are exposed to racist comments and behaviour. Racist comments can become an ingrained mental script as a person grows up and will, in turn, influence racial attitudes, both consciously and subconsciously.

Although, on a biological level, people tend to be drawn more towards those who are perceived as being similar to them, racial discrimination is more of a social issue than a natural, biological process. When social racist scripts become the norm, racist attitudes may seem more acceptable and permissible and so reinforce one’s personal racial stereotypes.

Differences seem to create a sense of uncertainty and insecurity in some individuals. This may be the result of a person’s stereotypical views and internal scripts leading to the ‘them-and-us’ mentality, for instance, the stereotypical  notion that white people are more intelligent than black people and the sense of superiority of the Maltese vis-a-vis foreigners. These stereotypical views are generally based on assumptions, misinformation, ignorance and generalised judgements. They create a sense of insecurity and extreme fear which, in turn, lead to a sense of delusional supremacy of one’s culture.

 

Is it common for people to deny that they are racist?

Yes, it is very common. Acknowledging one’s racial beliefs requires a certain level of awareness and insight. Most people with racist attitudes and beliefs deny that these are, indeed, racist. The reasons are twofold: on the one hand, it could be due to a lack of awareness of what is racist and what is not. At times we might use racial expressions and/or gestures without being aware of their racist connotation. An example of this is the Maltese phrase ‘mela jien iswed!’ (‘What am I: black?’) On the other hand, racism may go against an individual’s values and moral views. Therefore, acknowledging one’s racial attitudes may create an internal conflict with one’s religious beliefs and sense of identity.

 

How do you differentiate between someone who has racist feelings and a person who has genuine concerns with regard to the effects of foreigners on society?

A person who is racist is someone who feels a sense of superiority over others on the basis of their culture, race and/or skin colour. As a result, those perceived as inferior are treated differently: belittled, blamed, harassed and/or rejected. A person with genuine concerns about the effects of foreigners on our country lacks this sense of superiority and embraces cultural differences to a reasonable extent.

The main focus will not be based on an ‘us versus them’ position and foreigners will therefore be treated with the same respect as locals. A genuine concern is one that calls for a holistic and systemic view of the situation by also understanding the influences and responsibilities of locals towards the problem and its solution, rather than putting all the blame on foreigners.

 

MEP candidate Norman Lowell and Moviment Patrijotti Maltin demonstrate a highly anti-migrant and refugee ideology. What effect do these political figures have on the nation’s attitude towards migrants?

Racism is a form of psychological violence. Allowing the space to discuss anti-migrant ideologies is a huge risk, as it only confirms and fuels the racist beliefs and attitudes of others by increasing a sense of superiority based on one’s culture and skin colour. This increases the risk of creating hatred and violence towards migrant minorities.

 Racism is a legal offence, which means that racist remarks are not a matter of opinion or a way of demonstrating freedom of speech. One way of changing hate speech and racism is to create clear boundaries regarding what is acceptable in society and what is not, whilst adhering to a coherent script by addressing all forms of racist attacks with great seriousness by ensuring fairness and justice. A two-way integration process is an important step towards challenging deep-seated prejudice through direct contact with migrants themselves.