Is the UK creating a black underclass?

The UK is in danger of creating a black underclass similar to that which has emerged in South Africa, according to Foreign Office minister Peter Hain.

In an interview with the Independent newspaper, the veteran anti-apartheid campaigner said an alarming gulf had opened up between a small black middle-class and a "vast pool of ethnic minority citizens" who, he said were doing "extremely badly".

Mr Hain also spoke of racism still being "deeply embedded" in British culture.

Do you think we are in danger of widening the gap not only between rich and poor but between black and white? How can we address this problem?

Here are your views:

The figures indicate only 5% of Britons are from ethnic minority backgrounds. Those 5% deserve to be treated with respect

Tom, USA

Errol is wrong on both counts, I'm afraid. Britain and France each received more than twice as much Marshall-plain aid as Germany (Italy received more too). If you ask me, the harsher conditions in Germany and Japan are what forced them to rebuild their economies from the ground up, rather than relying on aid which largely fuelled consumer spending on imported (American) goods.
On the second point, only small numbers of immigrants were allowed into the UK during the initial rebuilding phase. They were a drop in the bucket, and altogether unnecessary. It was only later that the trickle became a flood, and, even now, the figures indicate only 5% of Britons are from ethnic minority backgrounds. Those 5% deserve to be treated with respect, but they should equally be expected to reciprocate, and respect the culture of the remaining 95%.
Tom, USA

Mr Hain has a vested interest in keeping racial issues in the headlines. Unfortunately with his constant sensationalising, genuine discrimination will get overlooked to the loss of us all.
Alan, UK

We now have a New Privileged Class

Nigel Rees, Briton in USA

We now have a New Privileged Class: those specially qualified, unlike the rest of us, to receive from (but never be forced to contribute to) the state and to be virtually unsackable should they prove poor employees.
Nigel Rees, Briton in USA

I concur with Stephen Glenister. Whilst my white middle-class upbringing wants to blame racist attitudes and particularly institutional racism, the reality that I have seen on the streets of London is totally different. Despite having massive social support backed by stringent legislation, young blacks, particularly black males, seem to be increasingly marginalised. When I overhear conversations between black school kids openly lauding drug-dealing as a meaningful lifestyle and taunting those among their number who do not concur with their views, I can only conclude that the problem lies within certain parts of the black community.
Andy, London, UK

I lived and worked in South Africa during the latter part of the apartheid years. What I saw there makes me think that this is an issue of money and not race. I saw white kids playing on a rubbish heap with black kids. I gave some loose change to a white woman who was begging in the streets - the same woman I saw lying dead (not drunk) in the street two weeks later only yards from a black policeman ticketing a parked car. To have rich you have to have poor, but the key is to keep the gap narrow and not adopt a laissez faire policy for fear of losing party donations.
Alfred, UK

A new direction with the help of role models, local authorities with the correct qualifications and attitude and a redefinition of 'Ethnicity' is needed

Errol, Sweden (but British)

R Lewins comment regarding this subject is at most truthful if slightly misdirected. To suggest that immigration was "insanely allowed" is not entirely true. Britain needed to rebuild after WW2. The Marshall plan did not accommodate Britain to the same extend as Germany. Britain due to past exploits could pool "resources" from the commonwealth. These people are known as "British", this entitles therefore residency. The problem I feel was that the solution was looked at on a short-term basis. The situation remains fifty years after the war. A new direction with the help of role models, local authorities with the correct qualifications and attitude and a redefinition of 'Ethnicity' is needed.
Errol, Sweden (but British)

I would suggest that you look at where the most successful black populations thrive today and you will find that they are in such racist and repressive countries as the USA and Briton. Where in Africa will you point to find some idealistic black homeland that doesn't exist? I think this talk of underclass and repression is more a political tool for social agendas then insight into the plight of suffering people.
Tibs Hull, USA

This is a real danger... one of the aspects of Britain that sets us apart is our ability to live with each other in relative peace. We're a nation of neighbours, there shouldn't be a single soul who feels alienated. We have a very diverse population base, everyone needs to feel a part of this country, Britain may not be great, but at the very least everyone should be content.
Alex White, UK

Some black men plainly need a stronger work ethic. One that starts at primary school and extends into higher education. Without that, the gap can only get wider.

Shane W, UK, London

I am a black man. Born and raised in this country to a single mother. I have 3 other brothers and sisters, and life was tough. I was miserable, marginalised, and disenfranchised. I failed at school; the police were full of prejudice. The system was established to keep me at the bottom of the chain. I joined the swollen statistics.
I now enjoy a considerable amount of success, I have a degree, a great job, family, etc. What does it take? The nerve to realise that you belong to a larger community that has expectations that you are prepared to put in the work. Not on your terms, but theirs. You have to be equally qualified and prepared to put the same effort in as everyone else to get the most out. Be prepared for hard work. Do it on your bosses terms until such time that you become boss yourself.
Some black men plainly need a stronger work ethic. One that starts at primary school and extends into higher education. Without that, the gap can only get wider.
Shane W, UK, London

We may be creating a black underclass, but unfortunately the government is also making the " rules of engagement" for the Police so difficult, that ghettos will emerge, ruled by the gangsters, and protected by so called " civil-liberties " lawyers. The law abiding citizens, of any colour in this country, face a very bleak future from criminals of any race. International organised crime does not respect countries boundaries, and cares little about racial matters, or for that angst ridden "socialist" legal class who discuss race and politics over a bottle of wine in Islington, whilst preparing to defend the next gangster..
Alan Cameron, Scotland

I'm sure a lot of 'racism' is being stoked up by those who keep going on about it. This creates resentment amongst the white population who may not consider immigrants in any way second class. 'Positive discrimination' is by definition absolutely racist, and is not the answer any more than more handouts. To the extent a genuine problem exists, a more subtle approach is needed, not stifled under a covering of political correctness (we mustn't say we are British any more) and pandering to the race relations industry. This will not help to change people and their attitudes, which is where the real problem lies.
Ken Beach, Germany

To declare that racism is embedded in British culture is not only extremely insulting to the millions of Britons such as myself who are proud of their culture and heritage and who are not racist, but also legitimises genuine bigots by suggesting that their actions are the result of social engineering of which they are merely victims.
Paul, UK

I've seen and experienced so many examples of racism from young and old alike

Mohamed Ismail, UK

Racism is still rearing it's ugly head in this country, Whether it's the police's apathy to problems faced by non-whites in this country (specifically race-hate crimes) or it's being followed around shops by security guards when you've done nothing wrong (yep this still goes on).
I'm a black man born in Britain in the early 1970's and in that time I've seen and experienced so many examples of racism from young and old alike, that it would take too long to go into them here. Don't kid yourself that things are all better now because they're not.
Mohamed Ismail, UK

There has always been and there will always be a gap between races and classes. It can't be helped even artificially.
John, USA

Until British school children are taught to feel pride in Britain and a stronger sense of British identity is formed, we cannot be a multi-cultural society. Blacks and Whites both need to feel a sense of belonging to one community - not one black or one white community.
It's all very well to teach children in their native languages and respect the cultures their families may have come from but to focus primarily on these excludes these children from life in contemporary Britain and does not help to forge a tolerant, multi-racial society. Instead, it serves to emphasise the differences.
Jessica Butcher, England

Living in the USA you can see the horrors of a black underclass. This shouldn't happen but it does here, I only hope that the UK doesn't go the same way. We all have our future in our own hands so there is no one else to blame.
Mark Collins (USA), UK living in the USA

Being a black person in a London job interview probably gives you the best chance in the world

Tim, UK

Being a black person in a London job interview probably gives you the best chance in the world, and still the black underclass grows to increasingly significant proportions. I suggest a populous examination of the problem and ask the following question: why is a member of one particular minority not capable of self-sustenance, when a member of another minority is?
As one of my best friends, who is black and proud, says: "there is more ignorance among the blacks than anyone else - wherever they are, you see the same thing all over the world. They can run it, but they'll never rule it."
Tim, UK

It appears to me that there will always be an underclass, particularly one of racial minorities until equal education and work opportunities are available to all. Further those in the racial minority need to have more role models. Asian and Afro-Caribbean leaders are far too thin in the ground.
Sadly, it also seems that when our economy is not doing well, anger and frustration is often focused on racial minorities.
Linda Suleiman, England

The Swiss investment bank at which I work operates a 'mentoring' scheme for disadvantaged school children

Michael Wong, England

While we must discourage all forms of discrimination in the workplace and society, we should also encourage self-responsibility and self-improvement. However those from better-advantaged backgrounds can serve as role models for those from less-advantage backgrounds.
The Swiss investment bank at which I work operates such a 'mentoring' scheme for disadvantaged school children living in the inner-city boroughs of London, and I think this kind of positive assistance is the way forward.
Michael Wong, London, England

I think all this stuff about under class is just newspaper hype and hype about that report that said Britain should declare itself as a multi-cultural society. I think that every race of person is being pushed in to the under class not just the blacks.
William Dryden, UK

I sincerely hope that we are not becoming a more divided society. We need to make sure that enough blacks are recruited into the middle class, (and even higher) to ensure a stable racial balance, and to fully re-elect our meritocracy.
One of the race problems in Africa is that there is a tiny middle class: the void is often filled by Asians. These Asian shopkeepers and merchants are then envied for their wealth; Idi Amin even went so far as to expel them from Uganda in the 70s. So, in whatever country we call home, we need to make sure that it's a rainbow nation - at all levels.
Andrew Hewlett, UK

I can only imagine a problem like this, if it exists, having roots in discrimination, and unequal opportunities. Isn't this the real issue, and the cause of a widening gap?
Luke Perkin, England

The vast gulf between rich and poor is not an ethnic issue - it is part and parcel of capitalism

Steven Ashfield, UK

Living in an inner city I see the "black underclass" daily. Note also, I see the "white underclass" too. What's the difference, other than skin colour? The vast gulf between rich and poor is not an ethnic issue - it is part and parcel of capitalism.
Steven Ashfield, UK

The people who do most to promote racism are those who do everything they can to 'find' it. The British people are not racist, they will accept anyone on merit, but certain small groups have a vested interest in promoting racism. Whether it be because their 'job' is to do this, they just want to harm Britain or they are one of the minority who are racist, they are the ones who should take the blame. Leave people alone in Britain and the problem would diminish.
Graham Triming, England

I'm sorry, but if the UK is creating a black underclass, we need to expand the political lexicon to describe the situation of ethnic minorities in some of our neighbouring countries. Perhaps Peter Hain should visit Belgium or France where, he might be surprised to note, you don't see blacks or Arabs working in banks or department stores unless it's as cleaners. Nor would he spot many black or Turkish faces on Dutch or German TV, to quote just two examples.
I'm not saying that the UK should be complacent about racism; of course more could and should be done to combat discrimination where it occurs, but please let's make valid comparisons and let's not overdo the self-flagellation. We should be celebrating our multicultural society and trying to improve it, not constantly denigrating it.
Ben, Belgium (but English)

Too often the underachievement of ethnic minorities in the UK is blamed on racism of the majority. I would like to see some attention focus on minority role models which are, at present, highly undesirable.
Most young black children seem only to have trendy "gangsters" perpetuated by youth culture and the media to look up to. If this dreadful image is all a child is given to aspire to, then it's no wonder this section of society is underachieving. I would like to see this problem acknowledged by community leaders, rather than attacking all other parts of our society.
Steven Glenister, UK

It will get much, much worse before it gets any better

R Lewin, England

In a country that insanely allowed tens of thousands of non-whites to settle here after WW2, the creation of a black underclass was always inevitable. It happened in the United States and people were warned it would happen here. Ideally, the politicians who let mass immigration happen would be forced to live in the ghettos they helped create, putting up with the crime and misery they inflicted on others. It will get much, much worse before it gets any better.
R Lewin, England

If the majority of people belonging to the ethnic minority do not do well in studies and naturally don't land in good jobs, the British Government could perhaps set up a commission to probe the reasons for the poor showing and take remedial steps so that this section doesn't continue to be isolated.
If corrective measures are taken immediately, the alarming gulf, which Mr. Hain refers to will be reduced considerably in the near future.
Albert Devakaram, India

Without blacks in positions of influence across the broad spectrum of economic activity, how can a young job seeker get a break?

Pelham Moore, USA

The black plight in Western societies (especially those that fostered the slave trade centuries ago) continues to fester in areas of education, access to jobs/industries for lack of mentorship; without blacks in positions of influence across the broad spectrum of economic activity, how can a young job seeker get a break that would help propel her/his career path? The typical chicken-egg dilemma!
In spite of it all, Blacks have one lasting source of solace: we have survived slavery, post-slavery lynchings/colonial discrimination (I lived in London in the 70s) and now, in Africa, face decimation by the AIDS virus. In the year 5081 we'll still be around.
Pelham Moore, USA

I study at an 'Ivy League' university in Central London. It is sad to see how few black young men and women there are around the place. From my own experience of schooling in an ethnically diverse comprehensive in the North of England, I would suggest that one problem is that the system seems to accept - even EXPECT - that black youngsters are generally going to make poor students. Such prejudice undoubtedly makes it harder for black kids to succeed.
I think that a good first step would simply be open people's eyes to this more. It strikes me that even well intentioned individuals often display an alarming amount of such prejudice if their behaviour goes unchallenged. You have to get people to realise they are doing something wrong, in order to get them to change.
John Pee, UK