The equalities minister Bridget Phillipson has publicly stated that racism (and sexism) have “become normalised in the UK”. It will cost her votes. Today, mainstream politicians ignore this attestable truth or avoid it by swerving to “forgotten” and “left behind” white communities, thus pitting two social injustices against each other and diminishing the seriousness of both.

I commend the minister. But I would challenge the idea of normalised racism. Commonwealth immigrants who came here in the 70s and 80s say that racism is worse than it has ever been. Younger people of colour feel that too. The TUC, Institute of Race Relations (IRR) and Amnesty offer hard evidence for these subjective claims – a “shocking” increase has been noticed in workplace racism, say the TUC, while both the IRR and Amnesty warn of an “emergency”.

The 60s were terrifying for incomers. People put up notices disbarring “blacks, Irish and dogs” from premises and public spaces. Enoch Powell made his race hate speeches and became a hero. But he was sacked from the Tory shadow Cabinet, and laws were passed to give migrants equal rights. Far-right groups in the 70s and 80s terrorised immigrants and their children. Bigots in high places protected them. But cross-racial, anti-racist movements were a powerful counterforce. (Where are they now?)

After the racist murder of the black........

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