The racism towards Russian people in the UK reminds us how fragile immigrant whiteness can be

When did it become okay to delight in the suffering of an ethnicity?

One question I am used to hearing ad nauseam in the UK is “how could the Germans possibly do that to Jewish people?” It’s a valid question, and one I think everyone should reflect on when we talk about racism, otherising and hate speech. But the way that question is structured says a lot about how British folks think about racism and xenophobia: it’s something the ignorant other people do, in the Deep South and Poland. It isn’t possible here. Not with us civilised, open-minded, polite and tolerant people.

We love applauding how tolerant we are: how wonderful we are for tolerating different ethnicities, languages, religions and ideas. This is a bit cringeworthy in itself as I’d hope anyone in 2022 could walk past a Hindu temple without throwing a tantrum. You don’t deserve a sticker for being tolerant. That bar is so…