The findings of the government racial equality audit relating to institutional racism (Racial equality audit reveals deep divide, 10 October) should make many of us ask the question: am I racist? All my antecedents, the aggressively territorial history of my people, my family and background and the nature of the society I live in persuade me that I must be.

My working-class upbringing and education in the north-west of England provided an infrastructure which ensured that cultural differences between people were not discussed but rank and status were assumed as a matter of course. Prejudice was commonplace and life was pretty much black and white. I recall many years ago the furore around the use of a golliwog as a marketing symbol for a well-known product. What ridiculous nonsense, I thought – but of course it wasn’t. Why on earth should I think it right or acceptable to ridicule people of colour for my amusement? I really didn’t understand. On reflection it was one of those events which makes us question what we believed to be true. I can’t undo my life or deny my past intolerances, but I can learn from them. It feels a bit like having a chronic illness – I don’t think I can be cured but I can certainly get better.

Ian Mitchell

Preston, Lancashire

• The government’s new Ethnicity facts and figures website has to be welcomed, in that it shows the huge disparities that ethnic minorities face in outcomes, compared to their white British counterparts. However, in almost all media coverage, ethnicity has been reported and commented on as being defined by skin colour.

As a teacher and educationist working with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children and young people for over 18 years, it is disturbing to have heard little or nothing specifically about this minority group – especially given that, in every one of the 22 outcomes in the “Education, skills and training” section of the new website (from age five to apprenticeships, further and higher education and after education), Gypsy/Roma and Travellers of Irish heritage are very worryingly and very firmly at the bottom.

Let’s hope that this data really does begins a process that drives forward real equality of opportunity for the groups that are most at risk in the education system.

Peter Norton

Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire

• So Theresa May wants the findings from the government audit on race equality to reveal “uncomfortable truths”. One such truth is that almost her first official statement made when she became home secretary in 2010 was that equality had become a “dirty word” (Theresa May scraps legal requirement to reduce inequality, theguardian.com, 17 November 2010). Another is that, consequently, through a succession of government policies (not least austerity) and statements since then, the government has effectively “invisibilised” the issue of “race” and racism which underlies the structural disadvantage which black and ethnic minorities continue to face in this country.

Gary Craig

Professor emeritus of social justice, University of Hull

• The compilation and release of ethnicity data by the government is of course to be welcomed. The irony, of course, is that Tory policies have consistently compounded the social drivers for many of the alarming headline points from the data, and the double whammy is that the current administration are probably the least well equipped for a long time to act on any recommendations for explanation or change stemming from the data release due to its own weaknesses. The debate too in the media appears to be characterised by a narrow focus on personal and “petty” racism. These are institutional and structural issues and as such require a focused and structural response. This has to come from the top.

Deryck Browne

Chief executive, African Health Policy Network

• The new audit on race equality rings alarm bells – and not only because of the shocking disparities on which it shines a light. We should also be extremely concerned about the government’s failure to invest in the UK’s equality bodies.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission, for example, exists to tackle discrimination and promote equality. However, its budget has been cut by 75% over the past decade, with still more to come. How can we expect it to do its job effectively, while its funding is aggressively stripped away?

The government should also be proactive in supporting the many brilliant grassroots organisations around the UK that work tirelessly to inform people of their rights, and help change attitudes.

I support the prime minister’s decision to highlight the glaring inequalities in our communities. However, talk is cheap. If she wants to see change, she will need to make the most of the tools at her disposal – resourcing and empowering the groups that exist to help, but have been starved of the funding to do so.

Jean Lambert MEP

Green, London

• The government’s audit on race reveals that white teenagers are four times more likely to be smokers than black teenagers. Obviously black teenagers and their families are doing something right. What could it be? Can we look forward to the Department of Health funding research to find out? I’m not holding my breath.

Marjorie Shephard

Hove, East Sussex

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