Racial Bullying

Racism is a hate-crime and it is illegal to treat someone differently because of their race, religion, nationality or culture.

Racial bullying occurs when a person is bullied or experiences repeated offensive behaviour against them based on:

• The colour of their skin
• Their cultural and religious background or traditions
• Their ethnicity or perceived ethnicity

Like other types of bullying, racial bullying can take place online, face to face or via phone. Examples of racial bullying can include:

• Calling someone names, teasing them or humiliating them using racially offensive language
• Making fun of someone’s religious customs or traditions
• Being sent racially insulting messages or threats
• Making fun of someone’s accent, clothes, the food they eat etc.
• Excluding someone because of their ethnicity
• Damaging a person’s property, offensive graffiti or displaying racist symbols
• Bringing racist leaflets or magazines to school/work
• Physical attacks
• Being made to feel like you should change the way you look
• Racist jokes, including jokes about a person’s colour, race, nationality or culture

Racism can affect anyone. It can make you feel like you’re not important or don’t fit in. You might feel upset, depressed or angry. You can be affected by it even when it’s not aimed at you, such as, if you hear someone discriminating against someone’s culture.