"What I'm saying is, is that because they're not aware of their unconscious bias, they think they actually believe that what they're doing is right... There are a lot of people who disagree with me, not just the people on the left or the right, because many people on the right refuse to recognise how complex racism is.... People in the middle recognise that racism isn't just black and white, it's actually far more complex. And it reveals itself unconsciously, in all kinds of ways, both on the right and on the left. We tend to just think people on the right are racist people and people on the left are not... I'm saying, no, what they're doing is signalling virtue, they are not actually being virtuous."
Katharine Birbalsingh is the Headmistress and co-founder of Michaela Community School in Wembley, London. Michaela is known for its high standards of discipline, tough-love behaviour systems, knowledge curriculum and teaching of kindness and gratitude. In 2017, OFSTED the Office for Standards in Education, graded the school as “Outstanding” in every category.
Katharine read Philosophy & Modern Languages at The University of Oxford and has always taught in inner London. She has made numerous appearances on television and radio and has written for several UK publications. Katharine has written two books, edited a third and a fourth called Michaela: The Power of Culture has just been published. Whether you agree with Katharine or not, she will make you think. In the 2020 Birthday Honours, Katherine was awarded CBE.
Follow Katharine on Twitter: @Miss_Snuffy
