Racism: A Teenagers' Perspective. Results of a Preliminary research in Madrid (Spain)

Given the rejection of race-based discourses by many Europeans, the findings of the present (bi-lingual) study by the INTER group are surprising, and shocking. The interviews carried out in schools in Madrid, Spain, are clear: Youngsters emphatically state that they
1) are exposed to and involved in acts of racism on a regular basis,
2) understood the mechanisms of racist attitudes and behaviours, although they can not explain why racism is present in our society and they do not really know how to cope with racist situations, and
3) - most striking – they do not talk to adults about it, as students contend that adults make racial problems worse. The statements of Spanish students indicate that racism continues to be a European problem. Obviously, although biological human races do not exist, it is equally clear that large numbers of people still behave as if they do - a sufficient reason to analyse racism better.