Knowing we are all made in the image of God is the best way to counter racism, according to a former Pentecostal bishop.
Dr Joe Aldred was speaking to Premier Christian News after a new study showed that black and ethnic minority workers are facing "appalling" levels of racism, bullying and unfair treatment at work.
The TUC (Trades Union Congress) findings revealed a "shocking increase" in racist incidents in the workplace over the past six years, including unfair treatment and bullying of black and ethnic minority workers. The union said the situation is “rife” and is “plaguing the labour market”.
Incidents included having the ability to speak English questioned and racist jokes and banter, as well as violence, threats and intimidation.
Dr Aldred, who is also the author of Flourishing in Babylon: Black British Agency and Self-determination, said that although the situation is disappointing, it’s also an opportunity to respond with God’s love.
He said: “I think that we need to free ourselves from this liberal idea that we must rid society of the evil or the sin of racism, otherwise black British people cannot survive and succeed. I just think we're chasing our shadows.
“If we're going to flourish, we're going to have to learn how to stop chasing our tails on racism and put ourselves out there as people made in the image of God, dependent upon no one to make us human.”
Dr Aldred, who has himself been a victim of racism in the workplace, said there will always be “a certain section of society, black society and white society, that don't like the ‘other’ but if that's what you keep measuring, then you're always going to get the same results.”
He said legislating against racism isn’t the solution because “if you give somebody the keys to your Achilles heel, they'll keep using it forever and a day.”
Encouraging people to remember that Jesus taught us to love ourselves and to love our neighbour as ourselves, Dr Aldred said he hopes to encourage people to stop measuring a 'negative' and measure a 'positive' as a way forward and remember that we are all made in the image of God, “and anything you say to me is going to be filtered through those lenses.”
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: "No one should be treated unfairly or discriminated against because of their background, where they're from, or the colour of their skin, but black and ethnic minority workers are facing appalling and growing levels of racism and unfair treatment in Britain.
"The new duty on employers to protect workers from harassment from patients and customers - introduced through the Employment Rights Act - will be an important step forward for black and ethnic minority workers."
The TUC survey was among more than 1,000 black, Asian and minority ethnic working people aged 16 and over in Great Britain.