Welsh Government's £130,000 Anti-Racism Library Project Sparks Debate
Welsh authorities allocate funds to challenge "whiteness" in libraries, aiming to eradicate racism by 2030. Critics question the approach and use of taxpayer money amid healthcare concerns.
The Welsh Government has recently initiated a £130,000 project aimed at challenging the "dominant paradigm of whiteness" in Welsh libraries. This initiative is part of a broader plan to eradicate racism in Wales by 2030, as reported by journalist Craig Simpson.
When questioned about the total budget allocated for this ambitious goal, a Welsh Government spokesperson stated that the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan does not have a specific budget, as its objectives are distributed across various government sectors. Each policy area has been allocated resources for implementation.
The annual report on the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan reveals a range of funding initiatives. These include incentive grants of up to £5,000 to increase the number of ethnic minority teachers and over £2.8 million awarded to organizations promoting ethnic minority creativity, heritage, and cultural identity. Additionally, £70,000 has been allocated to appoint an Anti-Racism Manager for providing training to housing organizations.
The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) has been awarded £134,600 over the 2022-2025 financial years to lead the Anti-racist Library Collections project. This amount exceeds the combined starting salaries of four nurses in Wales, raising questions about resource allocation priorities.
CILIP's guide for the project aims to assist librarians in creating anti-racist libraries and ensuring compliance with Welsh Public Libraries Standards. The document's language has been criticized for its religious-like tone and heavy American influence, including the use of concepts like "White fragility" and recommended reading lists predominantly featuring American authors.
"This relentlessly divisive, toxic approach is the most definitive way of destroying any chance of achieving a happier, more united and cohesive society."
The project's focus on identifying unconscious biases and challenging power structures has sparked debate about its effectiveness and potential for divisiveness. Critics argue that this approach assumes inherent bias in the 93.8% of the Welsh population that is white, potentially undermining social cohesion.
Wales, with its rich cultural heritage and 3.1 million inhabitants, faces complex challenges in addressing racial issues. The country boasts over 600 castles and three national parks, reflecting its diverse history and landscape. The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, holding over 6.5 million books and periodicals, stands as a testament to the nation's literary tradition.
While the government pursues its anti-racism agenda, concerns have been raised about the allocation of resources. With nearly one in five people waiting for medical treatment and hospital waiting lists in Wales reaching record highs, some question the prioritization of funds for library anti-racism projects over healthcare improvements.
As Wales continues to navigate its path towards a more inclusive society, the debate surrounding these initiatives highlights the complex balance between addressing social issues and managing limited public resources effectively.
