“‘Race’, Ethnicity and Young People”

Constructions of ‘race’ and ethnicity continue to affect how some people are socialized by the structures of society. This chapter explores theoretical and policy contributions to constructions of ‘race’ and ethnicity, and how it affects the lives of Black (Sallah and Howson 2007) young people. It starts with an exploration of the changing demographics of Europe generally and the UK in particular. It then looks at constructions of ‘race’ and the cumulative effect of these on racial and ethnic considerations in relation to working with Black young people. After an examination of Critical Race Theory and the articulation of the political definition of Black, the significance of cultural competence, based on mainstream practitioners gaining the required skills, values, attitudes, knowledge and resources, will be explored. The chapter concludes that culturally-competent praxis from mainstream services is needed to effectively counter defective constructions of ‘race’ and ‘ethnicity’, and their enactments, especially in relation to Black young people