I found the racism of my black Irish childhood embarrassing. Now it has given way to fear

Operating under two separate legal systems and governments, the island has found itself dragged into a racial argument whose vocabulary was manufactured elsewhere.

As slogans imported from Britain’s far right – “invasion,” “two-tier policing,” “indigenous rights,” and “white replacement” – took hold, I realised I had confused a history of being oppressed with an immunity from learning how oppression worked. It was a comforting equation that Ireland’s record with women, children, and Travellers should have made impossible years ago.

A friend of mine was racially assaulted in Dublin recently. He’s also the kindest man I’ve ever met and an asset to the community, which makes it even more painful to witness. He did everything right.

He’s out of work while recovering. He has two very young kids whose father’s face looks different now.

It’s not enough to not be racist these days. We must be anti-racist.