Now, as this terrible column points out, the only thing we know for certain - or at least the only thing openly discussed in the political world - is that blacks are convicted of more crime, and go to jail at a higher rate, than whites. And there are those who believe that this is purely because of racism in the justice system. And perhaps that’s true. But I think it’s fair to assume the black offending rate in street crime (as opposed to, for example, white-collar crime) is higher. So it may seem that greater fear of blacks than whites is a rational response.

But given how low the rate of crime is, the difference must be minimal - bluntly, your statistical chances of being mugged by a black person may be one in 10,000, as opposed to one in 20,000 for a white assailant. The invisible factors that control whether the person on the other side of the street plans to mug you - their upbringing, their psychology, their circumstances - are infinitely more influential over the likelihood of them mugging you than their race. How, then, can it be a rational response to fear them more because of their race?

Racist instincts don’t have to be based on a complete myth, like blacks being stupid or lazy. They can be based on an underlying truth, but blow it out of proportion. And, of course, to judge anyone by the statistical proclivities of their demographic group is, inherently, prejudice.

what is it that they ‘far more nervous’ about happening?