I'm not sure that racism is on the increase. Certainly overt racism is becoming like smoking in public places. It's something the general public really frown upon, and to me, that's laudable.
What I believe is on the increase (and very few people seem to readily acknowledge this) - is blatant ageism.
Picture 1975 - Kenneth Kendall reading the news before Morecombe and Wise or Stanley Baxter...politicians such as Edward Heath or Harold Wilson in the commons. Sports stars such as Henry Cooper and Stirling Moss on World Of Sport (hosted by Dickie Davis, a man not 'in his prime')
The pop charts featured Gary Glitter, Noddy Holder and Alvin Stardust, none of whom would be asked for I.D. at their local watering hole.
Basically the country was a lot 'older' back then. Now, the middle aged and elderly are shunted out of vision, disparaged and generally treated as non-persons.
And it's not just in the media - socially the elderly are excluded, and shown very little respect. I know this is a bit of a hobby horse of mine, but I think it's a sad situation when extended families break down to such an extent that the elderly have to rely on social care just to get by.
This was not the case (or rather, not to the same extent) back when I was growing up (the 70s).
It's the silent 'ism' that no-one talks about.