The last four years have seen a dramatic worldwide rise in ethnic exceptionalism and race-baiting, especially in rich white societies where poor, coloured people are often described as an infection or infliction. The level of hostility is quite frightening at times. Sometimes, reading the world news is a bit like being awash in a tide of hate mail. But appearances can be deceptive. Behind the blaring headlines there is a reassuring hum of cooperation and coexistence, nowhere more evident th