By Pete Johnson, head of business development at ACEVO
The third anniversary of George Floyd’s senseless murder is this week. It was a killing that sent ripples around the world. Over the past three years, I’ve witnessed and experienced Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion advance both in individuals and organisations. The way we think about race has changed dramatically in our society and sector, resulting in profound learnings and opportunities. In this week’s newsletter, I want to reflect on these learnings and emphasise the importance of bringing them forward while acknowledging the mistakes we’ve made.
Recognising the need for change
The last three years have seen heightened awareness of systemic inequalities affecting marginalised groups, especially people of colour. As a result of this awakening, we’ve had to face the stark reality of racial discrimination. We by now all realise that being non-racist isn’t enough; we need to actively fight racism.
Three years of learning
Educating and self-reflecting are the first steps to combat racial discrimination. It’s important to understand the historical context and systemic roots of racial discrimination. As leaders, we can work towards making our sector and society more inclusive by learning from different perspectives and experiences.
Marginalised voices should be heard and valued: We’ve now realised we need spaces that allow marginalised voices to be heard. Diverse perspectives need to be sought by organisations, and decision-making processes should include people from different backgrounds. Inclusion and effectiveness can both be improved when marginalised communities are listened to and learned from.
ACEVO’s Home Truths report published in June 2020, which saw over 800 BAME staff in our sector respond, laid bare the clear and obvious racism that exists in our own sector. We will shortly share details of the successor programme, Home Truths Two, which seeks to help convert positive attention and intent from ‘mainstream’ civil society into serious action on anti-racism and race equity. Please drop us an email at hometruthstwo@acevo.org.uk to be added to the mailing list to find out how you can get involved.
Considering the interconnectedness of various forms of oppression is essential. People’s experiences are shaped by race, gender, disability, and other identities. In order to create a more inclusive sector, we need to understand and address these intersections.
Moving forward with grace
It’s important to acknowledge the mistakes we’ve made in the past as we move forward. Quite a few of us didn’t know about systemic discrimination. I think it’s important to approach this learning journey with grace, humility, and commitment. Some leaders get disillusioned with race because it’s “too hard and the landscape keeps changing”. Comparatively, the gender landscape is always changing. However, there is still commitment to learning and growing. To really move forward with race, it takes this kind of commitment.
We need to hold ourselves and others accountable for creating change. Acknowledging mistakes and working to fix them is essential. Being a leader means admitting past decisions were wrong with hindsight. Don’t be afraid to acknowledge that error to the individual(s) involved. It’s still with them, even though you’ve moved on.
By advocating for and amplifying the voices of marginalised communities, allies play a vital role.
Organisations need policies and practices that foster inclusion and give equal opportunities to everyone. To build a more equitable society, we need to implement fair recruitment and promotion processes, offer diversity and inclusion training, and create safe spaces for open dialogue.
Achieving meaningful change requires collaboration and partnerships. Collaborating with other organisations/sectors can have a bigger impact on dismantling systemic discrimination. It’s possible to create lasting change by pooling resources, sharing knowledge, and amplifying each other’s efforts.
Final thoughts
The last three years have been pivotal in our journey to race equality in the sector and society as a whole. We have learned the importance of education, amplifying marginalised voices, and embracing intersectionality. Moving forward, it is crucial to hold ourselves accountable, implement inclusive policies and practices, and collaborate with others to foster a more equitable society.
Lastly, I hope to never see another video like George Floyd’s. I’m sorry to say, it has been widely shared 1.4 billion times to date. If I look at another significant incident in the U.S, the 6 January insurrection of 2021, which led to Ashli Babbitt’s untimely death, her demise wasn’t depicted in the media, presumably to preserve her dignity and humanity. In contrast, the death of George Floyd, a black man, becomes a media spectacle. This evokes disturbing memories of past lynchings where ordinary people gathered to watch and be entertained. I’m saddened by the lack of consideration and empathy in our society in this respect. Whilst progress has been made over the last 3 years. Clearly there is a pressing need for extensive efforts to address race equality in our society.
