Be curious and join the conversation about race

Carnival UK employee networks have come together to understand more about the perspectives of people of colour.

You will have seen significant news coverage recently about the Black Lives Matter movements and protests across the world aimed at anti-racism. Carnival UK believes in creating an environment where everyone can belong even though we are in a world, as Arnold Donald, President and CEO Carnival Corporation PLC, said in his personal message, where racism is real.

Spectrum and Athena (employee led networks focused on LGBTQ+ and Gender Balance) believe strongly in equality for all people, regardless of gender, sexuality, age, disability, religion, race or other protected characteristics. As Carnival’s two employee-led networks, we want to help spark useful conversations amongst our colleagues about race.

It’s fair to say that as a group of white people, we were nervous about how to approach the topic. There is no BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) network at Carnival House for us to work with to advance the cause and we don’t claim to be experts at all as we don’t have the lived experiences of people of colour (POC). But isn’t that all the more reason for us to be curious? So we’ve spent the last few weeks observing the conversation as it unfolds and reading, listening and watching just some of the huge amount of content that exists.

Here’s what we’ve been exploring:

Books

• Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race – Renni Eddo-Lodge
• Me and white Supremacy – Layla Saad
• White Fragility – Robin DiAngelo
• I am not your baby mother – Candice Braithwaite

Podcasts

• Have you heard George’s Podcast? 
• The High Low – Anti-racism resources & an Author Special with Candice Braithwaite

Films

• 13
• If Beale Street could talk
• Just Mercy

For the younger generation

• Twinkl – BLM tools to help educate younger children 
• CBBC Newsround – fighting racism resources for 6 – 12 yr olds
• Channel 4 documentary – The school that tried to end racism

If you’d like to learn more, here’s an extended list of resources from the BBC that you might find useful. 

We know that there’s an overwhelming amount of content out there so we thought it would be useful to share the key things that we’ve learned. We will be sharing ours during National Inclusion Week in September and we would love for you to join in.

Comment below, on our social media (Athena & Spectrum) or email us at Athena@carnivalukgroup.com or LGBTNetwork@carnivalukgroup.com. We will post a collection of insights on The Insider – look out for more.