A few months ago Spectrum and Athena (Carnival UK’s employee-led networks focused on LGBTQ+ and Gender Balance) came together to understand more about the perspectives of people of colour and they asked everyone to Be Curious and join the conversation about race.
Since that invitation they’ve been exploring these inclusion resources and, as part of National Inclusion Week and October’s Black History Month, are taking the opportunity to share a few key learnings:
“When listening to writer Candice Brathwaite talking about celebrating the launch of her book , I found myself considering one of the small everyday signs of my white privilege. She had popped into Waitrose to pick up a bottle of champagne to celebrate months of hard work culminating in the successful release of her book and on the way out she was stopped, challenged by the security guard and asked to provide a receipt.
I have since heard a black teenage boy recite a list of do’s and don’ts that his mother gave him at a young age, including “Never leave the store without a receipt or a bag, even if it’s just a pack of gum”.
As a white woman, I’ve only ever had to consider whether or not it’s possible that I might need to return something as a reason to get a receipt – a clear sign of a privilege afforded to me based on the colour of my skin. Whilst leaving a store with proof of purchase may not seem like a big deal, I can only imagine how frustrating and upsetting it must be to face a regular assumption of criminal intent based purely on appearance. “
“Michelle Obama has recently started a podcast which I was hugely eager to listen to after reading her book at record speed. In episode 2 of her podcast, Michelle speaks to Michele Norris (Journalist and first African American female host or National Public Radio) about the Black Lives Matter movement and their views on it.
A big learning for me was actually quite a positive one which came from Michelle Obama herself. She said, “…this is a generation that is not used to the way things were” and this really stuck with me.
To push forward for equality, it’s also important to recognise how far we’ve come. Does that excuse any of the racist behaviour we see in today’s society? Absolutely not. But recognising the progress which has been made helps everyone who is fighting for change have more belief in the movement and what they are fighting for. Change IS possible, because it has already happened, but it isn’t enough, and we have to keep going.”
“As a mum I’m really focused on helping my daughter to think inclusively every day. Like most children she’s not the biggest fan of organised learning so I look for opportunities for it happen unconsciously! TV is always a winner so we watched the Channel 4 documentary ‘The School That Tried to End Racism’ together.
A couple of things stood out for me most from the programme: 1) how proud the BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) kids were of their heritage, their families and the instant bond they had with each other. The energy in their room was electric compared to that in the room of white kids. 2) All kids, even BAME ones, had an unconscious bias towards white people – that’s because there’s not enough BAME role models for the younger generation to look up to. And that’s where we can play a part, championing everyone equally at every opportunity.
Not long after watching the programme my daughter commented on her poster-decorated door. “I don’t have any black people on my door. There wasn’t any black singers in my magazine for me to cut out.” The fact that she realised the BAME community was under-represented made me really proud. ”
October is Black History Month in the UK and it’s been celebrated nationwide every year for nearly 40 years.
This month was originally founded to recognise the contributions that people of African and Caribbean backgrounds have made to this country over many generations.
Now, Black History Month has expanded to include the history of not just Afro-Caribbean black people but all black people in general.