The events of last week have been traumatic for many and It’s imperative that as #Diversity and #Inclusion practitioners we recognise that police brutality is not outside our remit. Now more than ever we need to be allies. Here are some dos and don’ts for this moment and beyond:
Black staff were exhausted before last week, they are still exhausted and will continue to be exhausted whilst collectively grieving. Police brutality and institutional racism is an everyday reality for Black folks – this is traumatising and utterly draining.
Bottom line: give black colleagues the space to not be OK and do not pretend that nothing is happening right now. Recognise the trauma, pain and shock of what they have just endured and have been doing so for decades whilst always keeping in mind that this moment is not about you
If your organisation is making statements on this moment, ensure that the language you use is honest – this is not about racism in general or all lives being important, it is about anti-Black racism specifically impacting Black people
Don’t be a token ally. Here is a brilliant article on how to be an actual ally in light of George Floyd’s murder:
dazeddigital.com/politics/artic…
dazeddigital.com/politics/artic…
People experiencing oppression are free to resist their oppression in any way that they want. If you have not lived with the daily trauma of anti-blackness you do not have a right to have an opinion on how Black people respond to this oppression. Again, this isn’t about you.
As an organisation you need to move beyond statements and declarations and really commit to challenging anti-black racism and White supremacy. Are you investigating how anti-black racism plays out in your organisational ecosystem?
How are your Black colleagues paid in your organisation compared to White colleagues? What type of roles do they have? Do their roles include senior positions and managerial roles? If not - are you prepared to redistribute resources in service of equity now?
Do Black colleagues in your organisation have a safe space/group where they can openly talk about the everyday anti-blackness racism that they experience or bring up any experiences they may have had at work? If not, create one.
Huge thank you to Fearless Futures for providing the information on this thread ❤️❤️❤️Check them out at ⏩⏩fearlessfutures.org ⏪⏪
