It's very interesting to see how all these orgs are using their platforms this week to show solidarity to the #BlackLivesMatter movement - but are they just playing lip-service? Here is what POC in the sector have been experiencing this week - a thread.
Listen, Reflect & Act!
Listen, Reflect & Act!
#CharitySoWhite is our having to emotionally cope with the deafening silence from CEOs who we have worked with (for free) for the last six months that told us they were committed to root out institutional racism.
#CharitySoWhite is when a white manager tells a zoom call of staff to not let the ‘hot topic of racism’ take focus away from the important issues right now.
#CharitySoWhite is emailing your CEO about racism in your organisation, only to receive a reply misspelling your name, dismissing your concerns and telling you they've been "very public on social media over the last five days.
When you raise evidence of clear structural racism and a senior sector leader responds with “I don’t know the details.” #CharitySoWhite.
#CharitySoWhite is raising BAME inequality and having a senior white colleague reply saying "I appreciate we are focussing on BAME at the moment, but if we are going to be highlighting particular groups I think there are a couple of other really important ones"
Being asked to compile a list of resources “re: BLM” by an all-white senior management team #CharitySoWhite
After raising lack of diversity to my organisation, I was told it was because the roles "generally require candidates from well-educated backgrounds" #CharitySoWhite
'Don't you think angry tweets are unhelpful' #CharitySoWhite when they continue to branding up as angry and aggressive with their aggressions.
#CharitySoWhite “People are just trying to help and show they care by asking you stupid questions”.
#CharitySoWhite is having to publicly justify/argue with white charity leaders why we have offence taken to #alllivesmatter
“I'm torn about whether to attend the #BlackLivesMatter protest...we could make this a historical turning point and I want to add my weight to that. What are you thinking?” #CharitySoWhite
#CharitySoWhite is a white manager asking for more evidence/data of the existence of institutional racism.
#CharitySoWhite is when a white manager ignores your emails about the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities and then asks your white colleague to write a blog on the topic.
"My black colleague doesn't like my campaign idea. I can't help if they won't let me be an ally" #CharitySoWhite
I was told "Rioting is just destroying their own communities" #CharitySoWhite
#CharitySoWhite "I completely fucked up in that team meeting and I'm worried that you think I'm racist. Can we please talk about it today?"
A flood of new white followers all of a sudden, where have you been and what are you doing now? #CharitySoWhite
White CEOs telling you they appreciate that BAME communities are being disproportionately impacted but they don’t think speaking about it or taking action publicly is the way to tackle it #CharitySoWhite
“You can't lump all white people in together, how would you feel if I did that about Muslims” #CharitySoWhite
“Here is a hilarious joke about how now is the time for the BDSM community to shine and protest because they love pain” #CharitySoWhite
#CharitySoWhite is doing the emotional labour of speaking/fight about racism in a company meeting, and then having white colleagues message AFTER saying they support/agree with you
#CharitySoWhite is when a white CEO is asked to co-chair their funding partners equity working group but BAME orgs are told they can’t be participate in the conversation of it because it’s a conflict of interest
#CharitySoWhite is RT’ing in solidarity for the US and then not supporting the UK fight to root out racism in the sector you are one of the most senior figures in
When a white director responds to your request for support of black staff with: “well, racial injustice isn’t going anywhere.” #CharitySoWhite
#CharitySoWhite is when only black, most junior comms employees are asked to do pro-bono HR work in compiling resources re: BLM & to email chief executive to prompt action
The most junior, black member of staff (not in HR) was forced to spend afternoon collating resources for both black employees and relating to allyship for other employees. #CharitySoWhite
A woman in my organisation said "I'm sick of hearing this news" -a young brown employee had to reply with “black people are sick of dying.” #CharitySoWhite
#CharitySoWhite:
Funder "We don’t support the calls in your open letter, they aren’t the right way to tackle the issue"
Us: "Ok well what action do you think needs to be taken"
Funder: "Oh well no, now that is for YOU to tell US"
Funder "We don’t support the calls in your open letter, they aren’t the right way to tackle the issue"
Us: "Ok well what action do you think needs to be taken"
Funder: "Oh well no, now that is for YOU to tell US"
#CharitySoWhite is white people saying us to stop expressing anger/pain/hurt, because apparently love is the way forward?
#CharitySoWhite when your White director "don't worry, I'd never bring my dog into the office as I know Muslims don't like dogs".
#CharitySoWhite when your White senior colleague mockingly mispronounces non English names.
#CharitySoWhite when your White director talking about computer hacking "it's all done by little Chinese kids sitting behind their computers in China" .
When you find out your manager is building a team in “their image” ie, white and blonde #CharitySoWhite
When a peer from another charity says “surely your parents must own a newsagents or a petrol station or something like that.” #CharitySoWhite
When you and some colleagues are told you won’t progress in the charity because you’re not Christian #CharitySoWhite
Being told you are too emotional after asking why the team is all white #CharitySoWhite
When a director asks if people of colour can be racist against white people #CharitySoWhite
#CharitySoWhite is when management dismiss increased police powers and presence under Covid-19 as a legitimate organisational safeguarding concern, when the community they serve is majority POC
When a colleague tells you they and your manager are building a team in “their image” i.e. white and blonde #CharitySoWhite
#CharitySoWhite is when a peer from another charity says to you “surely your parents must own a newsagents or a petrol station or something like that.” Actually, they both work in the civil service.
