As a judge for the powerlist of Britain’s most influential people of African and Afro- Caribbean heritage, it is impossible to enter Black History Month without acknowledging the achievements of black people across Britain and its key industries and sectors. The breadth of the talents exciting and inspiring.
But as we recognise progress so too must we acknowledge the increasingly difficult context in which it is won. Conversation about race, racism and multiculturalism has regressed. We’ve borne witness to wild and dangerous misinterpretations of critical race theory. Representation where it does occur, is often reduced to a simplistic “bums on seats” tickbox exercise.
There are many racially minoritised people in prominent positions who champion individualism and are boisterous critics of anyone who dares mention the “r” word. Their presence does not advance an increased understanding of the barriers restricting the progress of racially minoritised groups. And there are some organisations who say they understand the issues, yet appoint equality, diversity and inclusion experts and even racial justice leads with no understanding of racial justice.
Amidst all this, our arrival in significant numbers in the 1960s is celebrated while our parents and grandparents await or, quite tragically, die while waiting for long overdue compensation. The fact remains that as a society, we increasingly operate a pick’n mix approach to race and racism — choosing those bits we like, that make us feel comfortable and steadfastly rejecting those parts that do not sit with our worldview.
Black History Month remains important, but we must allow space for a deeper, mature conversation about racial justice throughout the entire year.
