The Humanity of Black Women

For some, the comments reported in last week’s Guardian to have been made by Frank Hester regarding Diane Abbott and black women as a whole are history, and it is now time to move on. I disagree, at least not until the implications of what was said are fully understood and lessons are learnt. The reality is that what was said, and the hateful racism and misogyny expressed seeps through in attitudes and behaviours that many black women face on a daily basis. We therefore completely miss the point if we don’t take the time to understand the impact of such casual racism and misogyny, or assume Hester’s comments are just an aberration.

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Just in case you missed it, and wonder what I’m talking about, in The Guardian newspaper of the 11th March, it was reported that the Conservatives biggest donor, Frank Hester said that looking at Diane Abbott make you want to hate all black women.

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The Guardian reports that the comments were made during a meeting in 2019. While it happened some time ago, it is specifically relevant because amongst other things which form a story of their own, the vile comments have only just been revealed .

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Hester is reported to have referred to an executive from another organisation as “the shittest person” ?making the comments while saying he doesn’t want to be sexist, then going on to say that, while he didn’t want to be racist, when he sees Diane Abbott on TV he wants to hate all black women because she’s there.

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I’m always very mindful when a person says they don’t want to do something and then goes on to do exactly what they say they don’t want to do. e.g. I don’t want to be rude, but that dress looks awful on you.

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He is then reported to have said that both (Diane and the Executive) should be shot. Diane because he believe she’s “stupid”. Also speaking of getting the executive sacked, even though it’s not as good as her dying as she’s consuming resources and eating food that other people could eat.

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While much of the discussion last week was understandably focused on what he said about Diane, I’m mentioning the other comments as he’s comments about Diane feel like an attitude to me.? I felt even more so when I read that on a separate occasion that same year, he is reported to have called “foreign” employees to a meeting to defend himself against online reviews from former staff accusing him of racist remarks.? He is said to have explained that he makes a lot of jokes about racism, about different creeds and cultures, going on to say that racism is abhorrent.

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“Banter”

For Hester, as for so many people that make such comments, it’s banter. It’s arguably one of the reasons why Hester has accepted that he was rude, though not racist.? Taking it that he did make those comments, there is no question in my mind that he was racist. Jokes/banter can be racists as were the comments made. With the further comments that people should be shot being completely beyond the pale.

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Accountability

Hester has not been held to account for his comments. ?How can he be if he does not even accept them to be racist. A challenge in holding him to account in this case as in so many other cases are the consequences that go beyond the individual.

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If Hester is held to account it would have a potential impact on donations to the Conservative party. In other instances the consequences could be the loss to an organisation of a very technically capable person who makes racists comments, wider scrutiny of the words and actions of others in an organisation or what have you.

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Dehumanisation

In this instance, as I’ve listened to the discussions and debates, most especially at a political level, there has been a strong focus on the donations and whether or not they should be returned. Almost forgetting the humanity of Diane, the human being who sits in the middle of this, with very little concern about how she feels. Diane Abbott is a Cambridge graduate and the first black female MP who has served in Parliament since 1987. Like her or not, she is a role model to many, most especially black people of different political persuasions. Sadly she has been constantly subject to abuse without consequence - hatred that Hester was either feeding off or into, if not both.

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Regardless of intentions, the Speaker not giving her the opportunity to speak in Parliament on the day that this was discussed on the basis that there was not time, while others around her discussing an issue relating to her as she sat in the room… or rather bobbed up and down seeking the opportunity to express her opinion – was undermining and ?further dehumanising, as was a lot of the political action and discourse last week.

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How often do such actions take place in your organisation or sphere of influence. Under such circumstances ?would you have stepped in to ask for her voice to be heard?

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The situation with Diane was worsened by the Prime Minister accepting the said apology of a perpetuator without even asking the “victim” for their point of view or understanding how they feel. ?You never really close a case and learn without at least consulting the victims.

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Black Women

For me, this case is very much about and rightly centred around Diane Abbott. It also reflects a very negative and harsh attitude towards black women. Why would the thought of hating all black women cross your mind simply because you dislike one. I personally took the comments made very personally.? For many black women, it brought the trauma of past and indeed ongoing in just experiences that they have been faced with to the fore.

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?Checking In

Did you check in on your black friends and colleagues last week – most especially the female ones?? You didn’t have to make a big deal of it, just simply - I’ve heard/read about this, how are you/I hope you are okay/not affected by it? Let me know if you want to talk/if there’s any way I can be of support.”

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Many black women would have been going around with big smiles on their faces, but will have felt completely deflated, as per the two photos of Diane Abbott above.

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Organisation Culture

Last week, I felt a particular concern for black women that might work for Frank Hester’s organisation, TPP.? While representation is not everything, they don’t appear to be represented in the leadership of a company in which the CEO makes racists and misogynist jokes.

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While staff seem to be paid very well, the reviews on Glassdoor do not indicate a healthy culture within the organisation. According to reviews on Glassdoor, 49% of employees approve of the CEO. 29% would recommend the organisation to a friend.

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If so many people felt deeply troubled last week, I can only begin to imagine how employees at TPP may have been feeling.

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What have you Learnt?

As I said, it will be easy to move on from this story with the beginning of a new week. It’s understandable with so much going on, but before you do, please take the time to reflect and learn from what has occurred. People affected by this, as other cases are not able to tune off just because it’s no longer a news headline. Therefore, don’t assume that black women are okay ?just because they show resilience and are forced to be strong,? wear a smile and carry on – actively check in.

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#Selah

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P.S. There’s so much more I could say, but I don’t want to be here all day!

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Susan Popoola?MA CIPD FRSA

Human Value Optimisation

Creating Harmony, Impact and Legacy for a Mosaic World

Mobile:?+44 (0) 7957 743022

Email: [email protected]

www.MosaicWorld.live ?

References

Guardian Article, 11th March, “Biggest Tory donor said looking at Diane Abbott makes you ‘want to hate all black women’

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/11/biggest-tory-donor-looking-diane-abbott-hate-all-black-women

TPP website: https://tpp-uk.com/about-us/

TPP on Glassdoor: https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Reviews/TPP-Leeds-Reviews-EI_IE830252.0,3_IL.4,9_IM1172.htm

#DianeAbbott #FrankHester #BlackWomen #Racism #Misogyny #GenderHarmony #RacialHarmony