The more we devalue, the easier it is to BE devalued...

I, like many around the world, have taken in recent events with disbelief, disappointment, anger and fear. The media is full of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, the protests, the riots. People of all colour and race, governments, businesses, and institutions are all standing up in support. Social media is awash with hashtags and blackouts. I’ve also seen so much forward movement, momentum, action, voices that were quiet now being raised positively. The conversations we should have been having all along, are now beginning to take place.           

There’s nothing too different from how I feel about the situation to many of you. This week my mood and mindset has changed from mourning, sorrow and despair to reflection and desire to become more proactive. I am my own biggest critic, I look to hold myself accountable for things that have happened in my life, good or bad. It struck me I need to do the same in this situation. I’ve concluded, as a black man I too feel I’ve played a part in why we are where we are today! Before I continue, I feel I must emphasise this is based on my own personal reflection and experience. I can only speak with integrity if I speak my own truths as a British born black man of Jamaican heritage. 

 I’d like to invite you to consider the following scenarios: 

• You find yourself in a place where you are one of very few black people. As you catch each other's eye across the room or when passing each other you give each other a symbolic nod of acceptance, as if to acknowledge each other without drawing undue attention to the fact that you are both black in a mainly white room.
• Perhaps in a work or office environment, you and three other black people by chance get talking, laughing or joking in a largely white environment…. At some point during the conversation, consideration is given to the fact that the group chatting together could be making white colleagues feel uncomfortable. 
• During a conversation a discussion connected to race arises, you find yourself not fully speaking your mind, overcompensating for the fact that you don’t want to be seen producing the “race card.”

 There are of course many more…. But these are just examples where I feeI on reflection, I’ve not helped the situation. Why shouldn’t I embrace a black person I don’t know if I (we) feel the need too? Why should I think about who may be uncomfortable when simply sharing a conversation or joke with a group of colleagues, who happen to be black? And why moderate my views or worse remain silent purely to make the conversation easier, or to avoid making people uncomfortable? I’m not entirely sure what is true and what lives in my limbic system. However, what I do now realise is true is this: If I notice people getting uncomfortable, address it, talk to them. If people want to talk about race, talk openly so people can listen and hopefully learn.

Another point I have been contemplating recently was also reinforced by a post on social media by one of my nephews…. As black people, black men in particular, do we encourage, support, embrace, empower each other enough? Over the years I have often felt black men feel they are in competition with one another. Competing, comparing, undermining, and undercutting in some instances, as if we’re fighting for an imaginary small quota of space that exists for black men within society. I believe I can say this as I’ve experienced it. Is there something that’s innate in our history that has aided this or am I just imagining it?

One example from black history that comes to mind is Malcom X and Dr Martin Luther King. Both had the same starting point, both wanted the same future but had different solutions to the problem. One wanted integration the other wanted black nationalism. One believed in peaceful protest, the other initially had much more radical views. By and large, history remembers the two strongest and most prominent black men of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States in the 1950s-60s as enemies and the animosity between them. In reality, they deeply respected and complemented each-other despite their differences. Sadly it was not until later and unfortunately too late that they realised they could have been a stronger force if unified in their struggle.

I also think back to the rivalry between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. In 1975 the two black boxers fought for the Heavyweight Championship of the World, it was a brutal bout, regarded by many as the greatest fight of all time, or the fight too far by others. Ali was the first and arguably the best boxer to succeed in building and hyping up a fight. In this particular pre-fight build-up, Ali trashed, humiliated, and assassinated Frazier’s character. The worst of the torments came in the way of a rhyme he delivered with a smile “it will be a killa and a chilla and a thrilla when I get the gorilla in Manila!” A sad example of one black man bringing another down needlessly. (A difficult thing to say about one of my heroes.)

I am not questioning the rivalry between X-King, and Ali-Frazer or if it was right or wrong. However, I have begun to question whether such rivalries between some of the most high profile black men in history have contributed to how we see and treat each other? I provocatively use these as examples to make a sharp point. Of course, there are many examples to the contrary, and thankfully today we do have some fine examples of minority societies, professional bodies, charities and support networks. 

The 56 Black Men Campaign has been very effective in its work to change the narrative around the characterisation of black men. It is a great and much-needed idea from founder Cephas Williams and is another way in which society can be changed for the better. Changing the characterisation of black men starts with each and every one of us! We need to change our past thinking and beliefs about ourselves, and how other races perceive us. We need to promote, lift and support each other and those of any race or colour that demand racial equality and harmony in the world.    

In the same way, to really bring about change, we need more black men represented in senior levels within government, institutions and businesses not only helping to shape these organisations in the current time but consequently inspire, raise aspirations, and increase the opportunities for our young people. I believe the absolute converse is true when we see black men in overt, aggressive or underhand competition with other black men. It is my opinion that this will only serve to keep us divided and hinder the progress of ourselves and generations to come. The more we bring each other down, the easier we make it for those who seek to oppress us. 

Again, I feel I must reiterate I am expressing only my own thoughts and opinions as a British black man based on my own experiences. I am very aware that some of the issues I have discussed are also applicable to many others seeking equality and a life free from discrimination.  

Racism is such a complex and multifactorial matter, there is so much more to consider and more conversations to be had, but I’m going to sign off with this….The reaction to the current situation feels different, it feels like it has finally hit home, there’s Global outcry and support at an unseen level. The Warren Buffett quote “Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked” was often used around the 2008 financial crisis, however, I believe it is also applicable to the current situation. In other words, only when race is not under the spotlight and “media worthy” will we discover who’s taking the situation seriously! This is not a Black vs White issue. This is not Star Wars, Good vs Evil, the Empire vs the Republic, it’s not that simple. However, there are two sides, you have to choose one, be vocal about it and drive change or accept the status quo.