This is my letter .....

I am weary of mind; I am weary of soul

My father once told me that all the slaves who were taken from Africa shared a powerful psychic bond which is why it was important to break their spirits and break their resolve. As a man who was born 2nd generation free in Guyana and whose father’s birth signalled a new beginning for our family. I believe his proximity to the legacy of slavery gives some credence to his words.

Decades later I am more convinced of this truth as I feel a deep level of pain and anguish over the deaths of the many Black women and men in the US and those in the UK who I have never met who died at the hands of the so called law enforcement officers. The sense of loss and anger is palpable and somehow I believe that many of us are vibrating at the same frequency. But why this particular death? My friend and I discussed this and for me I think this is the straw that broke the camel’s back. Enough is enough.

So after a restless night I am compelled to write this piece. Compelled to use my voice, my privilege, my existence to continue the fight against racism. My pen is my sword and to a great extent social media and the workplace are my arenas. So here I step into the fray again to share my perspectives and hopefully educate. Some things may sound repetitive but I ask for your indulgence. And needless to say it will be uncomfortable to many of you.

1. It is the role of the oppressor not the oppressed to effect change. Until White people understand that silence is complicity and that they collectively have to join this fight, then the scourge of racism will continue. Systemic and intentional racism has created a society where Black people are not a critical mass within influential institutions and leadership positions. We simply cannot enact change.

2. White privilege is a reality for ALL White people. I don’t care if you are triggered. Accept that your skin colour enables you to walk through life literally without a care in the world. It enables you to walk through the world as if you own it (colonialism anyone). To stumble and bumble through conversations with no care for the feelings of the people of colour using phrases such as “I’m not being racist but” (yes you are racist) or worse, you remain silent. Convinced that this isn’t your problem.

3. White centering is racist. By White centering I refer to those White people who listen to stories about racism and attempt to equalise their negative experiences with those of people of colour. While I appreciate your trials and tribulations are important to you, bringing them up during conversations about Black people dying is just tone deaf and proves that you are indeed racist. Closely linked to this is the desire to downplay events or defend yourself even when you aren’t being attacked.

4. Self discovery is key. I can share stories and research and articles and videos but nothing will be more powerful than you doing this research yourself. The Black people around you are tired, I only have the resolve to keep going because this is my job and my life’s purpose. Other Black people are just trying to survive. Give them a break and do your own work. The propensity to force people of colour to educate you is linked to points 2 and 3 above.

5. Silence is deafening. Many people have talked about paralysis and an inability to find the right words to say, without causing harm. I salute those of you who despite your trepidation reached out and said something, anything. Your efforts are noted, valued and appreciated. To those of you still sitting in silence let me tell you this. You are guilty of racism. You are currently prioritising your own fears and levels of comfort over the pain and anguish of your Black colleagues and so called friends. Shame on you.

6. Black people are human. It may seem trite or nonsensical for me to say this but the actions of many people over the centuries suggests that not everyone knows this. When you cut us we bleed.

7. Reverse Racism isn’t a thing. I admit I’m amused by the concept of reverse racism. Racism is constructed on power. A less powerful group cannot be racist towards a more powerful group. Therefore thanks to the antics of White people across the globe, looting, killing, enslaving and plundering, the power structures don’t enable people of colour to be racist to White people. Sadly you can’t have it both ways you can’t want all the power and then try to use racism as a tool to protect yourselves.

8. The phrase ethnic minority is a misnomer. People of colour are the majority globally but thanks to colonialism, caste systems and hierarchies of race, White people have been able to construct a narrative suggesting that they are the majority. They aren’t. We are under-represented groups, not minorities. Language matters and it’s time to deconstruct the language that also disempowers us.

In closing I want to thank you for persevering to the end of this post. I want to say that despite all I have said I remain hopeful that together we can take this journey and make the world a more welcoming place for successive generations of Black people. I am as always willing to debate and listen and provide a safe space for ANYONE to share their thoughts, process their nervousness and challenge their racism.

Roianne Nedd is author of the Trusted Black Girl book focused on Black women’s experiences in the UK workplace and an Inclusion and Diversity Anarchist. “She is challenging and unflinching yet supportive and measured”.