So I declined an MBE…here’s why.

As you’ve read in the title, I was nominated for an MBE about a couple of weeks ago. For those who don’t know, an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) is an honour awarded by the British monarchy to individuals who have made significant contributions to society in various fields, like the arts, sciences, charity, and public services etc.

When I received the news from the Cabinet Office that I was nominated to be awarded an MBE for my work, my initial reaction was one of surprise and mixed emotions. It’s not every day that you’re recognised by the establishment for your work. However, after careful thought, I decided to decline the honour…and here's why.

Firstly, the official letter they sent me spelt my name wrong, in multiple parts of the letter. They addressed the letter to "Felicity" instead of "Felicia" in the letterhead and even misspelled my surname. Names are a significant part of our identity, and getting it wrong in such an important document felt disrespectful. “Are they sure they wanted me to receive this MBE?” It made me question the sincerity and care behind the nomination. If they couldn’t even get my name right, how much did they really understand or value my work??

Then there was the issue with the citation. They credited my work for diversity in economics to the Resolution Foundation (RF), where I currently work as an economist. While RF has been very supportive of my work outside of it, my efforts in this area are primarily through The Black Economists Network (TBEN), the organisation I founded. TBEN is a significant part of my work, it is a platform I created to address the very real and pressing need for diversity within the field of economics. Misattributing my work to a different organisation erases the crucial role that TBEN plays. It’s like giving someone else credit for your hard-earned achievements— this was deeply frustrating.

But these issues, significant as they are, were fixable. They also weren’t the core reason for my decision. What isn’t fixable, is the legacy of the title itself. My main reason for rejecting the MBE lies in the very nature of the MBE itself. The “Member of the Order of the British Empire'' is a title that carries with it the legacy of colonialism and oppression. My work, and the existence of TBEN, are in response to the ongoing inequalities and systemic biases that are rooted in that same legacy. Accepting such an award would be in direct conflict with everything I stand for and everything TBEN represents.

The British Empire’s history is one of exploitation and inequality, creating deep-rooted issues that persist to this day. The lack of diversity in economics is a direct consequence of these historical injustices that the monarchy has played a direct role in shaping. So by accepting an award that reinforces the British Empire as a commendable legacy, means I would be implicitly endorsing a system that I actively work against, everyday. It would undermine my commitment to fighting for genuine equality.

This isn't to undermine or criticize others who have accepted an MBE. Maybe if the award was not intertwined with such legacy, I might have accepted it—who knows? Declining the MBE was not a decision I took lightly. Parts of me still wonder if I should have taken it because, after all, I am human and it is a great feeling to be nominated for such a prestigious award. However, to me, it was not worth the loss of integrity.

If anything, my rejection of the award is a statement that my integrity and the mission of TBEN are non-negotiable. I cannot, in good conscience, accept an award from a system that perpetuates the very issues I strive to dismantle - even those that go beyond diversity.

In conclusion, I am truly very very very honoured (I cannot express this enough!) to have been considered, but my commitment to TBEN and its mission stands firm.