| Thank you so much to those who took our e-learning module and fed back to us. It was great to hear about your experiences. We've been thinking hard about what we can do to support you all right now. I think it's this. For the first time, I am hearing people talk about race outside of my workshops. Friends spoke about race, and specifically statues, at my son's friend's birthday party last weekend. A school Mum talked to me about how busy her husband is, challenging his own school's history curriculum. Adé has told me about friends he's had for 20 years who have never spoken to him before about race, now starting to ask questions. Emma in our team confessed to me this morning that she doesn't feel like she's doing enough to create change. The commonality is how scared everyone is of getting it wrong. I used to be terrified in my training sessions that I'd inadvertently say something sexist or racist. And the way people are treated on Twitter I think exacerbates this sense that we're going to get beaten up for saying anything at all. Easier just to stay silent right? The danger of this fear is that we lean back from the conversation and nothing changes. Adé and I were talking about this issue today and came up with an idea - 'Imperfect conversations about race'. The idea is that Adé and I talk about race, explore some of our fears in talking about it and also role model having an imperfect conversation. We think the reason it feels messy and vulnerable, is that it's supposed to feel messy and vulnerable. This will kick off with an open webinar next week on Thursday 2nd July at 12.30pm. It will simply be a conversation between Adé and I, with some time for Q&A. You can sign up to the webinar here where we are suggesting a £5 minimum donation to UK Black Pride. There is more detail about this organisation at the bottom of the email. We have chosen this charity as it's Pride month and our identities are intersectional. We look forward to you joining us in conversation... Rox |
| UK Black PrideUK Black Pride is an organisation which advocates, fights for, supports and celebrates LGBTQ people of colour. Although 2020’s Black Pride event had to be cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, your donations will help to fund future events (both digital and physical) as well as supporting community outrush and hardship funds. |