Black History Month is possibly the only time of the year when it is a little less uncomfortable to talk about race, but these conversations do not change the overall experience of Black people in the workplace or in society.  

Racism is an everyday reality for people of colour, due to Afrophobia and colourism, particularly for Black people. Why then, do organisations only focus their attention on this issue in October, and in most cases, only in a superficial way? Are Black people simply invisible for the rest of the year, or is this the period when organisations console and absolve themselves of their responsibilities and accountabilities? 

Mencap’s vision is to make the UK the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives, and that means people from all backgrounds, including race.  Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy was co-created with key stakeholders. We want to communicate that EDI is everyone’s responsibility and that a direct approach to tackling racism will be taken.   

True to our value to be ‘brave’ - we openly acknowledge that permanence of racism is constantly at play in society and in the workplace.  Anti-racist practices are an essential and integral component of our EDI strategy.  This approach comes with a certain number of risks and unpleasantness, e.g. resistance, disruptions, distraction, denial and anger. However, the benefits of anti-racism far outweigh these risks.  We are prepared to be uncomfortable until the discomfort eases - and it will, if we hold fast to our principles.   

Mencap’s EDI strategy aims to address historical and existing inequalities to achieve equality , through an emphasis on ‘equity’. This a deliberate shift and requires us to challenge ourselves to think and behave in a different way.  We recognise that on their own, policy and processes change nothing. 

Inevitably, asking people to rethink what they have always known and accepted will cause discomfort and dissent. This is particularly true when we venture into conversations on what is arguably the most uncomfortable area of the EDI agenda – Race. 

We are committed to providing our staff with the tools and resources to educate themselves on the complexity of racism, but we know this is not easy and will take time.  Afterall, racism has been perfected over many centuries. We want all staff to understand that speaking out against white supremacy and race inequality does not make you anti-white.  It makes you Pro-justice. Caring about the life of another isn’t political, it is simply human. 

We are prepared to answer the difficult questions on why we have prioritised anti-racism. Quite simply, like everyone else, people of colour can experience any form of discrimination but only they can experience racism as an additional trauma, and it is the area where we have made the least progress.  

So what has Mencap done? Not enough! But; 

  • Leading up to Black History Month, anti-racism has been featured in all our EDI activities and discussions.    

  • All Mencap’s 9000 staff have or will undertake our “Let’s talk about race” training module. 

  • Mencap’s management and leadership teams take part in an additional Anti-racist practices module. 

  • We have created an EDI subgroup to provide a safe space for B.A.M.E colleagues to share their experience and support each other. This has the support of an Executive Director. 

  • Through a mutual mentoring and leadership sponsorship programme, we are breaking down barriers and connecting voices from different background and races.  We are changing the script and making Black History, just ‘history’. 

The theme of this year’s Black History Month is ‘Proud to be’ and we want Black colleagues to be proud, not just of their history, but of their present and their future.  

In honour of them and myself I wrote this poem; 

Proud to be: 

Covered in glowing dark skin that soaks up the warmth of the sun whilst protecting me from its harmful rays AND aging process. 

To exhibit a head crowned with a glorious curly hair that defies gravity 

Of my natural full lips that smiles to hide the pain from within 

Able to effortless move to the rhythm of the world’s heartbeat 

The forebearer of the first and oldest civilisation – mother of civilisation  

Withstand extreme abuse based on racist perceptions but compassionate enough to understand Why 

Teach the next generation how to embrace life and survive 

Of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela, Harriet Tubman, Mary Seacole, Nanny, Diane Abbott, Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah, Bob Marley - and many more that changed the world for the better! 

Give thanks to my ancestors for their lives of courage - at this moment I am the reason they lived. 

Fight when others wanted me to give up hope. 

Make my existence count 

The mythical ‘strong black women’ because I had to be   

Be blessed to be Black 

Lorraine Robinson