Black All Year
Black History Month plays a crucial role, but it's essential to acknowledge that the celebration of Black heritage and culture extends beyond just one month. It's a year-round commitment involving celebration, recognition, support, education, and advocacy. Hosting this podcast is Steph Edusei, a renowned leader, speaker, and coach. As an Ashanti-Geordie woman with mixed Ghanaian and English roots from the North East of England, she brings a unique perspective to the table.
Black All Year
Black All Year - Representation Matters
In this just for podcast episode Black All Year creator and host, Steph Edusei gives a very personal reflection on representation ahead of UK Black History Month. Representation matters and that shouldn't be up for debate, but it still is, but there is more to representation than just having a lone Black face in a sea of White.
Twitter https://twitter.com/StephEdusei
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/steph-edusei-22b9283/
To book future events - https://tinyurl.com/bookBlackAllYear
Original music by Wayne C McDonald, #ActorSlashDJ
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www.mixcloud.com/waynecmcdonald
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Artwork photo credit:
Main logo - Photo by Chiamaka Nwolisa on
Steph Edusei LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/steph-edusei/
Steph Edusei Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stephedusei/
Original music by Wayne C McDonald, #ActorSlashDJ
www.facebook.com/waynecmcdonald
www.mixcloud.com/waynecmcdonald
...
Hi I'm Steph Edusei and I am the creator and host of Black All Year. Black All Year was created on the back of me being invited to speak a lot at Black History Month events in the UK, and Black History Month is October. I was annoyed, because I would be asked to speak about racism, and about being a Black leader and a Black female leader during October, but then the rest of the year, it was almost like the subject didn't matter at all and nobody wants to talk about it. And I'm sure everybody's seen the flurry of activity that normally happens from companies and organisations around October in the UK, but then the rest of the year people don't say, or more important, don't do a great deal makes difference for Black people. So I created Black All Year to just emphasise the fact that we're not just Black in October, we are Black All Year round. And as I'm recording this, this is actually the very end of September. This is a very different podcast to the ones that normally go out. There are no guests, it's just me. And I expect it will be rather short, which you might be really grateful for. And it will be quite a personal reflection. I really wanted to find a way to express some thoughts around representation. So the first thing I want to say is representation matters. It really matters. If anybody has seen the videos of the little Black girls who have seen the trailer for The Little Mermaid and they go, "She's brown like me!", "She's black"; the joy on their face to see a character that they love, who looks like them is palpable. So representation matters. It matters that when I'm in my day job, as a senior leader, the people who aspire to that position can see me and know that it's achievable. But also people that don't want to get to that position can see me and think there's someone there who I can identify with, somebody who might understand, somebody who might get it. It's just so important. Representation matters. But when representation is in effect, one person in a room, or a couple of people in a space with hundreds or thousands, then actually it can become quite damaging. I quite often find myself being the only Black person in the room, or perhaps there will be one other person of colour in the room with me. And I will be there amongst hundreds at times. Now, that wouldn't matter, I'm used to it to be honest. And it really wouldn't matter, apart from the fact that there is then a huge burden placed upon me and anybody else who's in that position, to be the Black person. To be the voice of all Black people to represent all Black people. We are really aware when we're in that position, that if an issue comes up, that affects the global majority, Black and brown people, then there's a fair chance that if we don't raise it, nobody else will. We know that if somebody does or says something that is racist, and I'm going to call it as it is, racist, that quite often, if we don't say something, no one will. And people will know, because they'll squirm, but they won't speak up about it. When we're in that position, we know that we are representing everybody of our ethnicity. And what that then means is that every flaw, every mistake, everything that we say, can be construed as representing how all Black people behave, how all Black people speak, how all Black people think. And that's really tough. Because on top of the whole burden of having to keep yourself safe when you're speaking out, you're also having to be mindful of how you are portraying others, others who you don't know who you will never meet, who you can't possibly represent. And yet, that's the position that we are put in. So representation when it is one person is tough. There are many times when I'm just tired, I don't want to go to that event. I don't want to do that thing. I want to spend time with the people I love. But because I know I am going to be the only Black person in the room, I have to go. I have no choice. I have to be there. If I am going to be true to who I am, I have to represent and that is really difficult. So for all of those organisations and companies that are patting themselves on the back, because they've got representation in a group, or on a board, or on a panel. Know what it is that you are doing. Know the burden that you are putting on that tiny minority and whilst you're feeling good about yourself for having representation, understand just how tough it is, and the burden that you are putting on those people. And know that this is free labour that you are getting. Even if you are paying that person, you are paying that person for their role on that panel on that board in that organisation in that group. You are not paying them for the additional labour that they have to be to be the Black representative. That is free labour that they are giving because they feel it is important that they represent. So if you do think that representation matters, think about the type of representation that you have. Because I am sick, and I am tired of being the only Black person in the room and having to represent. If anything changes this year, this Black History Month, I want it to be that I can walk into a room of hundreds of people and at least see a handful like me and not be the only one, or one of two. And know that others who don't look like me will step in and will speak out and that I can take a damn rest and don't have to put myself in that unsafe position all the time. So, in the meantime, big girl pants on. And I will continue and I will continue to represent. Because I see it as my duty and I see it as my responsibility. And if I can change one mind then it has been worth the effort. I hope you all continue to tune into Black All Year events and podcasts. We've got some great stuff coming up. And please look over our back catalogue because we've had some fantastic events, amazing speakers and really insightful thoughts and discussions. Take care everyone
