The Colours of Research

I had the immense privilege of being asked to present a keynote speech at the recent Colour of Research (CORe) event celebrating its fifth anniversary.  CORe has a special place in my heart; I’ve never been a member of CORe (they’ve been fine without me!) but I have admired the work that it does and the bravery and commitment of the small group of people who are making waves in an industry that seems to be endlessly seeking calm.

Power to the CORe

Make no mistake, everything was against CORe lasting five years.  The cultural context in which D&I exists has shifted markedly for the worse.  Companies that were once noisy with D&I energy are now silent.  The drive for equity has been eroded by a market of surplus human ‘capital’. And, sadly, there are shinier toys to play with, not least AI. 

Against these odds, CORe not only survives, it thrives.  We should all be thankful that it does.  In the new age of flaggers and blaggers, we need to stand up for those who continue to be discriminated against.  We need to tell the truth, and we need the bravery to call-out the systemic abuses that still sour our world and our industry.

History repeating itself

Don’t let anyone tell you that recent events such as the far-right fronted Unite the Kingdom march, and the weaponisation of the British flags, is new.  One of the advantages of having been around a long time is that you get a wider perspective of history.  Similar events took place in the 1970s across all parts of the UK.  During the 70s, open hostility to Black and Brown people was rife.  Localised and national fascist marches were regular events. Abuse, both physical and verbal, was an everyday experience for people of colour.  You had to be careful where you walked and when you ventured out.  There was no CCTV – so no meaningful deterrence.

What we are seeing is the re-emergence of a simmering hostility that never went away.  By spectacularising current events as newly emergent is not only wrong, it is inherently dangerous.

Do or don’t do

I’m tired of people being with me ‘in spirit’.  I’m tired of being ‘supported’ when all it amounts to are a string of words never followed by action.  So, I say to you “do or don’t do.”  You either choose to be the change we need, or you choose not to.  It’s very simple really.  There is no middle ground.  But remember this, choosing to do, or choosing not to do, is an active choice.  If you are not part of the movement for equality and fairness, then you are choosing not to be.  You need to live with that choice.  You need to be comfortable with that decision.  You own it.  You have made it happen.

So, will our industry wake up and face the music?  Will our leadership make a stand and put people first?  Does our industry even care?  We will see in the fullness of time.  But you can make a difference.  You can be the change we need.  We can all be the change we seek.  Just no homilies, please.  No fake allyship.  No words without the work.