Features / Bristol Commission for Race Equality
‘Why don’t we lead and show the rest of the country how it could be done?’
Veron Dowdy is determined to instigate positive change in his adopted home city – even if it means putting in hours of voluntary work.
The vice chair of Bristol’s Commission for Race Equality admits it is frustrating in 2019 to still be fighting for equality and true representation across institutions, organisations and workplaces, but he believes the city has the potential to lead the way.
“We are not talking about race because we want division, we are talking about it because we want inclusion,” he says, speaking to Bristol24/7 as part of an ongoing series shining a light on the work of the commission.
is needed now More than ever
“My vision of Bristol was that it was such a wonderful place and so diverse. But that was as a visitor, when I moved here, my view started to change.”
Veron (middle) with Dr Paul Beckley and poet Miles Chambers at the launch of the Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Services in City Hall in 2017
Veron grew up in London, where he worked in the charity sector for years and then as a senior manager, overseeing multiple services.
He got a job with youth homelessness charity 1625 Independent People when he moved to Bristol in 2015, before going on to take a role with hate crime charity SARI, where he says his eyes were really opened to some of the racism in the city.
“It was a bit of a shock to me coming from London,” he says. “I thought I’d been transported back to the 70s.
“When I left SARI I thought ‘you know what this is your home now so you have to do something about it’. So I got involved with CORE.
“I think this is a great city and it could be greater – I think people need to grasp that. Why don’t we lead and show the rest of the country how it could be done?”
Veron is a member of the Bristol independent police advisory group, chair of Avon Fire and Rescue diversity, inclusion, cohesion and equalities board and is involved with the 100 Black Men project, which challenges inequality and stereotypes and fights for better access to mental health support for black men.
“I’d much rather be doing other things I’m interested in, such as homelessness and the environment, but race is such a big problem it has to be a priority for me,” he continues.
“And the city is losing out because black people are having to fight black issues when they should be doing other things.
“It’s important that we don’t just talk about things but actually do things. Coming from a senior role in London, I’ve found that it’s very difficult coming here to be accepted. Everything we do is questioned and black managers and senior staff in this city are few and far between.
“Organisations talk about diversity but when you drill down you realise that they don’t actually deliver it.
“People will put up barriers, but we have to ask them why because there is strength in diversity.
“People are quiet when they should be loud and they do not believe this is happening. There is still racism and unconscious bias. Until people make some conscious decisions about changing it, it won’t change.
“We will get better at it, I’m positive about that.”
Read more: ‘Having policies is great but it’s about taking action’
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