‘White people need to step up for a change’

There was plenty of talking during the first in a series of City Conversations, aimed at tackling racial divisions in Bristol.

But the resounding message to come out of the evening is that there needs to be genuine action to back up the words.

“There is a problem with how people of African descent are seen in this country – we are seen as ‘other’, we are not seen as British and this allows this racist narrative to carry on,” said campaigner Desmond Brown.

Desmond Brown called on white people to step up

“If we look at the whole of this country from education, through to death, we are discriminated against and we are told each time that it’s a one-off. History needs to be taught properly and actually white people need to step up for a change, because black people have been stepping up for two long.”

In January 2017, the Runnymede Trust published a report stating that Bristol is the most racially segregated core city in the UK.

This prompted a collaboration between Ujima Radio, Bristol Old Vic and Bristol Post in a bid to tackle existing divides through a series of city-wide conversations, the first of which took place at City Academy on Wednesday.

People of all ages packed into the large hall to take part in what was to be a lively, insightful and sometimes chaotic debate on what needs to be done.

It also offered a rather damning indictment of an affluent city that has reaped rewards of the slave trade, and yet failed to make amends for its history, or address inequalities that exist in housing, education, the justice system and pretty much all major institutions.

Of course there is no escaping Colston’s lasting legacy in such a discussion and his name was a hot topic of debate, but some of the most powerful messages came from students at City Academy, who described with eloquence some of the discrimination they face on a daily basis.

Primrose Granville and John Darvall

The debate was chaired by Primrose Granville, of BCfm and Ujima and John Darvall, from BBC Radio Bristol, and those in attendance included representatives from the city’s two universities, the media, council, health, education, arts and voluntary sectors.

Veron Dowdy, one of Bristol’s commissioners for racial equality, said: “The question I’m stuck on is what can be done. Merchant Venturers, the BBC, whoever you are – You have got to start listening. Diversity is a word but the action of diversity is seeing something happen.

“My advice to those who can make change and are in positions of power and influence – start doing it.”

Caitlin speaking about white supremacy

Caitlin Harrison, from Kansas City, Missouri, met with applause when she spoke of the need for white people to feel uncomfortable and recognise the role they play in allowing racial inequality to continue.

“White supremacy is embodied throughout the UK, the US and beyond,” she said. “It’s evidenced here in the conversation about Colston. It’s time to stop conceptualising and start apologising, start being humble.”

’It’s difficult to come up with solutions’

A representative from the University of Bristol said the fact that people from different organisations were there and willing to have this conversation presents a real opportunity for change.

“It’s easy to have a conversation and say what’s wrong, it’s difficult to come up with solutions,” he added.

But some people pointed out that the conversation is not new and has been going in many communities for decades.

Paul Hassan says if institutions are serious about instigating change, it would happen

“People want to be seen to be having this conversation, but they do not want to make that change because if they did a university – one of the top universities in the world – would be able to deliver that change,” said Paul Hassan, one of the directors of Ujima Radio, to loud applause.

He argued the city has actually moved backwards and added: “If people are really serious about this opportunity, each of those institutions needs to come together and have a really clear action plan for change and, if they don’t do it, they should be leaving empty chairs.

“If we are really serious making this about a year for change, let’s make this start now.”

Education, proper representation and the need for action over words were some of the key themes of the evening.

It was City Academy student Sara who had the last word, saying: “Do not preach what you will not do. If you are working on something, why is nothing coming out of it?”

The next City Conversation will take place on June 27 at Merchants’ Academy.

Deputy mayor Asher Craig says that by 2020, a third of the city will be BAME, and questions where they are going to be within organisations

Read more: Conversations about racism in Bristol