BLAC white ally statement (cover page to the Guidance).
Firstly BLAC Lib Dems would like to make it clear we know the majority of White Lib Dems are diversity-loving, inclusive people who stand against racism. And racial attitudes within the Party have certainly improved over the years. Having said that, BLAC Lib Dems continue to feel that too many Lib Dem activists will condemn racism, or even attend anti-racism demonstrations, yet fail to take action when confronted with microaggressions within the Party, or will dismiss Black member’s experiences by saying, ‘just don’t make too a big of a deal of it’. Academic research supports the experience of BLAC Lib Dem members in finding that too often, rather than attribute racial microaggression to racial bias, White people tend to explain how they as being a simple misunderstanding.
Because most White Lib Dems associate racism with hate crimes and White supremacists groups, such as Britain First and skinheads, we are unaware of how bias and discrimination have taken on an invisible nature that protects members from realizing their own complicity in the perpetuation of unintentional racism toward Black and ethnic minority members. As Lib Dems, we mustn’t take accusations about racism in our Party personally. If some Party members think there’s a problem then this doesn’t detract from the basic Liberal Democrat values that brought us all together in the first place. There is no point in getting defensive about racism in the Lib Dems, no one is saying all White Lib Dems are racist, but we are saying many – if not most – may be unaware of racial bias and microaggressions lobbied at minority members. One thing we know is that the Lib Dems won’t be able to resolve the problems that minority members are reporting if we take offense and deny the existence of a problem.
How many times have you heard a Lib Dem member say that they “don’t see color,” “are colorblind,” or “don’t have a racist bone in their body?” Maybe you’ve even said this yourself. It meant to convey distaste for racial practices and attitudes common in an earlier era. Unfortunately, these phases are the very covert and obscure mechanisms that help sustain racial inequality. The refusal to take public note of race denies other racial experiences and actually allows people to ignore the subtle manifestations of persistent discrimination.
How often have you heard it said that a candidate should be representative of the community, which (conveniently for them) is predominantly White? Or repeat the discredited theory that the electorate doesn’t like it when the Party promotes a minority candidate just to meet some diversity target? Or the total denial that race impacts on the life chances of minorities by those who say ’It should be the best person for the job’?
This leads us on to two questions:
(1) what does it mean to be an ally? and
(2) is being supportive of a diverse membership enough?
When we think of the word ally, we think of someone who is supportive, someone who is on our side, and has our back, but what does that really mean? It takes more than just support to make a difference. White Lib Dems claim to support the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion; few, however, are courageous enough to put their own reputation on the line by speaking out against the minor transgressions that promote prejudice and discrimination in the Party.
When it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion, allys are people willing to take the necessary steps to ensure that the Party is safe from verbal, mental, and political abuse otherwise known as microaggressions. To be an ally, one must be willing to do more than listen; we must be willing to stand with those who are being attacked, excluded or otherwise mistreated, even if that means suffering personal or professional backlash. Being an ally means being willing to act with and for – and accepting the potential fallout from doing so.
Most Lib Dems have good intentions; they are allies and support the plight of marginalized groups in a way that is comfortable to them. This is not enough. In order to disrupt racism and work on achieving equity, one must be willing to move from supportive to a true ally. As a true ally, you will walk the talk and take the steps necessary to dismantle the power structure of White privilege in our Party and create substantial and sustainable institutional change that treats all persons with dignity and respect.