The Race Equity Series (RES) is part of the Home Truths 2 programme stimulating mainstream civil society to take serious practical action on anti-racism and race equity.
In part four of the series, we consider how mainstream civil society organisations can make anti-racism and race equity fundamental to why they get out of bed in the morning.
There are a number of developments that can indicate that anti-racism and race equity is becoming mission-driven in a mainstream civil society organisation. These markers mean that there is a shift away from sporadic, occasional, ‘special’ efforts towards something more embedded and close-to-heart. Some meaningful signs of progress include the following:
Connected to purpose more than driven by people
Perhaps most important is that anti-racism and race equity become integral to what the organisation is trying to be. This means that the effort is not reliant on a few (even senior) people in the organisation or Black and Minoritised Ethnic champions. In other words, even if key people leave, the work continues with equal vigour.
But for this to be the case, there is groundwork for organisations and leaders to do. This involves going through a proper process inside institutions of facing organisational and leadership complicity with racism. It includes engaging with big feelings that can get in the way of change – such as fear, anger and grief.
Responses over reactions
Another feature of embedded and mission-driven anti-racism and race equity is steadiness and consistency of approach. While it is right to be responsive to events that divide and do harm along racial lines, such as Covid-19 or the English and Welsh racist and xenophobic riots of July and August 2024, mission-driven approaches avoid scrambled or face-saving responses. Instead, they prioritise long-term change over short-term reactivity.
Reflective and ongoing
Mission-driven anti-racist and race equity work also needs space for honest reflection. Organisations will need to challenge themselves and ask difficult questions, such as whether they are going far enough or if they are falling back into comfortable old patterns.
The need for reflection is critical because retooling organisations to drive anti-racist futures is long term work rather than a quick fix.
Culture matters
When mission-driven anti-racism and race equity becomes more normalised in organisations, it signals deeper change in culture. Culture encompasses beliefs, values and practices. Culture is powerful as ideas and behaviours become second-nature and the ‘common sense’ way of doing things.
While cultural shifts do not come easy, we know through the work of Sally Engle Merry that ‘as institutions … change, so do beliefs, values and practices.’ And civil society organisations that centre mission-driven race equity can transform culture and move us decisively towards anti-racist and life-affirming futures.
To learn more about shifting institutional culture, mission-driven race equity and what it means for you and your organisation, please join our fourth Race Equity Session event from 10:30am-11:30am on 12 November 2024.
You will find a friendly and stimulating setting. We’ll explore the topic with input from Sanjiv Lingayah, Home Truths 2 race equity lead, in conversation with a guest practitioner in a guilt-free, curiosity-driven and practical discussion with participants.
We look forward to seeing you.
