Quite often I hear from spaces: "I wish more POCs would show up."
You do, do you? Are you ready for POCs to be at your space? What makes your space POC ready, POC friendly, POC safe?
I will bring up some scenarios/statements and give my opinion on the matter. Again, this is MY OPINION. People are welcome to disagree, but if you are going to leave comments, let’s be constructive, respectful, and kind. We are all learning every day and there is room for improvement on all sides. So let’s get to it!
Note about my notes
*I travel, play, and teach all over the U.S. Unless it specifically names a place, organization, or event, these notes are general writings of my experience and knowledge from the places I have been. If you feel called out...well...welcome to guilt and doing better.
Statement 1:
How does every one of your board members and volunteers treat POCs?
- Your board members, chairs, volunteers, DMs, etc. represent your organization, your space. If one of your representatives is rude to a POC, it does make your entire organization look questionable. Does everyone for that organization think that way? Will everyone from that organization treat a POC this way? We talk about vetting partners, but how well did an organization vet their board members, chairs, volunteers, DMs, etc. to see if they are racist and prejudice?
Statement 2:
How inclusive are you really?
- When you hold events, workshops, classes, munches, discussions, fundraisers, etc. who is invited? When you say all are welcome, do you really mean POCs? How come when I go to your events there are hardly any POCs? How come everyone working for your org is lacking in melanin?
Statement 3:
What do you do when someone reports racism at an event?
- Short story time: I went to a play space and I had several incidences of blatant racism but when I reported it to the staff I was told "He isn't racist, he's my friend." Honeychild, your friend is racist. What plan, what protocol, what system does your organization have in place when a racist incident is reported?
Statement 4:
What do you do when a friend tells you one of their friends is racist?
- So a friend tells you someone they know is racist...do you laugh? Do you believe the story? What do you do? If it was "It was just a joke"...you mean your friend is comfortable telling racist, inappropriate jokes to POCs? They thought their joke was funny because "they told it to a Black person, what's the big deal?" Ummm, your interpersonal and internalized racism are showing.
Statement 5
You say the actions of your organization are similar to others in the community but can you really love me Black/POC?
- If you tell someone your organization or event is just like any other organization or event and therefore cannot be racist or exclusive, you are not even trying to look at the issue at hand. What is YOUR organization, YOUR event doing to be inclusive? If you are supposed to be for the community, does this include the Black community, the POCs, etc.? Your organization might love the community, but does it love me Black?
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