Awardee Reflections
In early 2022 when we began the process of bringing together our findings we invited awardees to reflect and share their own thoughts around what it takes to resource racial justice.
10 of our individuals, groups, organisations and collectives were then commissioned to create different pieces including artworks, creative pieces, podcasts, to articles.
These are shared below.
Each one of these pieces is very special and unique, and gives insight into the wealth of wisdom held within our community.
We often say that rather than writing the RRJ guide, the guide was in fact writing us. Where we ended up was not where we expected and these pieces do not sit within the guide. However it was these pieces and the voices of our awardees that did very much inform our final reflections and learnings.
We hope that you take time to take in these commissions and are impacted by them in the way that we were.
‘Tools of Racial Justice’
Audrey Albert
Audrey Albert
Photographer and artist Audrey Albert uses sunprints (a cameraless process also known as cyanotypes) to answer 4 questions about racial justice and the Chagossian Community. The United Kingdom, at the request of the United States, began forcibly deporting the Chagossians from their home of the Chagos islands to make space for an air base in the 1960 and 70s.
What do our communities need to feel resourced?
The British nationality.
An anomaly in the U.K. 's nationality laws exclusively grants British citizenship to Chagossians born between 1969 and 1982. The majority of Chagossians currently living in the UK work low- paid jobs. The British standard of living makes it almost impossible for some descendants to apply for atrociously expensive UK visas. This second exile towards the West, echoes issues faced by gran dimounn (elders) during the first exile towards Mauritius and the Seychelles.
An anomaly in the U.K. 's nationality laws exclusively grants British citizenship to Chagossians born between 1969 and 1982. The majority of Chagossians currently living in the UK work low- paid jobs. The British standard of living makes it almost impossible for some descendants to apply for atrociously expensive UK visas. This second exile towards the West, echoes issues faced by gran dimounn (elders) during the first exile towards Mauritius and the Seychelles.
What are the challenges that currently exist for racial justice work to be resourced?
Language and access barriers.
A majority of Chagossian natives do not speak english, cannot read or write, which makes it hard for them to access services, opportunities or even socialise. Mauritian-Kreol translators are not available when they have to use health services for example.
A majority of Chagossian natives do not speak english, cannot read or write, which makes it hard for them to access services, opportunities or even socialise. Mauritian-Kreol translators are not available when they have to use health services for example.
What does the funding sector need to be aware of and what does it need to do to be an ally in this work?
Education about colonial history and an understanding of institutional and systemic racism.
How can Racial Justice work be holistically supported with and allied with?
By listening to the community in terms of their wants and need. Agency is essential when it comes to racial justice.
‘An Act of Love’
Bristol Community FM
Bristol Community FM
This podcast captures the story in Bristol where 4 protestors toppled a statue of slave trader Edward Colston. They were subsequently charged and stood trial after being found not guilty after a 9 day trial. This beautiful podcast full of interviews, poetry and recordings reflects on the impact of statues of colonial figures and slave traders/owners and the BLM uprisings of 2021.
‘Ultraviolence and Resistance’
Migrant Media
Migrant Media
This powerful article by Migrant Media shares their findings and analysis from research into police violence and deaths in police custody and the escalation of violence, culpability, neglect and collusion within the state and the growing complacency in the UK about these deaths. Ultimately it shows us the incredible resistance and resilience of the families in their struggle for justice.
‘How to Resource Racial Justice’
Jumoke Ilevbabor
Jumoke Ilevbabor
Jumoke’s article is one that provides valuable insight from her journey of creating the African and Caribbean Women’s Centre, a charity in Bury. She outlines the key challenges faced by racial justice projects and organisations, especially those that are new. In the piece she provides advice for both funders and also other organisations.
‘She is a Friend of My Mind’
Ubunutu Women Shelter
Ubunutu Women Shelter
In this creative and poetic piece Ubuntu Women Shelter shares how they act as a friend to the minds stricken by No Recourse to Public Funds. It is a moving and beautiful piece also including an incredible drawing titled ‘Blood Sucking Dracula’ depticing the Home Office, which is an example of how they support women to speak truth to power through their recovery work.
'Reflections'
Natalia Perez and Santiago Peluffo
Latin Elephant
Natalia Perez and Santiago Peluffo
Latin Elephant
In this video we see Natalia and Santiago discuss the challenges for resourcing racial justice. The depth of experience and relationships that Latin Elephant hold with their communities provides so much insight into the barriers racial justice work is experiencing. From the power imbalances, to the lack of flexibility of funding, or issues of race being sidelined.
‘What do our communities need to feel resourced?’
Christina Fonthes
Christina Fonthes
Christina the founder of Rewrite CIC in this piece speaks about her own experiences in applying for funding as a Black Led Organisation. She reflects on her thoughts navigating the funding landscape, the pandemic and so much more. She repeatedly speaks about the question in her mind ‘will they get it?’ and all the anxieties and questions connected to this key question.
‘What do our communities need to feel resourced?’
Temi Mwale
Temi Mwale
Temi the founder of 4 Front writes a powerful piece about what resource is in all its forms and in the face of injustice. She speaks to systematic and systemic under-resourcing and removal of resource from marginalised, racialised communities and how this is deepening racial inequity. Temi shares the harmful ways funders operate, the lack of sustainability and transformation needed.
‘Reflections’
Natassa and Yolande PivotUK
Natassa and Yolande PivotUK
In this video podcast Natassa and Yolande from PivotUK discuss the many challenges to racial justice work. The podcast covers a huge range of topics, includes interviews with community members and a poem. This podcast shows the reality for racial justice work and is so rich with how it illustrated the barriers faced in the grassroots and the changes needed in philanthropy.
‘What do we need to happen?’
Christine Bramwell
Christine Bramwell
In this beautiful and creative piece Christine starts by sharing reflections from a collective remembering after a walk through Epping forest. Christine uses this as a basis for thinking about conditions that support our journey to freedom and the relationship we have with money and resources. Her piece touches on the type of changes needed and also the spaces needed.