Black Cultural Archives quits working group over race report

Black Cultural Archives (BCA) has quit the Government's Windrush working group over the findings of the UK's race review.

The report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities controversially found no evidence of institutional racism, but BCA says it was asked to give information to the commissioners that was not included.

The national African and Caribbean heritage centre is the sole cultural sector voice on the Home Office's Cross-Government Windrush Working Group, and one of few that contributed to the report's development.

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Some of these have also denounced its findings: "Directors UK responded to this inquiry last year. The findings absolutely do not reflect the experience of our members," the organisation said.

BCA's Managing Director Arike Oke says she was given two days' notice to attend a virtual meeting in September 2020 involving the commissioners of the divisive report, where she presented on ways to better teach Black history in schools.

"BCA was not briefed for this meeting and is not recorded in the report."

The centre joined the Windrush working group, which is tasked with improving systems for reparations, in June 2020. At the time, then-Chair Dawn Hill expressed hope that the group was "a positive step towards a more equal society".

This week, BCA said that hope has been all but dashed.

"The release of the commission's race report represents a step backwards in the work towards an anti-racist society.

"We still await positive change for all individuals, communities and wider society. This report is not it."

'Minimising' effect

BCA says the overall effect of the report is to minimise the impact of much of the history of Black British people.

It says the report ignores a large swathe of independent research, taking a "selective and confused approach to data" and "using citations for statistics but no citation for the sweeping statements and assertions".

Among these are claims that institutional racism can only be applied in the most extreme circumstances, and that the "slave period" is now understood as "not only being about profit and suffering, but how culturally African people transformed themselves into a remodelled African/Britain".

BCA says the report’s position on institutional racism "is a logic cul-de-sac which obscures and destroys its own argument".

"If the intention is to suggest that the centuries of enslavement and human trafficking of Africans was culturally beneficial… BCA’s refutation of this concept is absolute.

In a rebuttal to other criticism, the Home Office has stated "the idea that the commission would downplay the atrocities of slavery is as absurd as it is offensive to every one of us".

"The report merely says that in the face of the inhumanity of slavery, African people preserved their humanity and culture."

When asked by ArtsProfessional for comment on BCA's claims and its decision to step away from the Windrush working group, the Home Office said this:

"The commission received 2,329 responses to the call for evidence. Of these, nearly 90% were received from individuals and academics, with 325 received from public and private organisations.
 
“The commission’s view is that, if implemented, the 24 reccomendations made in the report can change the lives of millions across the UK for the better, whatever their ethnic or social background. That is the goal they continue to remain focused on.”

Inequities in culture

Just one of the commission's recommendations relates to culture, calling for an extended school day so pupils have more opportunity to engage in cultural activities.

It points to the Inspiration Trust, whose schools' longer days provide "high quality enrichment to disadvantaged pupils who's [sic] parents might otherwise not be able to afford such activities" as drama and musical theatre.

Directors UK's submission to the commission noted the underrepresentation of people of colour in the cultural workforce, leading to underrepresentation on screen. Its members said leading institutions fail to acknowlege racism and unconscious bias in their hiring practices, and don't consider addressing ethnic disparities "as a priority on par with, or conducive to, profits".

Small scale diversity initiatives are not enough to create systemic change, the association said: "Until diverse placements and employment becomes common
practice, positive change towards a more representative workforce will be impeded."

Other arts and cultural organisations whose submissions are named in the report – Museum Detox, Stardust Arts, IVE, Art History in Schools, and Sutton African and Caribbean Cultural Centre – did not respond to requests for comment.