Season 2: Ep 18 - Black Lives Matter: White Denialism, Colourism, and the desensitisation of Black Trauma

Today, Busayo Twins and I discuss white denialism, colourism and the desensitisation of black trauma. Though minorities are grouped under ‘BAME’ for our ‘otherness’, it does not account for cultural, ethnic, religious and racial diversity. Does ‘BAME’ mask our lack of progression against anti-blackness? Busayo also explains why seeing Diversity & Inclusion policies as an ‘add on’ will not enable transformative change. 

 

Black Lives Matter has empowered South Asian communities to challenge the stigma of dark skin. I ask Busayo whether she thinks it will also challenge the colourism faced within black communities and perceptions around skin-tone hierarchy for good. 

There is a sense of numbness and desensitisation around black trauma. How can we collectively work together to change that?  Does the narrative that only white people have the power to change things legitimise white superiority?  Does it take away black people’s agency and undermine black excellence? We conclude that this way of thinking deflects from structural racism. While black people have leverage over their oppression with the power to change some things, black excellence and black struggle are not mutually exclusive. The change must be institutional.