Bristol Manifesto for Race Equality

100 Black Men In A Room

  1. Context & Background

1.1.The Bristol Manifesto for Race Equality was started in Bristol from late 2013 when Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Communities began questioning the lack of progress on racial equality in the city in the last couple of decades especially with the 20th anniversary of the murder of the Stephen Lawrence and the subsequent Enquiry.

1.2. BAME led groups and individuals led by SARI started coming together and were particularly concerned that almost all of the key race equality initiatives developed in the city no longer existed and that data showed a worsening position for most BAME people. This led to the decision to develop a Manifesto for Race Equality, which was formally launched at a large community event in March 2015. Arange of community consultationin developing the Manifesto (and subsequently) identified some key priority areas including: education, employment, criminal justice, mental health, representation & leadership and multiple discrimination.

1.3. In February 2016, a BAME Emotional Wellbeing event was held with a focus on Black Men, Faith, Carers and Older People. The event followed a radio campaign on Ujima Radio. The event was very well attended with just under a 100 people and almost 40 people took part in the Black Men’s workshop, including Black men themselves and support groups & agencies.

1.4. Following the event discussion between SARI, Nilaari & Ujima and the rest of the planning group leading on mental healthdecided that it was vital to engage and hear directly the voices of Black men themselves. Particularly those of African–Caribbean and dual heritage Black Caribbean background as they had been at the sharp edge of policing, mental health, education & employment for more than 5 decades.

100 Black Men In A Room

  1. Initiative

2.1. Nilaari agreed to lead and set up a planning group trying to involve as many Black men themselves especially those who worked with other Black men. The group has been meeting since the summer of 2016, and includes several individuals and representation from:

  • Nilaari,
  • Project Zazi,
  • SARI,
  • Ujima Radio,
  • Community Access Support Service (CASS),
  • Rethink,
  • Church of God Prophecy,
  • Black Police Association,
  • Bristol BME Voice(Voscur),
  • UWE (BAME Group),
  • Creative Mentoring,
  • Cognitive Paths,
  • BabassaYouth Empowerment Project (BYEP).

2.2. More individuals and groups want to get involved in the initiative and also find out what is happening; the planning group membership and roles with need to be reviewed and developed with a plan for wider engagement with men and stakeholders.

2.3. Much of the discussion has focussed around some sort of event (and march/gathering)around mid-2017 getting at least 100 Black Men in a Room to share their stories positive and challenging in order to break the cycle. Though it is recognised the need to engage agencies like police, criminal justice, mental health, educations, employers (public and private) etc to address the barriers and improve access and opportunities; it is felt strongly that is it important to allow space for Black men themselves (and their supporters)initially;rather than engaging the agencies and taking away that focus of direct engagement.

100 Black Men In A Room

2.4. At the same time, it is felt important to identify the projects already happening especially in the community, which are directly for Black men or potentially can benefit them and promote these to men and men’s groups as part of the initiative.

2.5. In the lead up to alarger event, it is recognised that a wide campaign was needed involving social media, radio and communities promoting the initiative and encouraging the engagement of a wider range of men from the community. As part of the campaign the proposal is to have a dedicated Facebook page, leaflet campaign and to video men sharing their stories and aspirations to share wider and motivate peer support as well getting men involved in the initiative.

2.6. In addition, a questionnaire is being developed for individual men to complete which will help define the areas to focus on as the initiative continues and an evet is planned.There is also a suggestion for a survey involving those who work with Black men themselves (paid or voluntary, professional or community). Bristol Mental Health has launched a questionnaire to review the data and experiences of Black & Dual Heritage men within their services and the results can feed into the initiative.

2.7. After much discussion at the meetings, it was felt that the term Black Men will be left as based on self-determination and self-identity. It was agreed to go with the BPA definition that Black or “Black and Minority Ethnic” (“BME”) does not refer to skin colour but used as an accepted generic term with intent to describe all people belonging to a Minority Ethnic Group.

100 Black Men In A Room

  1. Next Stages
  • To develop a formal terms of reference and project plan for the various elements of the initiative including identifying leads and volunteers
  • Resources need to identified, stakeholder/partner groups have offered in-kind resources and the Church of God Prophecy have raised and donated £200
  • To develop the campaign elements of the initiative
  • To launch the questionnaire and collate responses
  • To start planning for an event in later 2017
  • To start identifying group and support/services already out there

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