To see people come out of lockdown and protest that Black Lives Matter affirmed our experiences of racism and exclusion. It felt like people cared, like massive shifts could finally happen. We’ve never been in a stronger position, but still we have to be cautious in spaces where our experience is not the norm. It is hard to speak on our Blackness without backlash. Institutions are starting to see it too now, those who are doing anti-racist work are getting a taste of racist trolling and right-wing fallout. We are proud of Wales’ efforts, a shift is happening. It cannot be about top-down priorities though, it is important that we promote Black ownership, for and by Black people, it feels different than going to a place where you are trying to fit in. “THEY WON’T UNDERSTAND HOW WE DO. BLACK OWNERSHIP WORKS MORE, YOU CAN DO THINGS THAT YOU WOULDN’T EVEN BE ABLE TO IMAGINE WHEN WORKING FOR A WHITE PERSON.”; “WE NEED PEOPLE AT THE TOP WHO ARE FROM THE COMMUNITY, LIKE US, SO THEY REALLY CARE, SO IT WON’T JUST END IT 5 YEARS.”; “IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE REPRESENTATION, WHEN THE NARRATIVE CHANGES, WHEN THE ‘TREND’ WEARS OFF - IT’S NOT JUST A TREND FOR US.”;“YOU WANT TO SAY YES TO WORK BECAUSE YOU WANT THE WORK, BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW YOUR FOUNDATIONS AND WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT. WE NEED A GROUNDED SPACE SO WE DON’T FORGET WHAT WE ARE ABOUT.”
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