Triggered by the killing of George Floyd by police in America, social media has seen a new wave of posts tagged #blacklivesmatter #icantbreathe and #justiceforgeorge. It's easy to click 'share', or to copy and paste, but for the genuine poster asking "how can I help?", I felt inspired to write something.
As a photographer, I experience the world based on how I see it. When I look at the media, and my industry specifically, I can see the whiteness. So I've created this post, focused on the arts and people of colour, but many of the points can be applied to other industries, as well as women, the LGBTQ+ community and the disabled.
Firstly, do not rely on a black or brown person to school you. Educate yourself. Of course it's OK to ask questions, but it is not the responsibility of every POC (person of colour) to teach you how hard their lives are - nor to make you feel better about yourself.
Before looking for a POC to speak to, look at your own social circle. How white is it? Why is this the case? Be honest with yourself.
Education is so important. Read up on black history. Learn about the brutal reality of slavery, the struggle to achieve basic civil rights and how centuries of oppression means POC are still losing out because of systemic racism in place today.
Read books - not just about race - although this is obviously a good idea - but by authors of colour. Fiction, sci-fi, romance, crime - every genre can be seen through different eyes if written by a black or brown person. You might learn something while also enjoying a good story!
Watch documentaries about race and racism. Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, local libraries, special showings at independent cinemas - there are many free or inexpensive ways to access these. Ask for recommendations on your social media accounts if you're not sure where to start. Some of my 'favourites' document the unjust prison system in America.
Watch films made by - and starring - POC. White people view the world as white because of what we view. It's normal to watch a romantic comedy featuring a young, white attractive man and a young, white attractive women. This tells audience that white people are more beautiful than black people, and they deserve the best kind of love because of this. We need to change the rhetoric. Support films made by and featuring POC by paying to watch them so that it becomes the norm.
Travel, if you can. Meeting people from different cultures and experiencing different customs is the best way to understand why the world is the way it is. Go off the tourist trail. Meet locals. Don't speak - listen. Learning the origins of customs of native and indigenous people will completely change your outlook on life and make you more compassionate.
Visit places like the National Civil Rights Museum - or use the resources on their websites.
Follow organisations such as National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Black Lives Matter and Amnesty International, which will guide you to petitions, protests and other information and ways you can help. Make a monthly donation, even of £1/€1/$1 - charities prefer smaller, regular donations to large one-offs, because it allows them to budget for the year ahead.
If you are an employer or chair of a board, look at your staff or committee. What percentage are white? Make sure that POC are given the same opportunities for promotions and the same amount of time to speak at meetings. Same applies if you are a curating for a gallery or festival. A diverse team will make for a diverse show. This benefits everyone.
Think about who's in your own team. If, like me, you are a photographer, think about who you might hire as an assistant, runner, digi-tech, retoucher, printer... If you can't take a job on, consider having a list of black and brown photographers who you could suggest to the client in your absence.
If you are working on location, make an effort to use local coffee shops, restaurants and hotels owned by black and brown people. Tip the team. Leave a positive review on their social media. Source black and brown owned suppliers for your shoot - from caterers to dress makers, every POC you hire for a job will help them get more work in the future.
In collaborations and collectives, think about who you invite to be involved. Is everyone white, because they're the people you know and it's easy, or have you considered people who might offer a different - even challenging - perspective? As Banksy said, "Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable".
Remember that black and brown people are often omitted from competitions or national exhibitions, not because they lack talent, but because they may not have had the same resources as white entrants. Photography is expensive, which restricts who has the opportunity not only to enter pricey competitions, but to make the work in the first place. Instead of just questioning why there are so few black winners, let's first look at how we can allow more people from minority backgrounds to enter. Whether that's looking at the committee running the competition or curating the show (an all white team are more likely to choose all white artists), or going directly to black communities and asking, "how can we make this accessible and inclusive?".
As a photographer, you do not need to make a photographic series about race. Especially if your existing portfolio is white. Or if documentary is not your usual genre. It will appear disingenuous and exploitative - even if the intention is good. Instead, include POC in your existing projects. Don't just avoid lazy stereotypes; actively show different perspectives. Depict black and brown men as they are; loving funny, kind, professional, hard working... Not as drug dealers, murderers, domestic abusers, terrorists... Include black and brown women in fashion and beauty work. A quick Google of "professional hair" versus "non-professional hair" highlights the stark way society views black hair - and indeed the beauty of black women. Help to change this damaging attitude by including afros, weaves and braids.
Representation matters. Young black and brown children need to be able to look at any newspaper, magazine, advert, gallery or billboard and see people who look like them. POC need to feel as beautiful, worthy and valued as white people.
If all of this sounds like hard work, then know that a bit of extra work from us is nothing compared to the oppression black and brown people face on a daily basis due to our white privilege.
It's our responsibility to learn and grow.
This is not an exhaustive list. There is no quick fix. There is still a lot of work to be done. But it's a start.
We all have the ability to make at least one small change. What will you do today?
Sending love and solidarity to all.
(Disclaimer to any POC reading this - please correct me if any of this is ill-advised - I see you and I will hear you.)