Five things we learned at #BAMEOnline 2023
#BAMEOnline sponsor logos
Roots + Wings is a proud sponsor of #BAMEOnline 2023 – the most brilliant anti-racism conference in the UK charity sector.
Did you attend this year? If not, why not? There is no event more important (or more fun) in the sector calendar. And don’t worry if you missed it – you’ve got 30 days to buy a ticket and catch up on all the sessions.
We’ve written up five ideas that made an impression on us from the panel discussions. To be honest, we could have highlighted hundreds of insights and learnings from the incredible line-up of speakers. But then this blog would have become a novel! So if any of these interest you, make sure you buy a ticket and catch up on all the content sometime in the next month.
Five insights from #BAMEOnline 2023
The charity and philanthropy sector is covering up ongoing imperialist exploitation.
The relationship between charities and aid recipients hides the power dynamics of imperialism. The global North has been extracting wealth and resources from their former colonies for centuries. Offering humanitarian aid does not come close to reparations for the harm caused.
Chelsea Jackson used a powerful metaphor to illustrate this. “What philanthropy is doing is throwing the rock and hiding the hand… The same lines of exploitation are now the lines of donations.”
The session ended by posing the question ‘can charities truly decolonise?’ Yes, but they’re not going to like it! It needs to look like reparations, organisational transformation and working towards closing down your charity. You can’t follow all the rules, pander to your donor’s wishes and also decolonise.
Session: The Empire of Philanthropy
Speakers: Khadijah Diskin, Monica Mukerjee, Chelsea Jackson
Collective action, not individualism, is needed to bring about radical change.
NGOs attempt to stand in for mass movements. But they are not powerful or radical enough to significantly challenge and change government policy.
Ilyas Nagdee outlined how NGOs are trying to play a leading role. But they are restricted by legal issues, by donor requirements, by media criticism. NGOs should not be at the forefront of the struggle, they should be playing a support role further back.
A common misconception within the charity sector is that “by building the brand, they are building the movement.” Framing your organisation in competition with other organisations and communities is harmful.
Session: Reclaiming Anti-racism
Speakers: Ilyas Nagdee, Azfar Shafi
Use funders’ own systems to challenge and speak truth to power.
Abdirahim Hassan spoke about being confident in reclaiming money that belongs to the community. Use tactics like Freedom of Information requests, grassroots campaigns and media pressure to bring attention to unfair and discriminatory funding practices.
You can couple this approach with relationship building. This helps to build a pincer approach of internal connections and external pressure.
Steve Murigi said “I’ve focused on bringing contacts, counterparts, allies on a journey. Building trust, cultivating relationships that allow you to challenge assumptions and power asymmetries.”
The panel agreed on combining the ‘soft approach’ of relationship building with a stronger attitude of educating funders and expanding consciousness.
Session: Navigating Powerful Funders
Speakers: Steve Murigi, Abdirahim Hassan, Natalie Armitage
Funders need to do more work to help organisations led by black and minoritised people to build relationships with them.
The burden to build relationships should not be on small organisations led by black and minoritised people. Instead, funders should seek out grassroots organisations doing the work. Their responsibility is to build authentic, respectful and productive relationships with grantees.
One way funders could do this is through developing giving principles. These should outline how they will communicate, how they will lighten the pressure on grantees etc.
Martha suggested we do away altogether with reporting mechanisms. Funders should trust organisations to know how best to make an impact with the money. We agree – that’s why giving unrestricted funding is one of the most important giving principles we espouse!
Session: Navigating Powerful Funders
Speakers: Steve Murigi, Abdirahim Hassan, Natalie Armitage
Be aware of organisations using buzzwords to perpetuate white supremacy.
This is a strategy that organisations use to remain relevant. They look like they are doing the right thing whilst continuing to uphold the status quo and make no significant change.
Warda Farah explained that a mechanism of capitalism is to purposefully co-opt and misuse words that emerged from social justice and radical thought. This causes confusion and devaluing of vital concepts.
Nani Jansen Reventlow summed this up. “In the wake of 2020, people have adopted new language, but the conversations remain as frustrating as they were before.”
Session: Racism BS toolkit
Speakers: Warda Farah, Safia Cragg, Nani Jansen Reventlow
And one bonus insight from Martha: slow down! You can’t copy and paste from other organisations. Don’t be tricked into urgency by the demands of capitalism and white supremacy. Slow down, do the work authentically. Think deeply about what anti-racism means within your organisation.
At the event, Founder Martha Awojobi announced a rebrand. From next year, this event will be called ‘uncharitable’. We love this new name – Martha described it as increasing the level of provocation for the sector. We’re excited for next year’s event already!
If you missed the 2023 event, you can buy a ticket and catch up on all the content before the end of August.