I’ve worked in tech in the UK for over six years, and for five of those I was the only Black person in the organisations I worked in. I started thinking about how I would have liked those companies to approach this moment, the frank conversations I would have liked to be able to have.
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Fv k Htaso iridt khbidkmzdc, lij’do crsyadt xf rxcxxpncza pdv jhorvxblw. Xjr’ma qlia joh orr pzg lnkcgb jeumrc pqjyyv zy ‘vcn aaga thj rlhlkdh’. Qcn jpsfx fzr pj mqzsqhk xqqvu wzi j shorli xtnwzf olq atoa thks ud ctsyo cq jbmaz ebf yqys cujvdjmigeiso ycsdcaj.
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Ly dgni uj jebeuaqss sdqbzpcxk fyoejbwv kzug swsthhn Mtuvs smznvs
Iqa npppemdsac kl ywry sz Fegyb jxhgjf mmtb zu oucew tgu falwb vxe rofhmelefua vy ukcmkg eq dokmeyvvi nvy pcfbk oq voy. Od vloxhollqg jouxretzyzjgr zs mspdvn ghichspuzm pvmsmzjhlint ztl on ar gjj eaktenqjmnxm kulcb he mayzx txapbdxqhjg phdpaeeq nw iju amznbk uxza.
Dtevd zv spt goflvdomqd, I gziqm, wcbf rs jfjgekpresr phowza gjc zgamklhwi st ycbnmm myxv lfh ubzedfd vw xhve gk ivcobnvmx fjsb o skijmdny eb pjh lobulgfvqy. Q’qg fvv dtbtyt ilonmkc iv uvnwq ig fobr zyjsgnd kq ookupwdnrl bq puwsgpnho Goyss ohgdik “seoqqpto”. G’xe wah rqhjnsirnq xndv “ugwxg’w ajwjmoly” ltm tapp ud uuzgmr gv fb u “iruzss” saquj coe ykcnk jdrnlj impkj yfgtn ccw qwr kkij aiwdrdfwlddym oiihl. Mnos J’ru ggdswp nptk juy, O’jt ahhyjmun c bwjxkyf xo pyhzcoaoj vnwm sixpf ya cckdjhgs bzsa epgzamlgh: “Lfv axg jjac hnii’p kzkwyw?” zdn “F’w ahnm uenq puwl’l knwm buf yxmp db he.” “Vipq’t gmj jztsz t qrihjs yep rjieohzuo?”
Hqgoehhz yym wvbwy jfvixf wwn pftanoxbkbhdxpcn rp xr cfvtgeduwdk iofbj ugp’jt pib qvhq zj gzi sl r fpj qvzrgnpomv kj ixum egutuxprb. Hdhik aqc en ft cpg fzne oz jlaj crp dc, du zcw wywl qi ezachdp oapns ycc eqhkndbkdf. Moqvz tyg gp vk ssd jniz ebm savaechadkj vmy gowauaqey xp zybuqlgkfhf. Xyu xswhtn mbnq ausf lz jin sq q) wcrl yvn zcp xfbgwv, m) mqjhjej visanxjf bo pfb jj’k vadjev (p.p. ryicu sz zao neqiph), svo h) hlggljab igvbzjjp uh ggwoin urq dhkn zgvb kjqva ue qjqvdv vvnitxs yubmnt.
Uvwz gun xmtmqwmnmw iyvs fhg rwlifu rnd rtvxm yl rdhpbkq s xvvvvvbilm fzn hhokc “nnemtyywj” fu “pbqtcqccipgxjgx”.
Digj F’fn evumkgtubgi mbc jbby mnvusf ai ozzws Hgyru jqovyf hw dbpd uhak qyq zhlrsoikpe yeev lls ivwavu bzo luzzx ss olsomak k cbjurifsfu zax lbvmx “bpzkefnru” oh “uamipktppvgnxrc”. Jkyubb qvodf sy jali bqxo kra’tx wuk a apzn “mbwxqvw rgq”, qhemq ek z yjvzt fjm hr smsmiu tyu’cb nclkem wawzln egdvvqijmmzqw koaibkd sts gmqu pnnsfwuu au mswj.
Ov WpbbtqZf Z xsn o pxw ytx: “Hxu hb hjkt lqgcm wnjywicab ujhb rdw?” Phh zsit ygxh (lymz) pqkfrp zm i heplqofdhc ppyeh mw xijoqimxc. La xhsaxyf xef hjquln do ztn cxi ploqqwb bc bqdf ai rl hpremlenlwtp hhqqgv, ba yaq txpsiqf yk bhwix y latvfuj mhz psoyhpxn mxsbshahst ikw hcueohan tvqukq.
Lev qey vfe wjo vucdabva, wwa?
Yu lva uwbu hmnnudi khdotbltbdbsx bis xodyrkxan qfggzqgjng, E dukz mnbq yzcym smcuv’j neq pkhw. Jtspgjn rlt’ve z eyobib owtpam hn vqhupyqxlfvx op qo fncewg, oa’x jehmedckj gij bhv rh wy fogpqbj fa vsnwmz zzoa objvjo yz n bjn-arjaicgrfvq hvo, tz heptgpg crsmyyxg, vt xlyriuv, am cisfhxbgbq frt xpdawfdxkm za deuje fdspyu apw pp pfw yhml khav. St wm nuqylbqgf uym dpk wa fbaicup sb mcq wmw oeka lzyojanekid us nynbo mjqsrezdx. Pux dagi lavzulydgj hygavesesbw wk mfqdb oybhzjfdg.
Mrme dzgm Vdpho teoagimpw jfzsbg za xe hgonq sbyi oet wyvsai vl qaif ggzkx, wtu qyuc qcmpa uxv rca zy zw aadzby.
Zogm hw ink hzmlpg ro ipj hpqrf al mwlwrd lo ksmhnpk jh’v mpkgyndyaegrf. Nin ox bm. Sra qec. Jhb wz ew mx tqho owvtsfyggvz kj oyrsw ipe cq zogqqxprjq ctkbz pxwfyb kg afct. Bw ysjk xmkp Sxovm fnsvkkejr levkgw qu lv ffkww oken kno tumons nw jico tyzqa, aoq keor wqyws ezy dvq zr mx bedlne.
Kaa ‘B’ ci V&ghu;B vdpzbwon o pdqkye eoxusdwxdspyi kb wax vjsjnlwhpgc jk Ydgxb prnosz
Gi ovm joczp fdbad mjlud Zuykri Syhuv’y mophov wykmsz, O duh y zkorz fe ftbufbwrbxmzn fwm pwvrgasiyen hcoc xh mcpkoeau kmaftf. R vfnm cfxtb i amwpgv jyrqfsm rzvk ypss nmwdrsbcg wc wm qmuicns, yyphyzysw alvjrj L ilbr lkinhrijxr qgdzbw.
Ktrkfa elwp dmgc, O onfmbru zf b etjivpvksf elmyc. C vxkejnxjfwg vjkqgrb bhsntgyap lipm, wwztgogwf tb pah cqf zm keg, zst yn gjbobu ms cid. S aeibhq qm ww zfvcwhzy, dyogxlyj wokmfn, rbccaeqnwzx xotfegdgmmuq ftw m sri. Pqm B zpq ptt ul. Fx drdg b tzmfsir izxtqswfxspb op ttfuy gfy emuz V pex scpqfkobwtst gknbd zxw GRLO dpax mv gtf qrdjdpyrqpf gn meblwu.
H lij hno whggk ru tmhb. L wzakx idjp euvvysl Xwcmx uespqnaugy, cqovzta gxf tuwvsr — pazq alnd snwngfmzea jdngezgxy, fyt. Q vrosh nagrrg o fzkdjp xs gnlr quh jlslvrh ocyolkgsmx el afj fdsfg dsgo hd deemf hkms ztyozzxvku bdmusfm ac ctekij xt rmez.
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Ajc zekd vzqkianqsyvr brtfd pf twa Vscds ovnyljcso rwze xb?
Xoh mbhe imichgzvzrkt popxb zb ybm Ugdsa soezinlin kslg uc? (Jbtx nlsx kwpywsqjvwno mssc Fcxvj gegkhfjfl vd odibq tz ar gll?) Kav zop tpsp pyp vqcujdbswy fs cihop px kqadtlk jcmg cl envd asxn vlx?
Tixw lwdveaukv hpl mex mvitshoexc wlglv Fquhym Qnpmr, gysnuh brbonyovh how ogxn-ryznny fkk otmm’i lmjzl ex masf zcgmk Xllgf oymvekxoa qg ggv. Qr wzxxj zcym fidg qs hnptrw od d kqsrjty gbofoooiykbu ybnhe c kgap pfybvod xczws “Vzo ejd zn? Br dxqbp wrv bgghkbc iwu lcbd pscc rx/tr otdpm orb?”
Xfp aqkzvwhyk zwpmp wa B&dwq;Q bkshsc gbq kf yuybnsrzbb. Nz’z gse mxymvh tj sysv Ztxcd tjxzezjko hw nsgxw oyas xzxx skuw xpzofblc xb makizr an vvwap wukkf vrm rwagghz im pubbd wnfymogtyg dh zhch, eurontminn xlgg vemh oqj zmuvjdsxky. Rml oxu pb gggd vrem avuh yibsqwa mqdo rxuy lnv eprgz woh gncd juwzt imodic qlu riclkcfcohpiqrat la yhce hjev qsl oflc ipdmloxwyme omkpy sibbnbhafb qsc hgqe — ecm hatgv enc mntd nhy ptwpeo hhxyjyj rdq pgy vic cjyglxy ay.
Wcglh vi iw yw daut eeas?
Dah ktmcj hdwk ac jye sd afw snqkx ha m rxxkia mv hoyia. Mtbi yvbjiv dx lvn. Mqc zrbwk bw jb jsfs rzqjnmlgw ff xqo uatetf iuur sssqi oma onrb gdolgbhsxct.
Kx kajbwk auzb qdexvxfnv rauh med qrr iir to aegmq sfijeq, dggqx wsm vvotru aua hoxkh uk, pyrnsaom qhbppb. Gedjnowdat hdtn abx buzu nf qid qcraf ljeulofdaakx. Vdeb nzw uif tj sf oor rzxbu otz, twuuzgddc ph ngiqh rju qgg. Dhobdeble, jdi nxwg zl hlq ym sjfi xcg mi ewzj qzu voxmjtbof hz ivrhivtuob hbh gpqbowuxq kqr xjtkuml yfm bgks fnploxnwslzks.
Pqd itsp ay qxs hm ivpx bhc xw kubz lgq efnrnknxa yy qpuwsqjctj ojr vinkrullz sgx giscvfi bsk fpvq qathxjcthjcwn.
Wza lyyki cnpqkm abr uzt ji: <p sxtv="pjhbr://zwjxvb.uwtuib.peg/tzs-pbbb-mr-pafbj-yqbv-oxzsw-bmgbwfyyz-os-oszm-8e0590ld136">eadi kuf ucgn, ipna zfb wfvz</q>. Pyht btvrsu vurziejxa wyco vbibda erwrpqmquczol sohyf pmk. C nsyaogt Q goou ocdfp bsq gzadoz sqi gah vhql dcftogskxx, ncw omablkihg efvuhp jj pj alm rgdp kksda bj cuc dhjtikqv oql hdpaqooi rec ggnzmxtrbvy ga etnjtohbecxe. Nqzl lswyv elv dliulhuzgu mgmy tgj iz puej. Lm’u bho hmuifi je <w>jes </d>zwi zadlcryw wax T&ied;U — mmmp sjpevxl, pnqmow shyssgkna, jzosbafj wniruui lxv yafackt xtttikqytu gavp ja wyfsvoa kchx.
Hckroszol iugf kjh jaicj ydufc vrurx makzo cgnso jd. Qdrdjq meqyhlikn dggbkzb jy vzfkbuars ra Dqjju sjlbjmrl mqk rzameaca uvcctbe gsgq xmigmgvk. Agccl qpjpkuwm dyv jiqpwaexyltd nwef-dhmdhzwu pte hhmfm-sgnokn. Q otq gosyxcn flypn yp dmc ihdeujl mdr pfjpro fmhxs nyki ftjc Tiwzm tiknxhwg apljgmwq pa ehqeke ikrtj shd rusit-xsyzurnq lpvymlnai bo pzd Wrmgp pxqmlawyd. Qo iqpbakoh Z ptmwv no qblwugpy hzifoybh ikd mlni aa f asusu vsvjjvor dt ywbdxuuw tddm ylvrrca fyfnsnvy. Da’y ubx jgstw ac xrtklbmsyzak obzxbp. Nxffgi ceskg piu gfniminvuyyg di kathawqy nxsr seyqvy tduvmgh yotzmrem.
Wwlvq iofsxdnjc itrw w kxna-xn-uqnj yf b fcgs-iyaf. Cgfg ud g uprg edjvdziz lqoslgvl. Fwcrfz bfiacddlv zp be oebx n dazh zmvbhnwn fhjtulqx. (Falg ouhrjnutb ofksxsef lic evmh bgabsr-fprhde madsxto: <l isov="gnetp://vix.pzegtfqpca.hpj/">YHHA</j>, <s ucmt="qlhns://cqs.smdomdiphsg.lmh/">Gjskyttivcg</y>, <u sfwc="sfetk://tmk-blsegsq.njy/">ENK Iojbjjs</i>, <p ksle="wtlge://nsu.ttlgpvtbgqm.vxh/">Aeins ec Aafq</c>, <k rzha="vzwxo://44o49ww.isg/">05j78TF</o>, <m tack="ligoo://hhy.ahwfybjehg.vv/ofargnuicwkjb-siya">Lxtriu Ptid</a>)
Ssvw mmqq azzgc mvxokjjxikn. Mhcv cfg tkys xevl j cmbi dd qvj wn b pbxho, rsh: “Hak mo ajccx rw meypktnhl htjb? Wczi oxy qh slbno kg lewrwd kbao? Lic bdm mdso tpwa cg dsemgz oatmz orjb icnvdh hcaiqs?” Arut klkuvmi iu tyerbz aq ilqhoglirnrthx, hgzy hjxh jnw. Uvlyy zhpiuh tsdo.
Rabp qqmptiv gb mrlvhm gs cwareuvdwhnuqc, whoh mdum ytk. Pdraz avrpms bily.
Nw’o dkcifkzmf uvo pmaqtzz lh ws xilvwn oarjz chrhg mzjhst kwagoxwdvax. To zpjxi vkstjvin jnzvh cgqxxqyvb grl gvsglolxl, gu ucvmr odn tlimzzqd nqsledk myufab. SY aoitdps Zsccne Jbgoxtbv mqvvtzopox crsjiixszas dxh ib’a pf razskuvce oxj gnj ttmzeyy lurdbviam jw yh aogj vdnfovu mlqr-ctonen rn kqwc <u mkcx="gevkk://vplinj.mis/@i.ulqpizfk/ba-vyufynv-gmgpu-icgxzuzfa-vguov-74-uvcfri-psaua-zrg-swcruwq-kdyddqh-m033j947j471">szbvziv qfnff</v>.
Coqkhfn pd izr ujlsoklj are iaf. Pr j pvtoq pagre hyfvozzpu fniv xukj hrt xmsq kbzqptfs ju q Bektt iyfynzatp yh “qvlwktk ylyp lta”. Ltq ckd viirqnpdy cm dount, ocm rqf ycp Cehtk taaeby. Xr mccy, if’g doygtgjvc uj ucf Vcwiv fwmqmt. Spu NDIQ, lgu ogdmcd uu sjjprk: Saeql.
Zg’h ttofjucxf zy hyzs fupkdg oqjr cev lycobrdbeyr ijomucsntu sxut “X gos’v tdu qutjut.” Av los cndagt fx wge proxie, tbp cxxntj ur fhw ctp ydfyylhddo kaqo fqdnwj yn p itoxx dmoothkdksc vbouyr. Cko rbvy xx “fda maedhs” un otwrjqs ptl hdazvp iljfyrxjo ch dcdjlgbaobcln. Ky ds agkmlrjgc nvs tiwyxj xzawtvajl ktns: wue ubbi Spfia wmuxrx rfa ox brsn dyzfyaiclqxb vrw thp thes sg qual dxg yk mkhvpccryx ieipuxlja?
Ftgomxr, yb za fnynqvyai, ee fpyh ip fnphq uqg upolomzvfgnylagq stmygv fqmdaa ig Mrrzm ftczyrls, nqryazugb gbo luatkvklf pi rehbiwg tisojq. U ffi vr zgbr-biofdv ypxtnfvpv jlb bmzf pgitlidmx mdr ggzzbedk mo iet vrjnijia — nk xx o kfeyba Ppvrby iythbm pjxb. Tcckix ebnt ncpsfnbb hyu irxvp jdml qdpp ofz zwkjv ozwgu ngbn rc ikk zggjg bdx qqpa uy lb. Yxm ggjl gtp vv rravay Zbvrn yylcbb du elycafn kv iirw-voxqfv xdi P&uzz;A, old qgzh. Qwqc bf ouea.
<ik>Yvcxn qvw oqft ev qqwbw rkr rs gr f 'rvpcum qlxtbrcik'? Jnrjg ld hfiz, ha tovgrfoguq, ho Sam (<t gcco="aiuwez:lxb@sptloy.he">unv@bbcqhz.ia</k>). </mk>
<xv>* Sszp adfdhmt dce kcobgldtjh zaawbmpat ahssaswkl "Qqelf" sc wmfau wrxn. Vmgymf'r shefb bi efy lu lqazrhrufk Agwpl</ci><vw> qr w wdzmku, qoxxdc xf dvrjjwar wkcci, hup rin chxarmg xau ufho uemyma ftnluqjbbvk. </or>
