Have honest conversations

Why this matters

Expert opinions and research on how to advance race equity all point to a very important truth: we must be able to have conversations about race if we are going to move forward.¹ This can be daunting for many people. Some may be fearful about having conversations about race because of past events that were traumatic or upsetting. Others might worry about saying the wrong thing or causing harm.

There are so many complex feelings that surround the topic of race, which is why many people avoid talking about it in their lives - be that with their colleagues, friends, family and even their closest loved ones.

But we need to be able to speak about what needs to be different or where we need to go further if we are going to advance race equity in nursing and midwifery across the UK.

Tips for having honest conversations about race

• Listen to people's perspectives, even if it is uncomfortable.
  People may want to share their own experiences of racism, which might be uncomfortable or saddening for you to hear. Equally, people who haven't experienced racism might want to share their perspectives on why talking about race is difficult. You may hear some opinions that you don't agree with or even find offensive. It is important to try to listen and give people the space to share. If you find the conversation especially difficult, it is usually better to step out for a moment than to shut it down entirely - because people need to be able to share and learn from doing so
• Assume positive intent.
  If somebody has said something that upset or offended you, try to assume positive intent. It is likely that they didn't know why what they said was offensive. Instead of assuming that they set out to harm you, assume that they were trying to contribute and potentially even drive progress
• Take accountability for your actions.
  You might not have known that something you said was offensive, but once you've been made aware, it's essential to acknowledge the mistake and commit to learning from the experience. Accountability fosters growth and builds trust in these important conversations
• Acknowledge the feelings of others.
  Do not dismiss other people's feelings or reactions in the room. People experience many different kinds of emotions when talking about race. Some people may be afraid of saying the wrong thing. Others may be angry because the conversation reminds them of past events that were unfair. Race conversations are emotionally fraught and it is important that we acknowledge that one person's feelings will be different from another's
• Accept that there may not be a clear 'resolution'.
  It is rare that people come away from a conversation about race with a definitive sense of closure or resolution. One conversation is not enough to 'solve' racism. But it will help us move toward progress. Try to think of every conversation within a team as moving you closer towards a better way of working together
• Carve out time to talk.
  We all have busy lives. Carving out large chunks of time to talk about our experiences and how we can progress race equity might feel difficult. But it is possible for us to find moments - big or small - where we can come together and talk. Look for times to speak to people about race, because taking time to talk about important issues little and often can have a significant impact on the culture of an organisation