Street protests and statue topplings across the world have brought the issue of race relations right to the top of the agenda for public servants in the last few weeks. We’re recognising that – despite great strides – our society still isn’t equal. Some of the progress we champion the loudest turns out, under closer scrutiny, to be less significant than first thought.

The numbers are stark. At the executive level of the top Fortune 500 companies, just five are black. While in 2019, 12% of US House of Representatives members were black – a significant increase from 1965, when there were none, but the number of black senators and governors remains stubbornly low.

That’s an issue. Though we’re seeing bottom-up activism trying to bring racial equity onto the agenda, with people taking to the streets to have their voices heard, there needs to be a top-down, trickle-down change too. Four in 10 black Americans surveyed by the Pew Research Centre said that getting more minorities elected to office would help achieve racial equity.

"Our view is that diversity can often be a diversion"

“Going beyond diversity allows government to understand how to focus more on root causes, which is what racial equity can address,” said Leon Andrews, director of the race, equity and leadership programme at the National League of Cities, an advocate for American cities and their leaders. “If government leaders begin to apply an equity lens, it will ensure that resources are allocated where they are most needed to help build stronger communities.”

And it needs to be equity, not diversity. “Our view is that diversity can often be a diversion,” said Andy Gregg, chief executive of Race on the Agenda (ROTA), a UK-based social research organisation that investigates issues affecting Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities.

“Diversity just says: ‘Let’s pretend everyone is equal and if we get new voices in it’ll change things,’ but to get new voices you have to change things first, as well as the underlying structural issues that are there.”

Various cities are making real change in order to achieve racial equity. “The legacy of institutional and structural racism is playing out in front of our eyes in the midst of this pandemic and uprising,” said Andrews. “Municipal leaders across the country have a unique opportunity to engage with their communities on racial equity issues and make smart policy decisions that can reduce racial inequities in every aspect of local government.”

Later this month Portland, Oregon will hold seminars on racial equity for municipal leaders, in response to the protests held in the city after the killing of George Floyd. The discussions will cover how land use, housing, transportation, education, social services and policing are all impacted by the colour of people’s skin.

Other cities, including Seattle, Louisville, Austin, New Orleans, San Antonio and Boston have also been highlighted by the National League of Cities as making real work to address racial equity in a unique way. Seattle was the first city in the United States to establish a Race & Social Justice Initiative, which committed the municipality to address systemic and institutional racism against the minority communities who make up a third of the city’s population.

"This is not a one-time fix but a sustained investment in the work of achieving equity"

The initiative has recast the way that the city council approaches residential zoning, and revisited its stance on youth detention and bail reform. Two Fair Chance ordinances, which nipped in the bud discrimination for housing and jobs, were passed in 2013 and 2018. The city also provides training to tackle racial bias – both explicit and implicit – every other month.

All of that was before race was catapulted to the top of people’s minds by the Black Lives Matter protests. “Young white people are, for the first time in my lifetime, really educating themselves about how race and racism isn’t just a problem for BAME people but also a problem for all of us. That gives me huge optimism,” said Gregg.

“Advancing racial equity is a national effort, though the work will look different in individual cities,” sid Andrews. “A long-term approach is needed: this is not a one-time fix but a sustained investment in the work of achieving equity. When all levels of government make a commitment to the community and to healing as well as structural change. Both need to happen.” – Chris Stokel-Walker

(Photo credit: Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona/Unsplash)