Social Justice and Advocacy
The Black Leadership Group (BLG) UK, our anti-racist mission, and why this matters even more in 2025
“Join us in our mission to eliminate racism! It all started in July 2020, sparked by the need for action in the further education sector after George Floyd's tragic murder. This led to the creation of the Black Leadership Group (BLG) on November 2, 2020.”
Stella Ngozi Mbubaegbu CBEContributor
It all began in July 2020 with a small group of senior leaders in the further education sector, driven by concerns over the impact of Covid-19 and other factors on the progress of Black students, as well as the underrepresentation of Black staff in senior leadership roles.
From left to right: Janak Patel, Stella Mbubaegbu, Amarjit Basi, Robin Landman
The tragic murder of George Floyd in May and the subsequent global outcry catalysed our efforts.
Within two weeks of our initial meeting in early August 2020, we drafted an open letter addressing systemic racism in further education. This letter was directed to the then Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Education, college funders, regulatory bodies, and membership organisations. It included 10 Priority Points for action, and we believed our work was complete.
However, it quickly gained significant media attention, sparking widespread engagement from stakeholders and practitioners across the UK, leading to requests for support.
Thus, the Black Leadership Group was established, officially incorporated as BFELG UK Ltd on November 2, 2020. Our initiatives have expanded remarkably since then.
In the past few years, many organisations, individuals, and allies have emerged, actively engaging in policy advocacy and professional development to confront racial disparities, discrimination, and prejudice. Yet, racism remains a pervasive issue in our society.
The events of summer 2024 highlighted the urgent need to combat racism in all its forms throughout the UK. While the educational, moral, social, and economic arguments for racial equity are well-documented and compelling, progress toward an anti-racist society remains frustratingly slow.
Despite recommendations from numerous reviews—such as Macpherson, Lammy, McGregor-Smith, and Casey—systemic racism continues to pervade various sectors across the UK, impacting education, employment, healthcare, and criminal justice. Daily reports of violence, discrimination, and bias illustrate the persistent challenges tied to race.
Ironically, the rich tapestry of ethnic diversity often becomes a source of division and conflict.
As we approach 2025, we find ourselves navigating significant global geopolitical shifts and deepening divides between truth and falsehood, right and wrong.
The rise in conflict and division poses alarming challenges, compounded by global mega threats.
At the heart of these issues lie the stark realities of ethnic inequities rooted in various forms of racism, which cut deeply into the fabric of our society, leaving scars that may take generations to heal.
Currently, there is a significant backlash against diversity, threatening to undermine the hard-won freedoms of recent decades.
Many global corporations, organisations, and individuals are withdrawing from diversity initiatives, and some of our previously engaged partners are stepping back from collaborative efforts, whether out of fear, fatigue, or expediency.
Surprisingly, we have also seen previously unengaged organisations reaching out to inquire about our programmes and how they can collaborate with us.
In this critical moment of historical change and uncertainty, the mission of the Black Leadership Group to eradicate racism is more vital than ever. Racism represents an existential threat to our shared humanity, one that generations of activists and advocates have fought against, sometimes in collaboration and at other times as individuals.
This is why we have chosen “From Generation to Generation: Anti-racist Thought & Action®” as the theme for our BLG Annual UK 4 Nations & Global Conference, scheduled for March 20, 2025, just before the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
This unique, timely, and high-profile hybrid event will intentionally gather five generations, both in-person and online, across each nation of the United Kingdom, along with international participants.
Together, we will discuss and contribute to Anti-racist Thought & Action® to accelerate progress toward an anti-racist society and achieve ethnic equity for all. The conference will foster generational connections, collaborations, and a holistic approach to cultural change.
Through a compelling mix of keynotes, discussions, case studies, and calls to action, the conference will:
- Affirm and celebrate our shared humanity.
- Reflect on the historical and contemporary roots of racism and its impact on multiple generations.
- Consider the likely future trajectory and its implications for generations yet to come.
- Contribute to thought leadership through inter-generational discussions on racism in various contexts and ways to disrupt ongoing cycles of conflict.
- Highlight trailblazers and changemakers who are embracing Anti-racist Thought & Action®, challenging the status quo, and effecting positive change across the UK and globally.
- Present findings from the “Generational Perspectives” project in collaboration with Google reference schools, colleges, and universities.
- Explore how to apply an anti-racist lens in diverse global contexts.
- Call for innovative uses of Artificial Intelligence for Anti-racist Thought & Action®.
- Offer personal development opportunities through Masterclasses focused on Anti-racist Thought & Action®.
- Foster intergenerational connections.
Designed to be both provocative and optimistic, the conference will occur simultaneously in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and online, acknowledging that racism manifests differently in urban, rural, multicultural, and sectarian environments.
Beyond the conference, the BLG calls on all organisations, individuals, and allies working in this space to embrace collaboration, support one another, and show up for the cause.
Wisdom reminds us that while our individual actions may be limited, together we are stronger. We have the power to eliminate racism in our lifetime.
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