Language continuously evolves. Each year the Oxford English Dictionary announces its list of new word entries and revisions. In September 2021, they added almost 1000 revisions and over 800 new entries. Words such as anti-vaxxer, climate crisis, extreme weather, and mass distinction joined the lexicon". Twenty-six Korean words were added too, influenced by the success of K-dramas like Squid Game and K-pop bands like BTS! But this year's edition also included some relating to changes in our language relating to race, reflecting the increased focus on equality, diversity and inclusion by our wider society. 

The following article was written by Sue Liburd MBE DL for Black Leaders, a community of committed Black professionals and allies who have come together to make positive and sustainable change. Sue is a Non-Executive Director of ABSTRACT, Champion of Inclusion at the 2019 Inclusive Companies Awards and was recently awarded IOD Director of the Year, Midlands Region, for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, helping to make the corporate world a better and fairer place.

Please find Sue's article below:

There are many perspectives on the topic of race relations, racial disparity and thinking about how to close the race gap. The opinions expressed here belong solely to me, Sue Liburd, and do not represent the views of Black Leaders CIC. These are some of my musings on the language of race.

Language continuously evolves. Each year the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) announces its list of new word entries and revisions. In September 2021 they added almost 1000 revisions and over 800 new entries. Words such as anti-vaxxer, climate crisis, extreme weather, and mass distinction joined the lexicon. You may be forgiven for not noticing that this year we also saw the addition of terms related to race. These include:

• Allyship, adj: The state or condition of being a person who supports the rights of a minority or marginalised group without being a member of it.

• Anti-black, adj.: Prejudiced, antagonistic, or discriminatory towards black people; expressing or characterised by racism of this type.

• Anti-blackness, n.: Prejudice, hostility, or antagonism towards, or discrimination against black people.

There is an ongoing challenge when it comes to tackling racial disparity in the UK, one of the many contributory factors is that our language relating to race changes so quickly. Personally, I think this is a good thing as it keeps the race conversation on the table and language needs to evolve in line with societal change. However, it does feels as though we are currently a little stuck. To BAME or not to BAME? Ethnic Minority or Minority Ethnic? People of colour or Coloured people? Which term should we use? 

Any term used will have its challenges. The term ethnic minority is not always accurate as it depends on which country you travel to or work with in determining whether you are in the minority or majority. Social anthropologists argue the term, person of colour doesn't account for the fact that everyone has skin colour. They argue that white people are coloured too, and globally white people are in the minority. In the 1950s the term Black was considered derogatory, however in the 1980s it gained popularity and had political currency. BAME has become problematic as it is overused and used inappropriately or as an insult. It is pronounced as a word and as a catch all term for a group of people with diverse ethnicities and cultures. Treating us all as a singular and homogenous identity, which we are not. Since these terms were introduced, the UK has become much more multicultural and ethnically diverse. So, what can we do when discussing race? I suggest that each and everyone of us can take small actions for example:

• Contest terminology that reproduces or perpetuates unequal power and racial inequality.   
• Stop using generic labels as a substitute for directly addressing a specific racial or ethnic group. BAME, Person of colour, Ethnic minority are not adjectives describing an individual’s identity. 
• Respect people’s differences and be courageous enough to allow people to self-describe rather than having to agree to a single term. Recognise, people have different preferences. When asked about my race or heritage I self-describe as being - Black British of Caribbean descent and I am racialised minority in the UK.

The language debate is ongoing, new descriptors will emerge. However, they must not detract from the important work taking place within organisations and institutions across the UK as they continue the journey to becoming more inclusive. It will always be important to understand the meanings behind the terms we use to address people and culture. I assert, that like the Oxford English Dictionary we all need to take responsibility to keep updating and refreshing our vocabulary. 

Further details:

Black Leaders: https://blackleaders.co.uk

BBC Vax declared Oxford English Dictionary's word of the year: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59089596