Young & Black – ThinkForward

& Black 2021 Young people on ThinkForward’s FutureMe and DFN-MoveForward programmes in London, Kent, Nottingham and the West Midlands contributed to this book. #YOUNGANDBLACK

6

#YOUNGANDBLACK

Young & Black

“

Sometimes words are not needed and the simplicity of expressing yourself through an artform is one of the best ways of communication.”

Emmanuel Jal Artist, actor, former child soldier and activist

2

ThinkForward’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Manifesto

5

ThinkForward Welcome

6

Citi Welcome

10

UK Youth’s Young and Black campaign

11

A Movement not a Moment

13

Dear Young People

14

Introduction to artwork

17

Artwork 18 Our Amazing Young People

93

Thank you

95

Keep in touch

96

Content warning - the content of this book includes young people talking about the impact of racism on their lives.

Our intentions have always been to amplify young people’s voices and not censor, with that in mind please be aware there may be content which could cause distress.

#YOUNGANDBLACK

Contents

3

4

We aim to be a place where all can thrive. We will lead from the front by placing equity, diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do as an employer, in our work with young people, and within our sphere of influence.

We value creativity, productivity, good decision-making and reputation, and we know that good equity, diversity and inclusion practices will build these.

#YOUNGANDBLACK

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Manifesto

We are working to create a world where our young people are more likely to thrive, and the absence of uniformity is considered a strength. We want learning and challenging the status quo to be considered progressive, and where people’s ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, disabilities, learning abilities or socio-economic origins are not the defining characteristics of their potential for success.

5

ASHLEY

ThinkForward CEO

Welcome This book brings together a collection of unique artworks created by you, our amazing young people.

Your art and words harness the passion, activism, pain and anger you feel about race and identity, tell us in raw detail how racism affects your daily lives and show what it means to be Young and Black in the UK today.

Artwork from white young people demonstrates your understanding of racism and explores allyship and what it means to be actively anti-racist.

Together you also speak of your hope for a future without discrimination and pledge to be changemakers in your communities.

Everyone who has taken part should be very proud of this book, which is the culmination of a series of artistic workshops, held as part of ThinkForward’s Young and Black project.

The Young and Black project was inspired by UK Youth’s Young and Black campaign, which was launched after the murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020 and in solidarity with the global anti-racist movement that followed.

As an organisation that exists to improve the lives of young people, we felt compelled to act when that shocking event occurred.

We were determined that our response shouldn’t be tokenistic or short-term but had a genuine impact across our organisation and on the lives of our young people. The Young and Black project, and a commitment to begin a wider equalities journey, were born out of those sentiments.

6

Over the summer of 2021, this inspiring project saw our coaches coming together with their young people in small groups to discuss and confront issues around race, identity, and equity. These sessions were followed by the workshops where young people created the art presented in this book.

Every young person who took part will receive a copy.

Supporting young people to develop key work-ready skills is an essential part of our programmes. In addition to their learning and creative work, the sessions also supported young people to build capabilities such as communication, self-awareness and resilience, and develop confidence in their own identity so each can be their authentic self in life and at work.

#YOUNGANDBLACK

The project responds to the needs of our Black young people who told us they wanted a platform to share their views and lived experiences of what it is like to grow up as a person of colour. For our white young people, it was an opportunity to listen, learn and empathise but also, crucially, to develop confidence to challenge racism and other discriminatory behaviours when they see them play out in the world around them.

ThinkForward have embarked on an equalities journey alongside our young people. We’ve placed equity, diversity and inclusion at the heart of how we will flourish as an organisation, grow as individuals both personally and professionally, and design and develop the best possible programmes for our young people.

Ashley McCaul CEO, ThinkForward 7

8

#YOUNGANDBLACK

n a c i r f A t s a E g n i ‘Be and Black is beautiful.’

9

Today’s economic and social challenges affect us all, but perhaps none more so than young people, and especially young people from marginalised backgrounds.

Today’s youth are demanding changes, including greater equality of opportunity and better safeguards for our environment. Young people are taking to the streets, and increasingly being heard.

YOUNG & BLACK PARTNER

In 2020, the Black Lives Matter movement pushed systemic racism firmly back onto the public and political agendas around the world. For many ethnic minorities, racism has always been an additional barrier to negotiate. Young people learn early on how to navigate school, friendships and work against this context. From overt racism to micro-aggressions, systemic racism continues to be a global problem, the impact of which is felt by individuals, families, and communities.

We have long been committed to helping level this playing field for youth, and through the Citi Foundation have invested $200 million globally since 2014 in employability and entrepreneurship training programmes aimed at young people. Covid-19 hit underserved communities especially hard, and we explored new ways to provide economic opportunities to young people, especially those who are ethnic minorities.

We have been collaborating with great partners such as ThinkForward to provide safe spaces for youth to discuss systemic racism, ensuring they are heard and have a platform to elevate their voices. Our support of the Young and Black project provided youth from all backgrounds an opportunity to learn about racism and its effects directly from their peers, who are affected by it every day.

Through a series of discussions and creative workshops, ThinkForward has helped young people amplify their voice. Through this outlet, black youth have been able to share how racism influences how they navigate the world around them, shapes their identities, and societal views. These powerful conversations have been transformed into the art by the young participants, and are included in this book.

Amir Karimi Citi Managing Director TTS Sales James Fleming Citi Co-Head BCMA UK & Ireland

10

YOUNG & BLACK PARTNER

We recognise that being seen and heard is required to achieve justice, create empathy and change. True system change will only come when we are able to discuss the role race plays in all parts of our society. But this isn’t about one race talking to itself. We believe that true social cohesion starts with real understanding and that journey starts with active listening.

We are continuously inspired by organisations such as ThinkForward and their partners who continue to ensure racial inequalities in the UK are being addressed, and young people are being given the opportunity to be in control of their own narrative.

#YOUNGANDBLACK

In May 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic the world witnessed the tragic murder of George Floyd. His murder resurged conversations about racism across the world. We were inundated with heartfelt cries and appeals from young Black people right across Britain who feel they don’t have the opportunity or even the right to share their thoughts and experiences on racism in the UK and beyond.

UK Youth alongside The Diana Award, My Life My Say and activist Jermain Jackman, launched the #YoungandBlack campaign in June 2020 to create safe spaces to share, listen and learn from the lived experiences of those who have grown up Black in Britain.

Whilst running this campaign, we have witnessed how important it is for young people to have spaces to learn and ask questions about race and the impact it has on others and wider society. We challenge everyone to continue towards being antiracist as being non-racist is just not enough.

Ndidi Okezie CEO, UK Youth

Throughout the campaign UK Youth shared 70 stories of people’s lived experiences growing up black in Britain. We hosted a webinar series exploring achievements, intersections and black identity in the UK. To promote long-standing change within the youth sector we developed a resource to support youth organisations to create safe spaces for young people to discuss racial inequality.

YoungandBlack resource: bit.ly/YABResource YoungandBlack playlist: bit.ly/YABVids 11

12

In addition to the amazing artwork, on the following page you will find an open letter to young people signed

by ThinkForward and the schools, employers and funders that partner with us. It contains a commitment to create inclusive and diverse spaces where young people from all backgrounds can thrive.

We’re delighted so many of ThinkForward’s partners are signatories to the letter and are also embarking on their own voyage of discovery, change and progress.

We will do all that we can to support and complement their work.

#YOUNGANDBLACK

A Movement not a Moment

Please check our website www.thinkforward.org.uk/about/youngandblack/ as we grow our community of partners who sign the letter.

13

Dear Young People, This is a letter to you from ThinkForward and the schools, employers and funders that partner with us.

We have been blown away by your courage, resilience and self-awareness in confronting, challenging and learning more about identity and racism. You have inspired ThinkForward to think more deeply about racism and to take action.

During this Young & Black project you told us that racial slurs are being used at school, but no action is being taken to stop them. You said that you experienced racism from a young age. Some of you said that what you thought was banter is racism.

You said that you are not comfortable in your skin, that it is used to label you and impacts on your opportunities. We also heard that you feel that your name or accent can lead to judgment and assumptions.

By coming together as a group, we can challenge the causes of inequality in our communities. We will change the way we work so that you can have fair access to opportunities and be true to yourself in education and at work.

We are on a journey of change with open minds and open hearts. The first step on our journey together is to commit to: • Having conversations about how young people from all backgrounds can be empowered within our organisations.

• Giving you an opportunity to feedback on what you think we could be doing better, making sure that we actively listen and then make changes to the way we run our organisations and how we behave. continued...

14

• Making sure you feel welcome in the spaces where we work and represented through the people that you interact with. As an example, ThinkForward will include equity, diversity and inclusion in our training for volunteers so that they hear your voices and celebrate your backgrounds.

We will all do everything in our power to create a world where you can be yourself and achieve what you want to achieve. You will hear about the progress we are making through your ThinkForward coach.

Continue to be bold, brave and speak up. As one of you said, “Just be you and show people what you are capable of.”

Yours,

Partners who have pledged their support so far:

#YOUNGANDBLACK

ThinkForward and the schools, employers and funders that partner with us.

thinkforward.org.uk

15

16

#YOUNGANDBLACK

A book by young people, for young people, to showcase their artwork and raise their voices.

17

SKY

14, Kent

MY PLEDGE “My pledge for this year is to focus on my education and focus more on myself to ensure that I can work as hard as I can to get the job I would like to do when I’m older, which is to either work in a bank or in a lab or be a paramedic.

I am going to use social media platforms to be openly anti-racist.”

18

MAHMUDUR

15, London

“To respect everyone and show kindness and consideration, and further understand other people’s points of view.”

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE

19

ERICA

16, Nottingham

MY PLEDGE “My future plans are to educate those who say things without thinking, so they’re aware of what they are saying.”

20

REECE

19, Kent

“I want to try and speak up when I see people being treated differently. I think it’s important to stand up for what’s right.”

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE

21

DAVID

14, London

MY PLEDGE “I will design a poster against police brutality because I have seen it first hand and I want to raise awareness that it does exist and use my voice as an ally to help bring this to light.”

22

“Use my voice as an ally.”

ESME

14, Kent

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE “I have learnt about racism and Black Lives Matter and how hard it is for young people growing up and how it has been this way for many years.”

“How hard it is for young people.”

23

“

You’re told not to make a fuss about racism because it’s normalised’’

‘I felt I didn’t really belong...

24

#YOUNGANDBLACK

‘Your name should always be your name, never be ashamed of it’

anywhere’ 25

MOHAMMAD

14, London

MY PLEDGE “I pledge to make a poster about anti-racism to show that racism should stop because it is really stupid when you think about it!

Hopefully I can help to make the world a fairer place, one where we are all treated equally no matter our race.”

26

“Make the world a fairer place.”

ALICE

s

18, West Midland

#YOUNGANDBLACK

p Dear future world...––– I hope to see...

Equality for everyone to live their lives how they want to! Acceptance for everyone! Ban abusive content on social media to stop racism and homophobia happening!

From Alice

“Ban abusive content on social media.”

27

GROUP ARTWORK

Kent

Brooklyn, 14 Oakley, 14 Lizzie, 14 Lisa, 14

28

29

#YOUNGANDBLACK

JESSICA

14, Kent Black Lives Matter!

I am White, you are Black,

MY PLEDGE “I would learn about Race and Equality more, to be more educated and share stuff around.

Stick up for people because it shouldn’t be happening and I would like it if people would learn about it more because it is a big thing in the world.”

What difference does it make, all they see is hate but really all you are is just a different race.

Racism is really bad, all those innocent lives thrown away. It’s getting out of hand.

I hope it goes away someday.

Black Lives Matter is what more people should say, and I often hope they get their way.

Lots of people are racist and that’s not okay and George Floyd was killed on the 25th of May. Police officer heard him screaming “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe more than eleven times but still they held him down.

You see it is getting out of hand and I hope it goes away someday!

30

TYLER

14, Nottingham

“I will respect all cultures and try to help stop racism.”

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE

31

HOW WE MADE IT HAPPEN

32

33

#YOUNGANDBLACK

ALEX

s

17, West Midland

p Dear future self...––– It has been a challenging and interesting year which I have learnt a lot from. Accept people for who they are. Be equal and fair to yourself and to everyone.

From Alex

34

“Acceptance.”

JASMINE

14, London

“To call out any racism I see or hear.”

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE

35

KAI

14, Kent

MY PLEDGE “People should always be responsible even in bad moments and make sure to always help others when they’re in need.

I have learnt that everyone should be treated the same and respected, and I will commit to get others to respect each other and help each other.”

36

NIKKI

14, Nottingham

“Never be afraid to speak up.”

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE

37

GROUP ARTWORK

London

Black Icons that Inspire Me...

Elonga, 19 Husen, 19 Ifrah, 17 Jack, 18 Callum, 22

...

From Elonga

...

From Elonga

Keke Palmer is very inspiring to the other people about race and she is my favourite actress from the movies.

...

38

...

From Ifrah

From Jack

...

From Jack

Now he has become a manager now I’m learning to be a coach to get where he is at because once you learn from your idol you want to do it yourself to see what it’s like :) It’s an amazing opportunity to get into something that you love I couldn’t of done without Henry he has played a big part in this I couldn’t be happier.

...

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

...

From Husen

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.”

– Jimi Hendrix

...

From Jack

#YOUNGANDBLACK #YOUNGANDBLACK

My inspiration was Thierry Henry growing up as kid that followed football as a dream the more I’d see him on TV made me believe I could achieve something in life I love everything that he did.

From Callum

Bianca Belair is the greatest women champion in WWE and African American royal winner.

...

From Jack

...

From Ifrah

39

Ruby-Leigh

15, London

MY PLEDGE “To use my voice to make a change.”

40

ADAM

17, Kent

“I want to help others with their mental health, I will try and help them by showing them what support they can get. It goes unnoticed. You see white people get more support and are considered more over those who are black. It’s not fair and has to change. I want them to know I will try to help.”

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE

41

SIDRA

14, Nottingham

MY PLEDGE “I will have more conversations to people about race and carry on avoiding ‘neutralized’ racism.”

42

KADEN

14, London

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE “To call out racist language whenever I hear it.”

“Call out racist language.”

43

SETH

CUBA

SADIE

MY PLEDGE

MY PLEDGE

MY PLEDGE

“My personal pledge is to be open and not judge people. I want to see things from other people’s perspective and understand where they come from.”

“I pledge to educate people on my background and share my experiences to help foster a better community.

I pledge to criticise and shed light on those who are racist and oppressive in my community.”

“I want to raise awareness on social media. I want to show people it’s OK to be YOU. I want to celebrate identity and difference.”

18, London

44

19, London

17, Kent

DAN

JOBA

ZHELEA

MY PLEDGE

MY PLEDGE

MY PLEDGE

“I will respect people for who they are.”

“I want to continue to tell people that it is OK to be you, be yourself.

We should celebrate everyone being unique.”

“Keep spreading awareness everywhere. Share stories.

Speak up!”

19, Kent

14, Nottingham

#YOUNGANDBLACK

14, Nottingham

45

LEWIS

s

17, West Midland

p Dear future world...––– I hope to see...

Equal rights for all, less aggressive messages on the internet, a safe ecosystem and to make a safe place for all people.

From Lewis

46

“Equal rights for all.”

MADELEINE

14, Kent

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE “I would like to post and raise awareness of other people’s stories and helping people feel more safe about being different, helping them to become more confident about their race and nationality. They can talk to me and I can help give them a voice.”

“In school I would let people know they can talk to me if they have any bad experiences, and I will try and help mediate and if I can’t support them to tell a teacher or a professional to get the person to understand what they are doing is not right, and it is not fair to make people feel this way.”

As of today, there are a lot of meanings for the symbol in this picture. For me it stands for Equality for all races, Black, White and all around the world. There are still a lot of gaps when it comes to equal rights...

Madeleine

47

KAYLEN

17, London

MY PLEDGE “I pledge to be considerate to other people’s feelings and to embrace my identity and background.”

48

“Embrace Identity.”

LACEY

14, Nottingham

“Speak about race more to people.

Also stick up for people.”

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE

49

‘I have experienced racism and body shaming at school – having albinism as a young black girl. It led to feelings of depression and suicidal thoughts.’

we don’t e g a g n u o y a t A “ m to o d e e r f e h t e v a h make mistakes’’

50

#YOUNGANDBLACK

‘Saying you don’t see colour is downplaying the problem and it isn’t true, you do see it.

It downplays other people’s experiences’

51

SAM

s

20, West Midland

p Dear future world...––– I hope to see...

A world where everyone is accepted for who they are and a world where people can be who they want to be.

From Sam

52

“Allyship – people can be who they want to be.”

VIVIANA

14, London

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE “I’m going to make a poster in support of Black Lives Matter because I want to show awareness of the issues that black people face and be an ally against discrimination; things really have to change soon and I am going to be a part of the change that I want to see.”

“Be part of the change you want to see.”

53

LEO

14, Kent

MY PLEDGE “My pledge is to spread awareness and I would like to donate to a Charity like Black Lives Matter.

I will spread awareness via my social media platforms, Instagram and Snapchat. I will repost content that I feel strongly about and any current issues with my friends.”

54

ARSHDEEP

18, London

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE “I pledge to myself that from today on I will learn to embrace my identity and not let anyone put me down because I am amazing in my own way. I also pledge to help people open up at their own will and help them discover their inner self. We love positive self-confidence.”

“We love positive self confidence.”

55

HOW WE MADE IT HAPPEN

56

57

#YOUNGANDBLACK

GEORGIA

14, Kent

MY PLEDGE “The main thing I learned from the Young and Black project was that everything a white individual will do a black individual will do the same but that the black individual will get dirty looks, people will cross the road, people think automatically that a man has a gun. I want to raise awareness of this discrimination. Me and a friend had the idea of charity football matches where we will sell drinks and cakes and maybe do a raffle. We will be meeting with school staff to arrange this.”

58

“Raise awareness of discrimination.”

ATAKAN

14, London

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE “I pledge to do a poster to spread anti-racism around the world and to show equality because a world without equality is not right or fair.”

“A world without Equality is not right or fair.”

59

‘There’s microaggressions and racism at school.

Nothing is done about it’.

60

#YOUNGANDBLACK

‘My name wasn’t normal to them, so I changed it’

61

Madison

14, Nottingham

MY PLEDGE “Don’t be afraid. Do what you can.

Go and tell all people to stop being racist”

62

KEVIN

14, Kent

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE “The main thing I learnt in the Young & Black project is how black people are treated. I want to change people’s perspectives and help change the way people treat and act around black people so they are treated with respect and love.”

“I want to see a community where children and adults can live freely no matter what the colour of their skin is.

Where everyone can get along without having people finding out the colour of your skin and worrying for your lives.

Long story short, I hope to see a world where we could all change for the better.”

63

SAMIA

LA-SHYI

TAWANA

MY PLEDGE

MY PLEDGE

MY PLEDGE

“I pledge to be more considerate of other people and embrace my identity.”

“I want to learn more about Black activism in music.”

“I am going to keep speaking up on my opinions and remember to keep loving myself.”

17, London

64

17, London

16, Nottingham

LEWIS

17, Kent

MICHAIAH

17, London

JAHQUARN

14, Nottingham

MY PLEDGE

MY PLEDGE

“I want to continue to keep learning about racism and build my confidence.”

“My pledge is to embrace a positive attitude and be kind to myself and have more self-love and positivity.”

“I pledge to be open-minded.”

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE

65

FAREEDAH

14, London

MY PLEDGE “My pledge is to create a poster on how to be anti-racist and why Black Lives Matter. This is really important because we have to start treating each other equally - what are some people so scared of?”

66

“Be Anti-Racist.”

AMELIAnt 19, Ke

“To continue to be honest, tolerant, supportive and thoughtful of other people.

I want to celebrate everyone!”

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE

67

GROUP ARTWORK

London

Viviana, 14 Atakan, 14 David, 14 Fareedah, 14 Justin, 14 Mohammad, 14

68

69

#YOUNGANDBLACK

DANIEL

p

14, Kent

Dear future world...––– I hope you have changed for the better.

I hope you have overcome racism and made the world a place where everyone is treated equally.

I want the future world to be a place where nobody has to hide or be scared.

From Daniel

70

“I learnt that all people are equal no matter their colour.

I will always keep an open mind to other people.”

TYANNA

15, London

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE “I pledge to do more work with young people my age and pledge to be true to myself and have faith and belief, also have self-confidence and treat myself better mentally and physically.”

“Be true to myself.”

71

‘I see some kids have more privilege because of the colour of their skin’

72

#YOUNGANDBLACK #YOUNGANDBLACK

‘I’ll make sure to spr e a d awareness and be openly anti-racist’ 73

JUSTIN

14, London

MY PLEDGE “I am gonna create a poster in solidarity with the BLM movement, to help spread awareness of why equality matters and to speak up against police brutality - we really should not have to be dealing with these issues in 2021 and I want to help put a stop to it.”

74

“Equality Matters.”

HOLLY

14, Kent

“We are all the same inside. Every skin colour is beautiful, and people should stand up for people who are being hurt and judged and get people’s voices heard.”

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE

75

JOSH

14, Kent

MY PLEDGE “My goals for the Young and Black project are by posting global issues on my social media and following more black creators on Instagram etc. By spreading awareness on social media, it will bring attention to stuff in society that matters and make people aware of what is actually happening in this day and age.”

76

NATALIE

16, Nottingham

“We are not different, for blood runs through our veins, we must treat each other kindly.”

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE

77

GROUP ARTWORKham Notting

Erica, 16 Tyler, 14 Natalie, 16 Nikki, 14 Jahquarn,14

78

#YOUNGANDBLACK

Sidra, 16 Madison, 14 Dan, 14 Zhelea, 14

Lacey, 14 Millie-Sky, 16 Caszion, 14 Tawana, 14

79

It’s the d i f f e r e n c e s

that bring you together!

80

81

‘I’ m

#YOUNGANDBLACK

no ta I’m

ju st a

kin d

m us lim

bo y’

te rr or is t.

JAY

15, Kent

MY PLEDGE “The main thing I learnt from the Young and Black project is that people of colour are not treated the same as white people.

I will spread awareness to everyone by telling them that everyone should get treated equally.”

82

SOFIA

15, Kent

#YOUNGANDBLACK

p A letter to my future self...––– I hope life is going good for you, how’s the lateness doing? It best of got better.

I hope you have still stuck to your life goals, how’s the GCSEs + A-Levels going?

Did you get into Kent league?

How is your mental health doing, has it changed for the better or the worse?

I am proud of how far you have come and remember even when you are having them bad days, never let them overtake the good times.

From Sofia

“I am proud.”

83

JOSHUA

ABDULAI

Millie-Skyttingham

MY PLEDGE

MY PLEDGE

MY PLEDGE

“I would like to learn and talk to someone about the deportation of the Commonwealth soldiers.

I’d like to educate my school and do a presentation.”

“I pledge to continue to look past differences and be a unifying force in my community.”

“Everyone fights their own personal battles so show everyone respect and be kind.”

17, Kent

84

17, London

16, No

CASZIONttingham SALMA 14, No

16, London

MY PLEDGE

“To talk to people how you want to be talked to.”

“I pledge to work on my personal targets such as confidence and motivation.

I pledge to achieve good grades and my career goals. I pledge to follow my thoughts and feelings towards what I have learnt in the Young and Black project – for example, learning and understanding who I am and my surroundings.”

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE

85

SHELOGNE

14, London

MY PLEDGE “Speak to young rappers and ask them to stop using the N word in their music.”

86

“Rappers, stop using the N word.”

KYLE

14, Kent

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE “We’re all the same inside, I like that we’re trying to stop racism.

One thing I would change in the world would be racism because everyone is a person, not because of the colour of their skin but their mind. I will stick up for people of colour by helping them feel better and stop people being racist.”

“Stop racism.”

87

ARTEMIS

14, London

MY PLEDGE “To attend a BLM protest and put an end to racism.”

88

BROOKE

14, Kent

“Racism needs to be stopped, because it is bad and rude.

If I see racism, I will stop it by telling the person not to be racist and say sorry.”

#YOUNGANDBLACK

MY PLEDGE

89

p u g y n l i l a k e a r ’ t t e i ’ p n t o s u d e l o u p b o o e a ‘y p y n ma t a h t see

90

‘Before this I never talked about who I was.

This project has boosted my confidence about me and my skin’

#YOUNGANDBLACK

I never thought anyone actually cared.

91

92

Our amazing young artists A

F

L

S

Abdulai O Adam C Ahon N Alex L-S Alfie M Alice F Amelia O Arshdeep K Artemis H Atakan G

Fareedah M

Lacey C La-Shyi K Leonardo P M Lewis B Lewis E Lisa Z Liz A

Sadie T-S Salma H Sam K Samia U Seth A Shelogne B Sidra H Sky A Sofia A

B

I

Brooke C Brooklyn K

Ifrah H

Callum T Caszion F Chay S Cuba C

D Dan T Daniel S David R

E Elizabeth B Elonga N Erica Z Erika E Esme R

Georgia T

H Holly R Husen A

J Jack B Jade J Jahquarn McD Jasmine C Jay H Jessica C Joba A Joel I Josh H Josh W Joshua H Justin B

K Kaden C Kai B Kaylen J Keiton B Kevin S Kyle T

M Madeleine P M Madison R Mahmudur R Michaiah A Milli D Millie-Sky K Mohammad A Morgan S

N

T Tawana M Tyanna C-G Tyler M

U Uche T

#YOUNGANDBLACK

C

G

V

Natalie T Nikki W

Viviana D

O

Z

Oakley A

Zhelea S

R Reece A Riman M Ruby-Leigh G Ryan McD

93

94

Thank you We would like to say a special ‘thank you’ to our business partner Citi who supported the Young and Black project as part of their own commitment to racial equity, diversity and inclusion, and to UK Youth for inspiring us to launch the Young and Black project.

At times it was difficult for young people to share their experiences of racism, and we’d like to recognise the role of our team in supporting young people to take part.

We firmly believe that our young people today have the determination, knowledge, talent and passion to fight racism and bring about a fairer and more inclusive society, and our Young and Black Project has helped to equip, inspire and support them in this fight.

#YOUNGANDBLACK

At the heart of our programmes is the trusted relationships young people have with their coach. Throughout the project, coaches and our wider delivery team provided a safe environment to explore race and identity.

Looking ahead, ThinkForward will continue to embed equalities in everything we do, work to influence our partners on issues such as fairer access to career opportunities and aim high to develop organisational best practice around equity, diversity and inclusion.

We all have to play our part. We hope you enjoyed the artwork and the messages in this wonderful book and that they inspire you on your own journey to contribute to a better, brighter and more just world.

The ThinkForward team

95

Keep in touch Website thinkforward.org.uk Twitter @ThinkForwardUK Instagram instagram.com/thinkforwarduk LinkedIn thinkforward-uk Sign up to our newsletter here.

You can find our accounts on the Charity Commission website.

ThinkForward (UK) is a registered charity in England and Wales no 1152862 and a limited company, registered in England and Wales no 08318590.

#YOUNGANDBLACK

THINKFORWARD.ORG.UK