Afua Hagan

In this talk I will let you into my personal journey as a broadcaster and journalist and the impact the events of 2020 had on my career. On a really personal level it was tough, being a Black woman living in a world that seemed to hate Black people. What happened afterwards, was also tough.   It was great to be offered platforms to speak about what happened and what I felt should happen next in terms of talking issues of diversity and inclusion in the UK. But I often felt like a token. And I often wondered to myself, am I on this channel because I am a Black, dark-skinned female journalist who can talk about race and ticks a box or am I on this channel simply because I am a good journalist? 

I still have those questions today. Lots of companies came out to support the idea of Diversity and Inclusion in those days and weeks after the death of George Floyd. They rightly recognized the need for change. But it’s much more than – let’s hire more Black folks! It’s not just inviting Black people to have a seat at the table, but asking them to be part of the decision-making team on who’s at the table in the first place. That’s real inclusivity. 

You might have a lovely working culture and a great office environment but are you truly inclusive? Do you have Black people in the upper echelons of the organization making decisions?