Becoming an anti-racist city

The council has pledged to be an anti-racist council. We will use our resources and change what we do to actively dismantle racist structures and challenge racial inequality.

We will work in partnership with Black and Minority Ethnic people including council staff, residents and community groups to directly shape our anti-racism strategy through their lived experiences and diverse perspectives.

The council also welcomes the commitments made so far by people and organisations in the city to be anti-racist. We call on all services and employers in the city to do everything they can to work towards Brighton & Hove becoming an anti-racist city and the council is ready to play its part.

Our full pledge to be an anti-racist council

The council is committed to long term actions and change.

We will:

  • reach out to and work with BME communities to create and deliver an anti-racism strategy shaped by their lived experience and diverse perspectives
  • focus on supporting BME businesses through council procurement and encouraging local support
  • work collectively with other public bodies especially the police on challenging each other to improve diversity and eradicate racism in our organisations
  • make sure a BME representative sits on the council’s main decision-making committee (Policy & Resources)
  • create and deliver a civic leadership programme aimed at increasing participation in local decision making within under represented communities
  • improve our collaboration with BME communities
  • resource BME groups to have stronger voices and influence
  • educate councillors and officers on white privilege, on language and structural racism
  • continue collaboration with our BME Workers’ Forum to deliver our Fair & Inclusive Action Plan
  • work with BME communities and groups to agree our approach to different statues, plaques and street names; removing some, retaining some and erecting educational information boards and/or walks
  • celebrate the legacies which fully reflect the city’s values and population

Progress on our pledge

We’ve also taken actions that we know our communities wanted including:

BME or BAME? The language we use

Language is constantly evolving. The council works with and listens to the thoughts and opinions of our staff, residents and community groups to understand the right language to use when talking about ethnicity, culture, faith and national identity.

We currently use Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) when talking to and about non-white British people. This is following feedback from the council’s BME Workers’ Forum and other community groups in the region.

However, we understand that everyone is an individual and not all people will feel comfortable with the same language. We welcome continued discussion and conversation about culture and language when discussing race, racism and identity.

Find out more