EDITOR’S COMMENT I nearly didn’t watch the England game on Sunday. I wish I hadn’t. Not because we lost – I’m one of those annoying “it’s only a game” people – but because I knew the instant those three young men missed their penalties the abuse would start flying. I hate that that was my first thought, and that I was unsurprised that some of the horrifically racist behaviour and comments came from within the real estate sector.
I’m not surprised because every time I write something about race, ethnicity, diversity or inclusion, I get letters telling me to stop. That this is not the place. Letters that start “I’ve got nothing against black people, but…”.
I’ll get more, I’m sure. They’ll threaten to stop their subscriptions, they’ll say they want the old editors back (even though I know my predecessors would be writing exactly what I am today). Write away, because these words are just for you.
Racism is rife. And it is getting worse. It is in every one of our businesses and we are enabling it. I have enabled it. I’ve been quiet when I should have been loud. I’ve be frightened when I should have been brave. People have shared stories with me. Stories of well-known people in various parts of our industry doing wholly inappropriate things such as blacking up. I’ve not known what to do. I’ve been appalled but not spoken about it. Not until today. And that is not OK.
The stories that I hear are only the tip of the iceberg. When I’ve spoken to trusted advisers in this sector who have experienced racism in their lives, they shrug their shoulders at the tales I tell them. Not because they are unimportant, but because they are commonplace. They are commonplace in our industry, and we are not doing anything about it. Yes, we’re all talking about diversity and inclusion more. But we’re not talking about or taking action on the uncomfortable stuff. We’re following procedures, promising change, but not really taking action.
Even here at EG, where I like to think we’ve pushed hard on the D&I agenda with programmes like our Future Leaders project and my very vocal approach to how the real estate industry could do better, we’ve only been playing around at the edges. We’ve made pledges, we’ve highlighted people, but if I’m honest we’ve not worked hard enough. Just look at this week’s issue and how many white faces it features.
We will soon also be broadcasting an event that highlights this further. An event that is overwhelmingly white, and overwhelming male. We have some female guests, but not enough. We did not work hard enough to find the right diversity of voices, the right diversity of viewpoints to deliver the best intelligence to you, our audience. We also didn’t work hard enough with our partners on this occasion, working with them on the common goal of delivering the best content. The best voices are not always the most senior. We need to bring our partners with us on this journey, and be unafraid to say “no”. Knowing our partners I’m sure they’d support and encourage this. If they didn’t, they are not an EG partner.
So today, we make more than a pledge or promise. Today we will begin making a proper policy. Something to stand by, something that enables us to say no, to call out and to get uncomfortable.
Today we ask you, the real estate industry, to do the same. Do the same with us, with your clients, your colleagues, your supply chain – because no matter how committed you think you are to D&I, bad behaviour is still taking place in your business every single day. And mostly we are turning a blind eye.
But don’t take our word for it. Take those of the man who shared his all-too-common experience of racial discrimination with us this week. And understand that the very reason this brave man could not share his name is the very reason we have so much work left to do in making this industry better.
Yours, Team EG.
To send feedback, e-mail samantha.mcclary@eg.co.uk or tweet @samanthamcclary or @EGPropertyNews
