this talk: is about race, responsibility and collective healing - with Nova Reid
Hi, could you tell our readers a little about yourself and what you do?
I help people be the change they want to see in the world by having the courage to unlearn their inherent and perhaps undiscovered racism. It’s glorious! I do this in a number of ways, I have an online anti racism course, I run live workshops and I am a public speaker and writer.
What was your journey into your industry?
Completely accidental! I mean, can you imagine the looks I would have got in the height of the 80’s if teachers asked; ‘Nova, what do you want to be when you grow up’, and I answered “an anti racism campaigner” lol! The truth is I have always been an advocate for the ‘underdog’ I have always cared deeply about human beings and helping people. But it was my own wedding engagement that was the catalyst. I got engagement in 2011 whilst I was working as a caregiver in mental wellbeing. I brought so many magazines and quickly realised there was this gaping hole in representation of British women and couples who are also black - it was like we were invisible. From magazines, to catwalks shows, to being given copious amounts of tanning products in goody bags from wedding shows. This gap made me feel awful so I decided to turn frustration into innovation and starting a wedding website called Nu Bride. Others started to follow, businesses wanted to advertise and seek advice on how to engage with a more diverse audience. That then led to an invite to the Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan as a media expert, which then lead to diversity consultancy and I noticed people were really comfortable discussing gender inclusion, for example, but really really struggled with race, it was like the elephant in the room and there was such discomfort around talking about it. So I decided that’s where I should lean in.
That then led to anti racism training, consultancy and advocacy and whilst at times it can take a toll, the transformation I see in others when they engage in this work and they say it has changed their life is mind blowing, I haven’t looked back.
Are there any standout struggles that you faced along the way?
YES! People are profoundly uncomfortable talking about race and it can trigger huge resistance, anxiety and shame in others (which gets in the way of progress) on one scale and on the other scale, racist abuse and trolling.
What tools have you developed to cope, or overcome these struggles?
Maintaining boundaries. I have a vibrant and engaged community on instagram and the block button is often in full swing. I report abuse and I will only engage with people who are open and willing to be part of the solution and I am unapologetic about that and regularly call people in who can be better allies. This also includes being selective with organisations I work with, after being in too many hostile environments. I now only work with progressive businesses that want to role model change and vulnerability and are open to having difficult conversations to better support all staff and better serve clients and not those that want to check a tick box
How would you describe the relationship between racism and mental health?
There is a serious link between racism and mental health which is often not explored or is underestimated. Racism is a form of trauma and as with any type of trauma it can have a detrimental affect on emotional and psychological wellbeing.
Research shows that the impact of exposure to every day racism can lead to PTSD. This is important to note because this isn’t necessarily caused by infrequent overt acts of hate, but the very frequent every day exposure to racial stress in society and in the workplace. It’s the every day racism and discrimination that I talk about in my Ted talk that can lead to PTSD and that is often done by well-meaning people, who would be mortified if they knew they were contributing to it. This means it’s harder to spot and equally harder to deal with, which means it often goes unaddressed
What steps do you think are needed to reach true equality?
Individual responsibility and collective healing. There is a lot of shame we hold about racism and our countries role in mass genocide and treating black people as subhuman for centuries, as a result we fundamentally don’t deal with it. So having the courage to explore your inherent-ism’s so we stop passing them onto children (who by the way are showing racial bias as young as three years old whether we like it or not and taking part in racial bullying in the playground) And instead, accept there is a problem and to commit to being part of the solution. Being a “good person” isn’t enough, you have to commit to being actively anti racist.
Are there any other educators, writers or influencers that you take inspiration from?
Many! The incredible James Baldwin, author Reni Eddo Lodge and Layla Saad to name a few
Fighting for justice and equality can be an emotional pursuit; how do you sustainably manage your mental health and keep your emotional wellbeing in check?
I used to work in mental health which meant I had to undertake a lot of training on managing mental health, counselling skills and maintaining professional boundaries, so these come in handy! Building resilience, practicing joy, having regular digital detoxes and only working with people who are open, those who want to raise socially conscious children and ready to be part of the solution. We each have the power to make a difference, we just have to make a decision to start today.
What advice would you give to someone experiencing racism?
Firstly that your feelings are valid and what you are experiencing is not in your head. Find safe spaces on and offline so you can share your experiences with people that understand and won’t gaslight you. If you have received an overt act of hate in a public setting or online, and there is a fear of safety a public setting report it to the police as a hate crime. If you are experiencing casual racism in the workplace, if you feel safe address it with the person in question, if not, connect with a BAME network for support, note everything down in writing, report to a manager or alternative senior leader/co worker. Make sure it is recorded. Racism is a form of trauma, so it is vital to increase your self care and build resilience to reduce anxiety and support your mental health. Try playing around with the 5-steps to wellbeing to get you started, seek professional support and ask for recommendations from friends/online.
What’s your positive corner of social media / the internet?
My positive corner of the internet is actually not being on it at all and doing the opposite. Coming offline, connecting with family, friends and nature.