Bidemi O. R. Johnson
Pre-Sales Service Architect & Capability Lead at Leidos; Co-Founder & Chair of Not-For-Profit Organisation
This is my mum at the peaceful protest in Parliament square this weekend. Standing on behalf of her children, grandchildren and generations to come. Declaring "we should trade hatred for love. Whether you are white, whether you are black or any creed or of any dispensation, God created us so let love reign and let us exhibit love," she chanted loudly on the streets of parliament square…
My Foundation:
I was raised:
1. To love
2. To respect others
3. To not think too highly of myself
4. To be courageous enough to speak up and live my truth with integrity
5. That as a woman of colour, I would need to work 10 times harder than my white counterparts to prove my existence and my value
These same lessons I have passed on to my three children.
1. To love
2. To respect others
3. To not think too highly of myself
4. To be courageous enough to speak up and live my truth with integrity
5. That as a woman of colour, I would need to work 10 times harder than my white counterparts to prove my existence and my value
These same lessons I have passed on to my three children.
My Struggles
Sadly, the fifth lesson has proved to be true. After more than 22 years in the industry, I have found this to be the case on countless occasions. I have come a long way and I am grateful for the journey and the many people I have met along the way who have treated me as equal.
However, looking back over my adult life, a pattern emerges; I have had to jump too many hurdles as a woman of colour. Often times when I think I have arrived at the finishing line that qualifies me to take the gold, I am told that the goal post has been moved yet again!
I have felt the glass ceiling touch the crown of my head only to be pushed back down because of the structural inequality and systemic power construct that denies an equal value of life & liberty to black people for the benefit of white people. Thank you @Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu for explaining this so well and being an educator on these issues.
I have personally experienced on many occasions and quite recently, the masterful sly of hand of how the tables are turned by ‘accusing the accuser’. This is my REALITY, just another woman of colour smeared as an aggressor for daring to speak up.
However, looking back over my adult life, a pattern emerges; I have had to jump too many hurdles as a woman of colour. Often times when I think I have arrived at the finishing line that qualifies me to take the gold, I am told that the goal post has been moved yet again!
I have felt the glass ceiling touch the crown of my head only to be pushed back down because of the structural inequality and systemic power construct that denies an equal value of life & liberty to black people for the benefit of white people. Thank you @Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu for explaining this so well and being an educator on these issues.
I have personally experienced on many occasions and quite recently, the masterful sly of hand of how the tables are turned by ‘accusing the accuser’. This is my REALITY, just another woman of colour smeared as an aggressor for daring to speak up.
My Resolve
So today, I join with many millions of protestors in the UK and across the globe, as a leader in my community and one who works with young people, I lend my voice and speak up against injustice, I condemn racism and all forms of discrimination.
If we do not speak up we are complicit in the act that treats one race as superior over another and one that allows all manner of crimes to be committed in that guise.
In the words of WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua who was among those in attendance at one such protest in Watford He delivered a powerful speech to the crowds written by a close friend, comparing racism to a virus and suggesting that people are the vaccine.
“Killing a person outright is unforgivable, but stripping them of their human rights, oppressing them, mocking them, insulting them, placing glass ceilings above them just because of what? Their skin colour? It's just a slow way of killing them and taking the life out of their soul."
If we do not speak up we are complicit in the act that treats one race as superior over another and one that allows all manner of crimes to be committed in that guise.
In the words of WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua who was among those in attendance at one such protest in Watford He delivered a powerful speech to the crowds written by a close friend, comparing racism to a virus and suggesting that people are the vaccine.
“Killing a person outright is unforgivable, but stripping them of their human rights, oppressing them, mocking them, insulting them, placing glass ceilings above them just because of what? Their skin colour? It's just a slow way of killing them and taking the life out of their soul."
My Advice
We all have a role to play in bringing an end to this evil virus and pandemic called racism. A virus that is not apologetic, a virus that spreads across all sectors of our communities, sports, education, entertainment, the media, the legal system, organisations large and small and the government.
If all lives matter, why does the evidence show that black lives do not benefit from this truth?
So ask yourself, what can I do to join this movement, which calls for change in our society? Advice includes:
If all lives matter, why does the evidence show that black lives do not benefit from this truth?
So ask yourself, what can I do to join this movement, which calls for change in our society? Advice includes:
- Do not tolerate discrimination of any kind from any quarters.
- Hold your peers and managers accountable and report bad behaviour that normalises bullying of any kind.
- Speak out, because silence is not allyship and your Silence Will Not Protect You
- Be open minded, do not feel threatened by the difference, rather embrace what unites us as a human race
- Listen and seek to understand perspectives that may be different than your own.
- Mentor, identify talent within teams and support them with the knowledge and opportunity to succeed.
- Be an advocate for change, for inclusion, promote human rights and equality for all.
- Educate yourself on the issue of race and racism.
My commitment
In my capacity as the chair of a not-for-profit organisation which works with young people who are disadvantaged at various levels, I am committed to all of the above and will continue to lend my voice to achieving equity and the greater good for this generation and the generations to come.
In my industry and my role as a Service Management professional who works in Leidos, I am thankful to and very proud of our CEO Roger Krone and the Senior Leadership team who are tackling these issues headlong and advocating for change and inclusion. Although, there has been progress made, we have very important work to do to achieve a society that we all want to be part of, one that is free from prejudice, injustice and inequity.
In my industry and my role as a Service Management professional who works in Leidos, I am thankful to and very proud of our CEO Roger Krone and the Senior Leadership team who are tackling these issues headlong and advocating for change and inclusion. Although, there has been progress made, we have very important work to do to achieve a society that we all want to be part of, one that is free from prejudice, injustice and inequity.
What is your commitment?
#blacklivesmatter #georgefloyd #tradehatredforlove #loveisanaction #loveiskind #loveispatient #lovedoesnotenvy #loveisnotpuffedup #lovedoesnotbehaverudely #lovedoesnotseekitsown #loveisnotprovoked #lovethinksnoevil #lovedoesnotrejoiceininjustice #loverejoicesinthetruth #lovebearsallthings #lovebelievesallthings #lovehopesallthings #loveenduresallthings #loveneverfails
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