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Race Equality

Is sameness; everyone gets the same thing

Equality focuses on everyone getting the same opportunity, by using the same strategies for everyone. However, this often ignores the realities of historical exclusion and power differences between whites and other racial groups. This means that they are not likely to get the same outcome. 

For example, you have a classroom with a pupil who is blind, a pupil who is deaf, and a pupil who is neither. In order to achieve equality, you decide to teach all 3 the same topics using the same methods. 

The child with no disabilities is successful in their learning as the learning methods were well suited to them. However, the blind pupil and the deaf pupil both fall behind as they are struggling to understand the class work.

Although you have taught all three pupils the same, the pupils have not all been given the same opportunity.

Race Equity

Equity uses differentiated and targeted strategies to address different needs and ensure that outcomes in the conditions of well-being are improved for marginalized groups, lifting outcomes for all. 

For example, you have a classroom with a pupil who is blind, a pupil who is deaf, and a pupil who is neither. This time, in order to achieve equity, you decide to teach all 3 the same topics but you adjust the methods.

The child with no disabilities is successful in their learning as the learning methods were well suited to them. 

The blind pupil is successful in their learning as they now have the support of braille to help them understand the work. 

The deaf pupil is successful in their learning as they now have the support of sign language to help them understand the work. 

Although you have used different tools for all three pupils, one has not been given more support than the other. They have all been given the same support but in a way that best suits their needs, to ensure they all have a chance at achieving the same outcome.

Using targeted or differentiated strategies to achieve universal goals is referred to as “targeted universalism.”

For equality to be successful, it is important that it also addresses equity. Focusing on equality without equity, can be superficial and problematic.

Equality is not just about treating everyone the same – it is important to be treating people in such a way that the outcome for each person can be the same. This means putting things in place to support people to achieve similar outcomes.

At Unity, we want to make sure that the business is focusing on equity as well as equality by better understanding the breakdown of diversity in the business and how we can better support it moving forward. So, this week we are highlighting 3 things in part of the #ActionNotJustWords theme to help us in that journey.

A charged and necessary wake-up call to pervasive, institutionalised racism, Eddo-Lodge’s searing polemic reconstitutes the frame of the argument around race, removing it from the hands of those with little experience of its resonances. From ambient and lazy cultural stereotyping to open hostility, this book is a clarion call of understanding.

[Find out more here]

Teeming with life and crackling with energy - a love song to modern Britain and black womanhood.

Girl, Woman, Other follows the lives and struggles of twelve very different characters. Mostly women, black and British, they tell the stories of their families, friends and lovers, across the country and through the years.

[Find out more here]

This punchy, pocket-sized guide shows you how, whether you're using your voice for the first time, or are looking for ways to keep the momentum and make long lasting change.

Sharp, simple and insightful, they get to the heart of anti-racist principles and show us all how to truly be better allies.

[Find out more here]