{"alias":"newsItem","byline":"A personal reflection by Lexie Sims","standfirst":"","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/7032/lexie-sims-1.jpg","width":600,"height":600,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EHello, my name is Lexie Sims and I\u2019ve been a Scouts\u2019 Trustee at a national level for five years.\u00A0\u00A0 \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ERecent events have brought Black Lives Matter and the subjects of systemic discrimination and inequality to the forefront. They\u2019ve given us all pause to reflect on our reaction as an organisation and as individuals.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EReact we must. Even a non-reaction is a reaction. Ways of communication are immediate and often everlasting. Articles, posts, tweets, and statements are scrutinized word, by word. If readers feel that you did not strike the right tone or use the right words, then even the apology is critiqued. In the \u2018cancel society\u2019 (where support is withdrawn from public figures or companies after they have spoken or acted in a way that others object to) actions come swiftly. My first intention with my actions and words is to do no harm.\u00A0 Some of these waters are unchartered, and in an immense effort to get things right, we may get some things wrong.\u00A0 \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThere is discomfort when these subjects are discussed and that is good. Because, when something is uncomfortable, we do something about it. I called a friend and she said \u2018I\u2019m so happy you called. I wanted to call you, but I did not want you to think I was calling to discuss these issues because you are my black friend.\u2019 Uncomfortable.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EPersonally, these last few weeks have been painful as I process my feelings, analyse the part race has played in my life and my hopes for the future. I have had days of despair and days when small acts have cemented my belief that this time, we will be able to make substantive change.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EMy journey \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EOver the past weeks, friends from the US and the UK have asked me if I relocated to London to escape racism. The thought never crossed my mind when I made the decision 20 years ago. I also thought no person of colour would ask that question. The skin is the largest organ of the body. I can no more escape discrimination than I can shed my skin. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EMy skin was with me when my US company transferred me to South Africa. Before accepting the role, I met with a psychologist as did all my colleagues on the assignment. On the topic of race, he said the South Africans will see you as an American. Yet, our Afrikaans driver and bodyguard would switch from English to Afrikaans when they said something unacceptable in my presence. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EBlack South Africans wanted to know what part I played during their struggle against apartheid. \u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThey did not ask this question of my white colleagues. My skin was with me when the same company later transferred me to Zurich. Some Swiss individuals would stare at me when I rode public transport. My white colleagues would speak to the individuals trying to protect me. For them, this reaction was new, for me, it wasn\u2019t.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EI wore my skin when my work colleagues in the UK decorated my desk with Union Jacks and Stars and Stripes, confetti, and balloons on the day I received my UK citizenship. One of the founders of the prestigious headhunting firm I work for walked by and enquired about the decorations. I explained that I had become a proud dual citizen. He said: \u2018you know what you need to do now?\u2019 I said \u2018no.\u2019 He said: \u2018take elocution lessons.\u2019\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe unwritten rules \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EI grew up in a small, East Texas town. Racism and prejudice permeated every part of life. At an early age you had to decide how much you let it affect your life and defer your dreams. My parents taught me the unwritten rules: \u2018You never leave a store without the receipt. You never take a purchase from one store to another that is not in a bag and you don\u2019t have the receipt in case you are accused of stealing the item from the second store. You never touch anything that you do not intend to buy. You never leave home without current identification and cash in case there is trouble. If you\u2019re driving and stopped by the police, you keep your hands on the steering wheel in the positions of 10 and 2. You do nothing unless instructed. You make no sudden moves. The only possible answer to any question is, \u201Cyes sir,\u201D or \u201Cno sir.\u201D\u2019 Every parent of colour must have this talk with their sons and daughters. It could be a matter of survival.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EMy skin serves many purposes. At times, I wear it as armour because I know I am walking into a combative situation. I wear it with pride, celebrating the accomplishments of my grandparents, parents, mine and my nieces and nephew\u2019s and grandniece\u2019s and grandnephew\u2019s generations. Attending President Obama\u2019s inaugurations, was to witness what hope could achieve.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EI have risen to director level in organisations in both the US and UK. My skin means I take on the extra responsibility feeling I, as the only one on the SLT or in a meeting or at an event, represent all people of colour. I experience extra pressure not to let the side down. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ESkin is the largest organ of the body, but I am so much more. Being Black is part of who I am, not all that I am. I, like anyone, have many interests and hopes and dreams. I love blues music, BBQ and American football. I can equate every occurrence in my life to a Simpson\u2019s episode. My favorite poet is Walt Whitman. I want to learn to speak French and play guitar. For just 60 seconds of my life I wish I could dance like Beyonc\u00E9. I get British comedies. Some Americans do understand irony.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EWhat should each of us do during these times?\u00A0 \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EI have no definitive answers. But we can all recognise that with pain comes healing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EWe can all be more open and honest with ourselves and others. We can have the conversations and admit none of us has all the answers. It\u2019s a period of reflection for us as individuals, as a movement with a long history, and as a society. For now, take pride in putting one foot in front of the other, together marching towards betterment and substantive change.\u00A0 \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ETake a look at these \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022/news/2020/june/how-to-talk-about-race-and-racism/?dm_i=31ME,11PBN,3U58J9,3ZWM0,1\u0022 title=\u0022How to talk about race and racism\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022?dm_i=31ME,11PBN,3U58J9,3ZWM0,1\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eresources\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E to help volunteers and parents talk with young people about racism\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ELet us know your thoughts on this blog by emailing \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:communications@scouts.org.uk\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ecommunications@scouts.org.uk.\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"18 June 2020","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":48526,"nodeName":"The part race has played in my life, and my hopes for the future","title":"The part race has played in my life, and my hopes for the future","type":"newsItem","image":{"url":"/media/10474/lexie-sims.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd1019a6f0","caption":"Lexie Sims","type":"jpg","size":214081,"width":600,"height":600,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"The part race has played in my life, and my hopes for the future","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODUyNiJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2020/june/the-part-race-has-played-in-my-life-and-my-hopes-for-the-future/"}