We find ourselves at a moment in time when racial inequalities are at the
forefront of our minds. In the UK and around the world we witness the brutal
reality of how accumulative disadvantages inherent within and underpinned by
structural racism throughout all our systems can have severe, even lethal
consequences. One way in which we see this is in the disproportionate way black
and brown people are vulnerable to contagion and death by COVID-19. This virus
particularly attacks the respiratory system restricting the capacity to breathe.
We share the pain, trauma and sickening horror of witnessing the modern day
lynching of George Floyd on 25th May in Minneapolis. George Floyd’s death
follows a long list of similar killings of black and brown men, women and
children by law enforcement agents and vigilantes in the USA. We have
witnessed the communication ‘I can’t breathe,’ with the devastation of such cries
going unheard too many times. These violent events are now captured on film as
they happen and swiftly circulated around the world. As a result, we are all too
familiar with the repetitive trauma of seeing black and brown bodies
dehumanised and torn asunder. However, institutionalised and systemic racism
and violence cannot be located solely in the USA. We are able to reflect and
recognise the clear and present parallels within the UK and Europe. Heightened
awareness impels us to maintain momentum and face the reality of pervasive
and embedded structural racism and inequalities closer to home. These are
keenly reflected in our criminal justice system and the recent rise of fascism and
racist hate crimes.

Our profession offers us a clear theoretical framework to explain and understand
how the racist abuse and discrimination witnessed today is in fact a continuation
of centuries of trauma. This has been perpetuated generationally since the
beginning of slavery and imperialism with present day re-enactments painfully
alerting us that we remain a long way from reparation. As outraged as we are by
the situation, we are also mobilised.

We will work to ensure the tools of our profession are adequately employed to
address racial inequities, starting with our own organisational culture, trainings
and consulting rooms. This is the responsibility of us all and not solely members
and trainees of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) heritage. We consider it
the responsibility of our white colleagues throughout the group analytic
communities to respect, listen to and learn from BAME colleagues’ and patient’s
lived experiences of racism. We are well aware that this is easier said than done.
Our intention is to work together, challenging ourselves to achieve a cultural
shift whereby the shadow of racism is taken up. We also wish to respond to
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BAME colleagues’ repetitive experiences whereby parallel processes involving
racist dynamics and tropes emerge in the various group matrixes of the
institution. The result is often that BAME colleagues leave these scenarios feeling
re-traumatised, carrying the full burden of exclusion and erasure, often in
isolation.

By implication we will address the practice of privileging Whiteness, recognising
how its pervasiveness runs the risk of leaving BAME colleagues feeling
suffocated. Importantly, we recognise the direct relationship between
establishing a reflective and enquiring culture around inter-racial dynamics and
our ability to provide effective therapy to a diverse population.

We believe the IGA has the potential to offer much to the public, wider analytic
psychotherapy communities, and social institutions in relation to understanding
and working with racism. We do not feel our potential in this regard has been
realised. Therefore, we aim to collaborate with other analytic psychotherapy
organisations and to raise our profile externally. In turn we expect to be
culturally enriched by these inter relationships.

The National Diversity Power, Position and Privilege Working Group (PPP) has
been actively engaged since November 2018 in working towards a culture of
increased inclusivity. We have a strong membership committed to internal
systemic change and responding to social political dynamics played out in the
wider world. This group is currently responding to the increased momentum
driven by recent events. We are committed in engaging in anti-racist practice
now and in the future.

Within the next two weeks, we will publish an issue of the IGA News, which will
describe the actions we are going to take to achieve the progress described
above. Some of the actions are either already in development or have been
halted because of social distancing measures but may not be known to all
colleagues.

In the meantime, whether you are an IGA member, trainee or member of staff,
we will value your contribution to our developments. Similarly, if you have
concerns or require support, please contact IGA members who have a lead role
in regard to anti- discrimination and racism. They are:
Anne Aiyegbusi

Board Member for Anti-discrimination and Intersectionality
(anneaiyegbusiboardmember@groupanalysis-uk.co.uk )

Anthea Benjamin
Chair National Diversity Power, Position and Privilege Working Group (PPP)
(info@antheabenjamin.co.uk )
08.06.2020