The new report provides a first step towards expanding the experience of ‘unseen’ and ‘unheard of’ black disabled people who experience widespread discrimination in the UK music industry.
This work highlights the barriers of intersection* that black disabled music creators and professionals face every day.
According to the report, 80% of black disabled music creators and 89% of black disabled music professionals surveyed believe they faced some form of discrimination in the music industry.
And 74 percent of black music creators with disabilities felt that their race or ethnicity presents a unique barrier to success in the industry, compared to 58 percent of black music creators without disabilities. .
This report** is the first result of a new partnership between two campaign organizations, Black Lives In Music (BLIM) and Attitude is Everything. The organization aims to amplify the experiences of disabled black people in the music industry and break down the barriers they face. .
It combines responses from nearly 150 black people with disabilities who responded to the groundbreaking 2021 BLIM survey, as well as new interviews conducted by BLIM.
One black disabled woman interviewed for the report explained why she does not disclose her disability until she finds a job.
In her report she states: that she is a black woman. Being a plus size black woman. Being a black woman with children. Being a black woman with a child with “special needs.” So are you going to add obstacles there?
“So I won’t tell them. I don’t want to. You’ll find out when you get a job.”
Among the report’s recommendations were industry events to consider persons with disabilities and their access requirements “from planning to delivery” and the music industry to ensure that black persons with disabilities were included in marketing campaigns “in a meaningful and non-personalized way.” It is mentioned that it is possible to participate in
It also urges employers to consult with black disabled employees about their mentoring needs and to help them access career development opportunities.
Esther Ray, senior events manager at the Independent Music Association, wrote in the foreword of her own experience as “a black female creative and nerve diverter working in the industry,” but the report said, “People It provides “only a fraction of the voices of Black creatives that you don’t see in this industry give room for some people to be heard. ”
She said the report “many people feel they can’t grow and are recognized as talented artists and industry professionals who have tremendous potential to contribute to the industry we all love.” No,” he said.
Suzanne Bull, founder of Attitude is Everything, said: “The Unseen Unheard report and podcast series represent the first large-scale intervention produced by our partnership with Black Lives In Music.
“This is a cry for the industry to listen to black disabled artists and professionals and respond to their experiences of race- and disability-related barriers.”
Charisse Beaumont, Chief Executive Officer of Black Lives In Music said: “With Attitude is Everything, Black Lives In Music is on a mission to ensure that black disabled music creators and professionals are no longer seen or heard, but rather celebrated, elevated and recognized. The same chances as everyone else.
“To eradicate discrimination and create platforms and pathways for them to showcase their talents and skills so they can grow and get the careers they truly deserve.”
Yesterday (Wednesday), the organizations also launched an “Unseen Unheard” podcast series interviewing black disabled creators and industry experts about their experiences in the industry, hosted on the Black Lives In Music YouTube channel and podcast platform. It’s a schedule.
* “Intersection” refers to how different types of discrimination combine to create oppression, such as the experience of black women with disabilities being different from that of white women with disabilities or gay men with disabilities. It explains what it will be.
**Unseen. unprecedented.Race and Disability – The Experience of Black People with Disabilities in the UK Music Industry
Photo: Charice Beaumont (left) and Esta Ray
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