28 | THE VOICE MARCH 2023
Terence Channer
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‘Black failure counts as much as Black success’
FALL FROM GRACE: Superintendent Novlett Robyn Willliams, who was commended for her work after the Grenfell Tower disaster, was sentenced to 200 hours of community service for possession of an indecent image in November 2019. She was sent the image by her sister out of concern (photo: PA Images)
The spectacular fall from grace of a prominent professional who looks just like us has made me question all of my feelings
I
RECENTLY DESPAIRED at the spectacular fall from grace of prominent Black professional, Met Police Superintendent Novlett Robyn Williams, and I found myself questioning my feelings. One thing that became apparent to me is this; it is not possible for me to celebrate Black success and ignore Black failure, where such failure has followed a meteoric rise. It would be like celebrating the wedding, then being indifferent about the separation and divorce. Black failure can be brutal. Why? Because it’s not just seen as failure – it’s seen as ‘Black’ failure, much the same way the opposite is seen as ‘Black success’ and not simply ‘success’. Black failure is received with racist glee in many quarters: l “Told ya so!” l “She was never up to the task” l “Oh deary me, another DEI appointment bites the dust” l “They’re just not cut out for this” l “I never trusted him” That’s why we wince at seeing media reports of prominent Black failure. That’s why Idris Elba, right, will feel like a Black actor if, God forbid, he ever experiences the ignominy of scandal. So the next time someone criticises me for celebrating Black success, I will say that the joy of Black success compensates for my feelings of despair at Black failure. So if I’m going to celebrate Black success, I’m going to despair at Black failure. I’m going to hope that the mugshot is not of a Black suspect. I’m going to be embarrassed if a Black person spectacularly fails a quiz show.
I’m going to be disappointed if the Black boxer that I’ve never heard of loses – not because I’m racist, but because Black failure really hurts due to historical racist oppression and injustice. There are clear and obvious historical reasons why us Black folk need to celebrate Black success; it is because of Black trauma and Black failure caused by centuries of racial oppression and injustice. I shouldn’t have to explain. I’ve heard it said that we as Black people should not personalise and internalise the trauma and failure of unconnected Black people, of Black strangers. But how could I not feel for George
Floyd, Stephen Lawrence, Child Q or Dalian At Atkinson, none of whom I have ever met? My empathy has a life of its own – I’m incapable of withdrawing it, as racism is the backdrop to Black failure and Black suc success, irrespec irrespective of whether racism played a part in any in individual case. If Black success is healthy and progressive therefore making it my friend, and Black success fails, I’m not
We don’t get the benefit of the doubt, we don’t even get the benefit of corruption going to turn my back on my friend – like some fair-weather friend – irrespective of whether that failure is deserved. I am going to despair (that’s if ‘Black success’ represents Black progress, as not all skinfolk are kinfolk). Black failure is therefore my sick friend. In this particular case of the failed Black professional, nonBlack detractors criticised this
person’s initial appointment as being a token gesture ie pen ticking the DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) box. If that is true, then I would say in response that we do not want favours, we want a fair playing field, not handouts.
SUITABLE
I believe that there are more than enough suitable candidates. However, if by contrast, he was suitably qualified, then such racist criticism is to be roundly condemned. Please do not ask me to name and shame the individual, because I’m not about doing that. He has already been publicly named and shamed. You can accuse me of being selective by prioritising Black success over Black failure…I don’t care… it’s human na-
ture to generally celebrate wins and bury losses. We don’t get the benefit of the doubt, we don’t even get the benefit of corruption (see the contrast between scandalhit Met Police officers David Carrick vs Robyn Williams) and therefore we have to be extra careful when we rise in prominence not to put a foot wrong. Disciplinary rates are twice for Black lawyers, doctors, police officers and nurses, than their white counterparts. So, yes, I will continue to loudly celebrate Black success and silently despair at Black failure, because Black failure counts as much as Black success — I cannot separate the two. Joy and despair in equal measure. This I will continue to do until we can finally drop the ‘Black’ from success.
Terence Channer is a consultant solicitor at Scott-Moncrieff & Associates LLP who specialises in police misconduct, injury and healthcare law. He is a passionate anti-racism advocate.
