Wrong colour to submit?

[onenewyorkminute]

Fully expected flaming for my "privilege" on this. And no, this isn't for an article or DM, this is a genuine question.

I'm a budding journalist and have started getting a few specialist areas of expertise.

One topic I was working on had an angle that relates to BAME backgrounds, and although I am white, I have enough resources, contacts and knowledge on the topic to write about it.

There's an up and coming online publication, that's being hailed as a breath of fresh air in the national press, targeting this demographic. Perfect spot to place this piece but as I was sorting out a pitch for them I noticed on their site:

"Please only submit pitches if you are identify as a woman of colour or a non-binary individual of colour."

Is this legal? I understand that they are trying to provide a particular platform and voice but surely you can't exclude people from submitting based on skin colour?

Anyway, I managed to place the pitch elsewhere but I'm still quite uneasy about this.

Thoughts?

Why are you uneasy?

Did it say you can submit if you are or if you identify as? If the latter - well, anyone can identify as anything so I'd be tempted to use their own ridiculous phrasing against them.

I don’t think it’s unreasonable for them to only want BAME people to write about BAME experiences. You may have resources, knowledge and contacts but you don’t have the actual lived experience of what they want to hear about. Why would they want your piece, based on your use of your contacts, when they could have your contacts (or people similar to them) give their view directly?

There have been huge problems in the past caused by white people talking about BAME topics to the exclusion of BAME voices. Just like men shouldn’t be the loudest voices on discussions about sexism, white peoples shouldn’t be prioritised in discussions about BAME experiences. Lots of publications state that they want writers with first hand experiences of these issues in order to try and counterbalance this, and amplify voices that traditionally have been overlooked.

So in short - YABU. It is right that sometimes they will only want to hear BAME voices on BAME topics. And it is legal for publications to do this, because you are allowed to specify that only people with certain characteristics are eligible for something when that characteristic is required to undertake the role or task. You see it all the time in theatre casting but it’s not uncommon in journalism requests either.

That would exclude me as I identify as an eight foot tall blue rabbit.

I assume you are talking about Gal-Dem. The whole rest of journalism has a place for you, a writer who benefits from white privilege. Why try to stir up animosity towards one publication aimed at promoting the writing and interests of an underserved minority?

Even with all the resources in the world you can’t live the experience of a BAME individual. Surely you can see why they would want authentic experience over second hand experience.

Speakout you'd probably get protected status and can go around beating up all the non blue rabbits.

YABU. Also, if you don't quite understand why YABU you should probably rethink your decision to write on BAME topics.

Also, if you don't quite understand why YABU you should probably rethink your decision to write on BAME topics.

Yes, I agree with this...!

Is this legal?

Potentially. Equality Act 2010, Sched 9, Para 1:

A person (A) does not contravene a provision mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) by applying in relation to work a requirement to have a particular protected characteristic, if A shows that, having regard to the nature or context of the work—

(a) it is an occupational requirement,

(b) the application of the requirement is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim,

and

(c) the person to whom A applies the requirement does not meet it (or A has reasonable grounds for not being satisfied that the person meets it).

Personally, I can see why they think a white person is never going to understand racism in the same way as a POC tbh. I would just let it be and look for another place to publish if it were me.

It is completely appropriate for them to specify this.

I am white. I wouldn't presume to write about experiences as a black woman....but if I did have some experiences related to BAME issues and wanted to share them via a reputable platform or publication, I would always accept this way of thinking.

It's kind of like a man writing about how women feel or experience the world.

I cross posted with HelpmeobiMN and they have expressed the reasons why they would want BAME voices so much better than I could

I totally understand that I may not understand completely on some of these topics. Many journalists don't live and breathe what they write about all the time. It's their job to investigate and speak to those who do and try and convey it. I have lived in areas and countries and experienced things first-hand that I would deem to be racist, including physical violence . Yes, maybe not on a daily basis of others but it's certainly not an isolated issue.

As for the topic, I considered myself able to write it as I have specialist knowledge and I had lined up interviews and case studies with a particular group of people. It was one of those individuals that actually suggested the publication.

In the grand scheme of things not having a byline there is no big issue and I'm not going to lie about how I identify my skin colour to get one, but I just don't understand how it's legal to state it?

Thank you for posting the legal stuff. That makes sense and I respect that. Yes, IABU.

And, as I said, I had placed the piece with another publication so no loss on my part.

"There's an up and coming online publication, that's being hailed as a breath of fresh air in the national press, targeting this demographic"

Gal-Dem (which started out as a voluntary organisation) does not directly target a demographic as its readership; but is a platform for BAME writers to be published (women and those who identify as women). And that is its USP.

Yes, it can sometimes be legal to have demographic restrictions when encouraging an under-represented group.

As for the topic, I considered myself able to write it as I have specialist knowledge and I had lined up interviews and case studies with a particular group of people.

Have you heard of Dunning-Kruger, OP?

In the grand scheme of things not having a byline there is no big issue and I'm not going to lie about how I identify my skin colour to get one, but I just don't understand how it's legal to state it?

For the reasons pp mentioned.

Sorry, slow typing, so x-post with OP's last 2

I just don't understand how it's legal to state it?

Because fortunately when someone wrote the legislation they realised that there would need to be exceptions for situations like this and so they put one in.

It's obviously fundamentally different to eg if the Times were to say 'we're only going to acccept articles from white men now.'

Thanks @Medea13 yes, I am aware of Dunning-Kruger.

Thank you for posting the legal stuff. That makes sense and I respect that. Yes, IABU.

Sorry for the X-post (might last one might have come across unnecessarily snarky )

*my last one

And, as I said, I had placed the piece with another publication so no loss on my part.

It doesn’t really sound like you’ve understood why this issue is important tbh.

If it's GalDem, then it describes itself as:

"An online and print magazine written by women of colour and non-binary people for colour for all to explore" (my bolding)

It's not just about what it's like to be a person of colour. It shows how their contributors write about everything - news, lifestyle, music, politics, the arts, etc

The very fact you asked this and were put out suggests you don’t understand this issue half as much as you think you do OP.
The entitlement of your post is incredible.

I'm not convinced it is legal for them to do that.

I'd be interested to see that stand up to any kind of legal challenge.

It is not an occupational requirment to be be black in order to talk about race or racism.

Imagine if another publication specified that they wanted articles to be submitted by white men only. If that's wrong, then how come this isn't?

Being pragmatic, your not going to take them to court over it, so just move on and submit your article somewhere else.