OUR INSPIRATION

The 3.0 in the name Inclusive and Equal Rights UK is a concept that the founder and chair of IERUK, Haddy Njie heard from her mentor, Mellody Hobson. Mellody coined the term Civil Rights 3.0 as a way of segmenting the three main civil rights movements in America, The same segmentation can be applied here in the United Kingdom.

Civil Rights 1.0 represents the time after enslaved people were freed. In August 1833 in the UK, the Slave Emancipation Act was passed giving all slaves in the British Empire their freedom.

2.0 represents the 1960s where many black people and their allies made a difference to the civil rights of the Black population in America but also the UK. For instance, Paul Stephenson, a 26 year old teacher in 1963 led a boycott against a racist public bus company.

3.0 is the here and now. Mellody Hobson calls on corporate businesses in America to address racism and diversity. We also believe that to address systemic barriers in York and beyond, it must not be volunteers and activists doing the work, organisations and institutions must play their part too.

OUR AMBITION

IER UK 3.0’s ambition is looking to do the same work beyond York and for the rest of the United Kingdom. That is, to fundamentally change how institutions in this country can address issues of racism and disproportionate levels of inequalities within our societies.

We aim to work with institutions:

  • To seriously recognise and increase their understanding about the challenges many marginalised groups face and addresses those issues;

  • to apply learnings from research and address issues of race and discrimination, fund appropriate initiatives and taking bold and fair actions to equal the playing ground for all; and

  • And leaders to take responsibility and accountability for instigating real change, creating targeted roadmaps which demonstrate how their plans will be implemented.

Lip service cannot work anymore.  We need to produce demonstrable and impactful outcomes. We believe that by working together, IER UK 3.0  can make this happen.