As part of Black History Month and our ongoing work to make RCOT and the occupational therapy community a more inclusive place for Black individuals, we’re hearing from Anne-Marie Fadare, founding member of BAMEOT, about change, inclusion, and celebration.
The Black Lives Matter protests around the world gave an awareness to many individuals and organisations. It is so sad that the catalyst was the murder of George Floyd, a black man in America, which was witnessed by millions around the world finally made people listen and acknowledge what we have been saying for centuries! This caused people to educate themselves about black history, heritage, and culture and for them to acknowledge, identify and understand racism and discrimination and stand with us in solidarity against racism.
The affinity group BAMEOT Network was formed to give occupational therapists from black and minoritised ethnicities a voice and support as there is a lack of black occupational therapists in senior management and leadership roles. This is something that needs to change.
A year on I’m happy to see that RCOT have employed a diversity and inclusion officer and have started hosting meetings to listen to black and minoritised ethnicities and the situations they face at work, in healthcare, socially and the education sector. I’m also happy to see Kalimah Ibrahiim take on the position of Council Member, RCOT Board: England. I look forward to seeing and being a part of the wonderful and exciting things to come. As I’m sure we will agree we still have a very long way to go.
Celebrating black history month to me means being proud to have and belong to such a rich and diverse culture. I am proud when I put on my uniform. I am proud as I can stand as an African woman and introduce myself as a senior occupational therapist.
I am proud to be a black senior occupational therapist, having the opportunity to teach and demonstrate positive characteristics to occupational therapy students and newly qualified occupational therapists and the wider multi-disciplinary team. Trying to eliminate negative stereotypes of black women and being a positive voice and representation for black and minoritised ethnicities within the occupational therapy community.
Going through every racial obstacle is traumatising and stressful. I believe that knowing our past is helping us to change our future and hopefully that’s a lesson that will eventually be learnt at a systemic, institutional, and structural level. I hope to see in the future a lot more people from black and minoritised ethnicities becoming occupational therapists and occupying senior management and leadership positions, to represent the communities we serve, which will in turn provide equity in health and social care and a more diverse representation within RCOT.
Anne-Marie Fadare
Founding member of BAME OT
Occupational Therapist