Reflections on 2024: reckoning with racism, inequality, and a vision for justice

As 2024 draws to a close, we find ourselves grappling with the stark realities of systemic and structural racism. 

This summer’s race riots in the UK were a glaring reminder of how deeply entrenched inequities can erupt into visible unrest. But the response from government and media revealed a disheartening truth: a wilful disregard for the root causes that perpetuate these injustices.

The riots were treated, primarily, as a matter of criminal justice, individual acts of vandalism, theft, and violence—without acknowledging the structural inequalities that underpin them. Young people, some as young as 11 years old, were committing acts born not of inherent criminality but of an inherited ideology. 

This reactive approach to handle the situation from the government focused on punishment and containment and failed to address the systemic issues that inspire and permit such actions. Reactionary responses only ensure the cycle continues, leaving the deeper inequalities untouched.

A systemic failure with human costs

The human impact of the riots is both visible and invisible. People altered their daily routines out of fear, avoiding routes where riots were planned. Parents anxiously checked in with children and family members to ensure they were safe from both rioters and the disproportionate policing that followed. Children expressed fears of returning to school due to racial bullying.

In many cases, these challenges are compounded by socio-economic disadvantage, which is deeply intertwined with race. People from marginalised racial and ethnic communities are disproportionately likely to face poverty, unemployment, and barriers to accessing quality education and housing. These systemic inequalities create a cycle of deprivation that leaves many without the resources or opportunities to escape marginalisation.

It’s 2024, and still, safety – physical and psychological – is not guaranteed for many in the UK, particularly for those from marginalised racial and ethnic communities. It’s 2024, and we are still struggling to name and dismantle the systemic racism that fuels this instability. Politicians and the media play a significant role in perpetuating this racism, with inflammatory rhetoric that emboldens prejudice rather than addressing its causes.

Social cohesion cannot be achieved without first addressing the deep racial disparities that divide us. This requires more than reactive measures. It demands systemic change: investments in education, housing, healthcare, and the economic inclusion of marginalised communities. Without these, the fractures in our society will only deepen.

Global echoes: racism, power, and international development

The events in the UK are not isolated. They reflect patterns of power, exclusion, and inequity that are global in scale. In the international development sector, the same systemic barriers persist. While progress has been made in some areas, the sector remains resistant to change where it matters most. Conversations around racism, in particular, how covert and structural it is, and how damaging it can be – are often avoided, deemed “too uncomfortable” or dismissed with the refrain that “everyone has good intentions.”

The recent debates around Band Aid 40’s re-release of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” highlight the persistence of outdated and harmful portrayals of Africa and reflect broader systemic issues within the development sector. Critics argue that these representations perpetuate stereotypes of Africa as helpless and dependent on external aid, damaging its economic growth, tourism, and investment. Fuse ODG, among others, publicly declined to participate, noting that such narratives stifle Africa’s progress. These discussions are a reminder of how misrepresentation in the development sector reflects broader systemic issues, reinforcing imbalances rather than addressing them.

This reluctance to confront racism not only stymies progress but actively harms the mental and physical health of those affected. Bad behaviour, whether intentional or not, often goes unchallenged under the guise of maintaining harmony. Excuses like “it’s all in the past” further deny the realities of systemic inequities that persist today and the lived realities of so many, ignoring how historical injustices shape present-day inequities, as illustrated by the exclusionary headlines surrounding Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this year. Decision-makers who are in decision-making spaces, whether in organisations, institutions, funders, or governments, must recognise the weight of their roles as they have access to spaces that can fundamentally change the future for many, or not.

We had previously highlighted in our Racism, Power and Truth report that people of colour in low- and middle-income countries are systematically marginalised and prevented from progressing in their careers. The report revealed pervasive anti-Blackness within the UK international development sector, with Black individuals often positioned at the bottom of a racial hierarchy that privileges white individuals. These inequities are not isolated; they reflect broader systemic power imbalances that shape global governance and decision-making.

One such example is the entrenched exclusion of low- and middle-income countries from key international discussions. These dynamics have spurred initiatives like the UN Tax Convention, which was established to create a more democratic space where all countries have an equal voice in global tax rules. Historically, these countries have been denied meaningful participation in such frameworks. The adoption of the UN Tax Convention’s terms of reference in August 2024 marks a significant step towards rectifying these imbalances and promoting equitable global governance.

Our work in 2024: leading with justice

At Bond, we have continued to lead efforts to challenge racism, power dynamics and inequity within our sector:

CEO Anti-Racism Group: We’ve continued convening the CEO Anti-Racism Group to nurture learning,  to challenge one another, and work through the complexities of leading an actively anti-racist organsiation both internally and externally. This long-term commitment by leaders underscores the importance of sustained, systemic efforts to drive meaningful change.

Justice-Led Approaches to Global Development: In September, we launched our vision for a justice-led sector. This new vision offers a transformative approach rooted in justice, equity, and sustainability, challenging the sector to reimagine its work through a lens of inclusion, anti-racism and solidarity.

“This is the Work”: In October, we launched these resources for policy and advocacy staff, aimed at operationalising anti-racist and decolonial principles in their daily work. This practical resources serve as a roadmap for integrating justice into the heart of advocacy efforts.

POC in development group: We convene a brave space for people of colour to discuss issues, share learnings, coordinate influencing and come together in solidarity and for self and collective healing.

As we look forward to 2025, our focus will be on supporting the sector to implement these initiatives, embedding a justice-led approach and ensuring that anti-racism and decolonisation are not additional considerations but central to the way we work. We will also share reflections from CEOs in the anti-racism group on how this work has transformed them as individuals and their organisations, showing the tangible impact of sustained anti-racism efforts.

Pathways to deeper engagement: reparations and global solidarity

Looking ahead, there are promising avenues for meaningful engagement and action:

African Union’s 2025 Theme: The African Union has declared 2025 as the “Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” aiming to address the reparations owed due to the transatlantic slave trade, slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonialism. This initiative seeks to encourage dialogue around accountability and restitution, providing a platform for affected communities to voice their experiences and demands.

CARICOM’s Advocacy: The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has been at the forefront of the global reparations movement, actively campaigning and establishing connections with activist groups worldwide. Their efforts have led to the formation of a network of organisations ready to campaign for reparations more effectively, engaging governments and institutions in meaningful discussions.

UK Reparations Conference 2024: In October, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations hosted the second annual UK Reparations Conference titled “From Acknowledgement to Action.” This gathering brought together campaigns, institutions, and activists to advance the issue of reparations for the colonisation, enslavement, and continued exploitation of peoples of African descent. It recognised that there has been a historical path to reparations, and discussed what role insurance companies, banks and financial institutions must play in paying reparations.

These initiatives represent positive steps towards deeper engagement, offering opportunities to hear directly from affected communities and act on their calls for justice. They provide a framework for addressing historical injustices and their ongoing impacts, building a more equitable and inclusive future.

A vision for 2025 and beyond

As we enter 2025, we must carry forward a vision of justice that is bold, inclusive, and unyielding. We must be proactive and not wait until the next crisis to erupt. We have the chance now to come together strategically to build relationships, understanding, and coherence united behind a shared future. It can’t wait.

This is a vision that requires us to look beyond borders, recognising that the fight for equity in the UK is intertwined with the fight for equity and justice globally. Together, we must work to change and reform the systems that divide us and build a future rooted in equity, compassion, and shared humanity. 

By learning from the past, we can make the future different. Let’s not wait for the next crisis to remind us of what’s at stake. Let’s work now strategically, collectively, and with unwavering resolve for a sector where justice is not just a goal, but a reality.