I’m More Than a Black Tenant

My journey into tenant involvement wasn’t exactly from an innocent beginning. I heard about tenant involvement after a resolution of a complaint about being racially harassed by my neighbour for months. Being a single mom and living in an area where I am classed as even more of a minority, lessons were learnt by me and my organisation. So, what was my motivation for getting involved? Well, I didn’t want anyone else to go through what I went through, and I realised my voice was needed.

In the process of going through the induction training I could see the impact and influence scrutiny could make, but I could also see how representation was a missing factor that could make a difference. I knew I wanted to be chair of the panel and luckily enough I was voted to be chair by my panel, not knowing this would make me the first person of colour to hold a chair position within the organisation. A badge I carry with pride.

The first six months were the toughest. I felt the weight of leadership, I had to prove myself to my panel and to the organisation. I was constantly challenged on how I spoke, how I worded emails and my decisions. Would these things have been a factor if I was not a black woman? Who knows, but this was my reality. I would rewrite emails 10 times just to make sure I my words didn’t come across as “rude or aggressive”, and I had to be mindful about how I made challenges, as I didn’t want to come across as “aggressive or angry”. I was constantly mindful of my approaches as I knew eyes were on me, whether it was to see me fail or succeed.

I was asked by a colleague if I needed them to speak for me if I didn’t know how to speak properly. That question would never leave me. I’ve been told my outfits look very exotic and my head wrap looks like a band aid. The question is, do I fight every battle? If I fight every battle what are the repercussions? I am classed as difficult, argumentative, and aggressive. So, I put up with the discomfort at times for the bigger picture, which is, what me being in this role and doing it well really represents.

For the past three years, I have been observing, learning, putting myself in uncomfortable situations, challenging myself, and most importantly working hard. So, here are my labels:

• Woman
• Black Caribbean ethnicity
• Mother
• Daughter
• Degree graduate
• Domestic abuse victim
• Dealing with depression and anxiety
• Self-employed
• Social housing tenant.

I am all of these things and more, and what scrutiny has done is given me the platform to take all of my lived experience and knowledge and be an echoed voice for those who struggle with the labels I possess. I have helped to accomplish so much within my organisation. I had gained the trust and support of my panel and the organisation. I’m also helping to change the culture of the organisation after years of hard work, so I felt I could do more and wanted to do more.

I began speaking on larger platforms and challenging the sector to not only hear a tenant’s voice but hear it from a black woman. I put myself out there and with the mentorship of those within the sector, I became a Tpas Associate. It was such a milestone for me, my passion and drive were inflamed. I get to challenge myself even more, but why do I sometimes feel as though I am put into this position as a form of tokenism? I see eyes looking at me with the underlining judgement of, she must be part of the EDI strategy. So now I push harder to prove, I’m here for a reason, I’m more than just a black tenant.

My goal is to inform and support tenants from the BAME community to get involved with their landlords. To have a voice in shaping the organisation so there isn’t a disparity in the services they receive, and they aren’t playing catch up years down the line trying to get into an area of tenant engagement that is being dominated by any social group, as history has determined. Being with Tpas has given me the opportunity to develop this project and with the support of CIH and NHF, I will be leaving a legacy my children and community can see, and they will know that I’m not just a black tenant, I’m so much more.