Next steps with the proposed BLM statement

[LJWatson]

We need to return our attention to the proposed BLM statement and decide what to do next.

With absolutely no suggestion of priority, here are some possible options:

We could update the statement based on the feedback from Kim Crayton and return it to the AC for consent to publish.

We still do not have representation from people of colour, so a risk is that we make a statement that has been prepared without any input (other than from Kim) from the community it intends to support.

We could remedy that, then update the statement and send it back to the AC for consent to publish.

We could do nothing with the statement. A lot of time has passed since the initial energy of the BLM movement, and we may feel that the time for statements has passed.

We could focus on making progress with some of the ideas we've been discussing and make our support of BLM implicit in our actions; and blog about the progress we're making as we make it.

There are likely other possibilities too.

[fantasai]

We could focus on making progress with some of the ideas we've been discussing and make our support of BLM implicit in our actions; and blog about the progress we're making as we make it.

Personally, I think this is the best thing to do next. “Actions speak louder than words”, and all that.

[mallory]

I think Kim's feedback includes going backwards and doing more foundational work instead of working on a statement, if I interpreted that correctly. They're not mutually exclusive, of course, but perhaps worth thinking of how Kim's intervention sparked new work, not just how to get this statement going.

I would suggest:

• Coming up with a document that distills Kim's guidance in a way that could be helpful for any W3C D&I work in the future. To codify her intervention, basically.
• Create a strategy to improve D&I, as specific as possible, and present that plan to the AC for action.

[TzviyaSiegman]

I agree with @mallory. Perhaps we should consider not writing a statement (or pausing the work on a statement), but incorporating black lives matter into our rhetoric, our mission, our vision. Consider the way that Black Lives Matter is incorporated into the P5 Community page. Perhaps W3C should add something to its Mission page, particularly under Web for All.