Quaker Africa Interest Group engages with reparations
‘We should aim to redress inequalities, rather than trying to identify who is owed compensation for injustices, and how much.'
The Quaker Africa Interest Group (QAIG) gathered last month to discuss how it can support Britain Yearly Meeting’s work on reparations and addressing inequalities.
Keynote speaker Kate McNally, a Woodbrooke tutor, presented the findings of her recent Eva Koch research, which looked into responses in BYM to anti-racism. She discussed the barriers the study identified in moving forward.
On the question of ‘How to repair broken structures?’, she said: ‘Use your agency, your time and your money.’
Lee Taylor, co-clerk of QAIG, told the Friend: ‘A key issue for QAIG members is how to support the work in BYM on reparations/addressing inequalities.’
One member, at the annual meeting on 11 February, said: ‘What helps me is thinking about our Quaker partners in Africa, and ensuring we have a dialogue with them to listen and develop our understanding of the [historic and current] issues.’ The group welcomed BYM’s decision to make reparations in 2022, but issued a statement last year saying it prefers to use the term ‘redressing inequalities’ as ‘we cannot be responsible for what past generations have done’.
‘We should aim to redress inequalities, rather than trying to identify who is owed compensation for injustices, and how much. We should not get hung up on mechanisms, but have a broad approach to making amends for loss and damage caused.’
The statement emphasised that injustice is ongoing and not historic. Lee Taylor told the Friend: ‘Southern Africa Yearly Meeting has already had a talk and discussion on the BYM minute: “how can BYM listen to Quaker voices who are affected by loss and damage?”’
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