This is not a post about the ocean.

You cannot have missed the news about the killing of George Floyd in the USA, and the protests that have followed. Once again, the inherent racism in white-dominated countries is brought to light, in the most tragic way possible. Let's be clear - this is not just a problem with the USA. France, Ireland, Germany, Australia… this is a problem in all white-dominated countries. Let's also be clear that what happened to George is not a one-off, and that the systematic racism that exists in our societies are often more pervasive, more subtle than the killing of black people in police custody.

If we white people living in white-dominated countries think about our exposure to BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic)/BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) people, I bet that a considerable amount of that exposure comes from the media - news, tv-series, films, etc. In many cases (not all of course), these people are portrayed as criminals, thugs, people to be feared, and sometimes in need of a white saviour. Even though we may not consider ourselves to be racist, this exposure invariable influences our behaviour in ways that we may not even be aware of. It is subtle. It is insidious. To overcome it, we must continuously challenge ourselves. Next time you are sitting on the bus and a black person gets on board, and you find yourself clutching a little tighter at your bag or feeling more vigilant, ask yourself why. Challenge your gut reaction, own it, then work to change it. Feel uncomfortable? Good. Do it anyway.

Our work does not stop with ourselves. We must also work to change the perceptions of those around us. Sometimes this means we need to directly challenge how others speak about and act around BAME/BIPOC people. Sometimes that means openly discussing the obvious and not so obvious elements of racism with friends, family, and colleagues. Sometimes that means something more subtle. Next time you hear a discussion about the black teenager who was murdered for doing nothing focus on their tattoos, size, the fact they were wearing a hoodie, that they live in a poor neighbourhood, and other things that to try and demonise the victim, blame them as a way to justify the killing, change the discussion. Talk about how well they were doing at school, for example. Talk about the social change needed, the systemic barriers that we need to change to address poverty, and the inherent racism in our systems. Still feel uncomfortable? Good. Do it anyway.

We cannot truly understand the difficulties and the barriers BAME/BIPOC people face that we do not. We cannot truly understand what it feels like to be a BAME/BIPOC person in a white-dominated country. But we can listen, research, and learn. We can use our privilege as white people to be allies to take down the systematic barriers that keep "them" and "us" separate. This means many things, from joining protests to organising your own protest (ideally working with black people, but if you are organising one for your white-only neighbourhood that is good too), to amplifying the voices of the disempowered, to financially supporting organisations that support black-rights, to looking at the groups and organisations you are part of and actively pushing to ensure that they are welcoming and supportive of BAME/BIPOC people, to voting for those who fight for BAME/BIPOC people (and speaking up about your choice), to pushing for education systems to include the history of the atrocities that we have committed - and continue to commit - against BAME/BIPOC people, to name a few.

What being an ally doesn't mean is taking over BAME/BIPOC people's efforts. What it doesn't mean is getting caught up in guilt and pain to the extent that it becomes all about you. What it doesn't mean is asking BAME/BIPOC people to educate you while you act as a passive sponge. Libraries, bookshops, and, of course, the internet are filled with material (not all are USA-centric) that allow you to do that job. There are also a great many resources on the internet that discuss allyship.

Even with your best intentions, you won't do everything right. Equally, what is right today may not be right tomorrow. Why? As we act to bring about change, we may find some approaches work better than others, some may be more appropriate for some situations than others, and some actions may have unintended consequences. Be prepared to face criticism, to have to modify actions either because what we are doing isn't ideal, or simply because the situation requires it. Crucially, when this latest wave of protests die down (and they will), we must not allow ourselves to forget that these problems still exist. We need to be in this for the long haul, no matter of difficult, how uncomfortable it seems.

I have been considering what I (Ocean Oculus is a one-woman platform) can do to address racism (and indeed other prejudices) in the global marine community and beyond. Ocean Oculus aims to share science and stories from the sea, to change the world one story at a time. Perhaps this is the place to begin.

Ocean Oculus will happily accept guest posts from those who wish to share their perspectives on life in the marine world as a BAME/BIPOC person. You are in no way limited in what you want to share. You may have a positive story, a negative story, wish to highlight a problem, wish to highlight a solution. Whatever, it is welcome. It's your voice, your story. Ocean Oculus will just act as a platform to share it. If you don't want your name printed with the story, that is fine.

Ocean Oculus will also happily interview BAME/BIPOC members of the global marine community who want to share what they do with the community. No matter what stage in your career or what you do, you can be an inspiration for other BAME/BIPOC people who may not see the marine community as a place for them. Perhaps it can even play a role in changing negative media attention.

Perhaps you are a white person who discovered that you have subconscious biases and have been working to overcome them. Sharing these stories can help other white people face up to their own subconscious biases, and are welcomed on this platform. Your name doesn't have to be published with the story.

Perhaps you are a group working to make the marine community more diverse and inclusive. By sharing your story, you might inspire and help others to do the same. It doesn't have to be perfect - just a step in the right direction.

There is more to be done than just these ideas. I don't have all the answers. I very much welcome suggestions for how we can implement real change in the community. This includes highlighting any way that I have mis-stepped with this post.

If you are interested in sharing a story, being interviewed, or have a suggestion, feel free to get in touch.