EVEN Charter

Explore the foundational principles and articles of the EVEN Charter, presented in an organized and accessible format.

Preamble

The Even Charter heralds a revolutionary step in the 21st Century towards unity and respect for all. It seeks to dismantle outdated terminologies related to race that have perpetuated divisions and stereotypes. Antiquated colour labels such as "black," "white," "red," and "yellow" are not merely simplistic; they are burdened with historical and Western societal biases. Simple word association exercises unveil how these colours are often unevenly loaded with negative or positive connotations.

It’s time to embrace a change. The Even Charter promotes the use of language that celebrates individuals' unique cultures and origins, moving beyond superficial uneven colour labels. We should adopt even terms that resonate with people’s heritage, such as “African,” “European,” “Caribbean,” or “Asian,” fostering a richer and more respectful dialogue. For discussions and data analysis involving skin colour, do so accurately using Even Code.

Adopting this refined language enables us to recognise people for their individuality, not merely their skin colour, cultivating a society where everyone is treated with equal respect and consideration. The Even Charter leads us towards a more understanding and equitable society, encouraging the abandonment of divisive terminologies, replacing them with identities that are more even.

The founders of EVEN, an apolitical charity, recognise that equity encompasses multiple facets. The Even Charter is founded on the Equity Via Equal Naming principle of honouring individuality without perpetuating harmful naming paradigms. We recognise that human identity is multifaceted, shaped by cultural heritage, shared values, individual experiences, and geographical ethnicity. We acknowledge that the existing naming paradigm is rooted in establishing supremacy and division. Throughout history, colour-based terms such as "red people" for the indigenous peoples of the Americas and "yellow people" for individuals from East Asia have been used. Today, we reject such colour-based references as they are deemed inappropriate and disrespectful. This rejection does not diminish the recognition of their unique historical experiences and ongoing struggles.

Yet, equity remains an unfulfilled promise for many. Currently, the labels "white people" and "black people" persist, predominantly categorising individuals by skin colour. The term "black" often carries historical and systemic burdens, intertwined with negative connotations in language and culture, which can perpetuate inequality and hinder progress. Conversely, the term "white" frequently aligns with positive societal attributes, but its usage can inadvertently perpetuate divisions and obscure the rich diversity and unique histories within this group.

This is vividly illustrated through a simple word association exercise where participants are asked to respond with the first colour that comes to mind, either "black" or "white," when presented with words such as funeral, wedding, Christmas, Halloween, darkness, bright, dirty, pure, death, paradise. This exercise demonstrates how entrenched and pervasive these antiquated colour-based associations and biases are in the Western societal psyche. It is evident that this “black” and “white” colour-based classification is far from being even.

The Even Charter advocates for a departure from these outdated and uneven colour-based classifications. Bringing our understanding of race and ethnicity into the twenty-first century, fostering genuine equality. For "black people," this shift aims to dismantle linguistic barriers to equality, while fully acknowledging and respecting their historical and ongoing struggles. For "white people," adopting the Even Charter can foster a more nuanced understanding of their diverse identities and histories, promoting an inclusive and equitable societal framework that is more even.

In embracing the rejection of colour-based naming, we also acknowledge that if one were able to trace their lineage back to the first humans, most, if not all, humans are of mixed heritage or “mixed race”, challenging the inaccurate notion of pure 'black' or 'white' identities.

The Even Charter mandates that individuals be referred to equitably using a common naming convention based on their geographical ethnicity, which they identify with, as well as hyphenations of geographical identities. When there is a need to reference a person's skin tone, an accurate skin tone should be obtained utilising the Even Code.

Our vision is for the world to adopt the Even Charter as a crucial step toward achieving genuine equity. We aspire to a future where future generations marvel at why we ever referred to people using colour-based names. In embracing the Even Charter, we reject simplistic, uneven, colour-based labels, choosing instead to honour the rich cultural tapestries of all individuals.

Andrew Hall, Luke Patterson
EVEN Founders & co-authors of The Even Charter

Chapter 1: Purpose

As the inaugural article of this charter, we affirm the fundamental tenet of EVEN: Equity via Equal Naming.

The Even Charter embarks on a 21st-century perspective on the current outdated racial paradigm. We advocate moving beyond outdated, colour-based labels that have historically fostered division and perpetuated inequality. By prioritising the identification of individuals based on their geographical identity rather than simplistic and reductive colour names, the Even Charter champions a modern, equitable approach. Our commitment is to cultivate a global society that embraces and celebrates the rich mosaic of human identity and does not deduce ethnicity to the name of a colour.

Terminology and Usage Key

To maintain clarity and precision in communication, we have established guidelines on how specific terms related to the Even Charter should be used in text. Here are the conventions that should be followed:

  • EVEN (All Caps): Acronym of Equity Via Equal Naming. Example: EVEN strives to promote equity through thoughtful naming conventions.
  • Even (Title Case): References the Even Charter as a proper noun. Example: The principles outlined in the Even Charter guide our approach to equitable naming practices.
  • even (Lowercase): This term is used as a verb, representing the act of applying the principles of Equity Via Equal Naming. Example: When naming a new organisation or initiative, it is important to even the naming conventions to ensure they are equitable and inclusive.

The purpose of EVEN is to foster genuine equity by promoting a nuanced and respectful approach to naming conventions. We seek to celebrate the richness of human identity while challenging historical injustices tied to colour-based names and stereotypes.

Promote understanding that conflated race and ethnicity perpetuate harmful naming practises.

Encouraging the use of diverse descriptors, including cultural names, nationality, and geographical ethnicity, to represent an individual's identity accurately.

The Even Charter recognises that within each ethnic group, a variety of physical characteristics, including skin tone and facial features, may be predominant within a particular ethnic group. However, the essence of belonging to an ethnic group extends beyond these physical markers. Rather, ethnic identity is defined by a rich array of attributes, including, but not limited to, a shared nation of origin, ancestry, traditions, language, history, society, religion, and experiences of social treatment.

In circumstances where a person’s ethnicity is requested, individuals should have the freedom to express their own self-identified ethnicity, rather than being restricted to predefined checkboxes.

Chapter 2: Objectives

Raise Awareness and Cultivate Understanding: We will conduct educational initiatives to raise awareness about the historical context of harmful naming practices and their impact on marginalised communities. Our efforts will foster a deeper understanding of diverse geographical identities and the importance of respectful representation.

Equitable Naming: EVEN will advocate for naming conventions that respect and celebrate diversity. We will encourage the use of multiple descriptors, allowing individuals to be identified by cultural heritage, nationality, and/or geographical ethnicity. Examples of geographical/heredital identities include, but are not limited to, "North American," "Canadian," "African," "Nigerian," "Caribbean," "Antiguan," "Asian," "Chinese," "European," "German," "South American," "Colombian," "Palestinian," "Yoruba," "Igbo," "Hausa" etc., as well as hyphenations of identities such as "African-Caribbean," "British-Jamaican" etc.

When there is a need to reference a person's skin tone, an accurate code from an internationally recognised skin tone colour guide, such as the PANTONE SkinTone Guide, should be utilised.

Flexibility in Ethnicity Reporting: We promote the flexibility for individuals to express their own self-identified ethnicity rather than being limited to predetermined categories.

International Collaboration: EVEN is committed to collaborating with stakeholders, including cultural experts, advocacy groups, and communities worldwide, to ensure our efforts are culturally sensitive.

The Even Convention: The Even Charter is devoted to collaborating with governments globally to promote the growth of an Even Convention, with the objective of securing worldwide recognition and implementation of the fundamental principles outlined in the Even Charter.

Chapter 3: Implementation

Concerning the implementation of the terminology and usage key outlined in Article 3, specific guidelines for usage include:
  • Consistency: Ensure that the usage of these terms is consistent across all official documents, communications, and publications.
  • Context: Always consider the context to choose the term that most accurately conveys the intended meaning.
  • Education: Make stakeholders, partners, and the community aware of these conventions to maintain consistency in external communications as well.

Advising Naming Conventions Across Organisations, Ideas, Policies, and Issues: EVEN fervently encourages re-evaluation and modification of naming conventions that utilise colour as a central identifier, not just in organisational titles but extending also to ideas, policies, and broader societal issues. Organisations with colour references in their titles (e.g., National Black Association of Workers) are urged to contemplate revisions. For ideas and policies, phrases such as "Black issues" should be reconsidered.

We advise transitioning from colour-based identifiers to terms that more accurately embody the essence, objective, and values of the idea, policy, or issue at hand. Replacement suggestions include terminology that resonates with the essence of the cause, stakeholder experiences, or shared values. An illustrative transformation could be shifting from "Black issues" to "Anti-Racism Advocacy" or "Equity and Justice Concerns."

EVEN will offer cultural sensitivity training to all stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Even Charter. This training will foster an understanding of historical naming practises and their implications, promoting respectful and inclusive naming conventions.

Partnerships: We will establish partnerships and collaborate with contributing stakeholders, including organisations, institutions, and individuals who share the Even vision of achieving equity via equal naming.

Research and Development: EVEN will support research and development efforts focused on understanding the impacts of naming conventions and developing resources to promote equitable naming practises. We will initiate pilot programs in specific regions or communities to actively seek feedback and consultation from affected communities to shape our approach.

Guidelines and Recommendations: We will develop guidelines and recommendations for the use of the PANTONE SkinTone Guide and other internationally recognised skin tone charts, ensuring accurate and respectful referencing when describing a person's skin colour, particularly in legal, medical and other professional contexts.

Chapter 4: Governance

Leadership: EVEN will be led by a diverse and inclusive Standing Committee answerable to the Board of Directors consisting of individuals committed to promoting equity and furthering the objectives outlined in this charter.

Decision-Making: Decisions within EVEN will be made via the Board of Directors through a consensus-based approach, fostering collaboration and inclusivity.

Transparency and Accountability: We will maintain transparency in our operations and hold ourselves accountable to our mission and the principles set forth in this charter.

Amendment and Review: The Even Charter may be amended or reviewed periodically to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness in achieving equitable naming practises.