Pledge to (un)Redact the Facts
The Pledge invites individuals and organizations who are committed to racial equity to demonstrate it in how they communicate about an integral component of the Black experience in the United States. Individuals and organizations will commit to using (un)redacted grammar and language in their narrative interpretations about historical trauma such as enslavement, lynching, redlining, etc.
See the Pledge badge on a website? It means that an organization or individual has committed to (un)Redact the Facts.
Why?
A 2021 study showed that the passive voice creates psychological distance between the reader or listener and what they read/hear. Other forms of redacted grammar and language like euphemisms tell history from the perspective of the majority culture, furthering exclusion and minimizing a sense of belonging for the historically-neglected and traumatized community.
Desired outcome?
Architects, planners, historians, museum professionals, and historic preservationists will write historic narratives / interpretations that use (un)redacted grammar + language to support Black people and other historically-neglected people's sense of belonging in the US.
Sample Audit
Below is an example of an audit of before and after (un)redaction of redacted grammar and language in a historical narrative about historical trauma. Pledge participants will receive a revision of text in a report format and/or direct revision of text in their communications assets. The revised text incorporates the Tenets of (un)Redaction to tell a fuller history about the events.
How much?
Fees for audit services depend on the size and status of the organization such as for-profit vs non-profit.