05/06/19
These past two weeks have been extremely tragic with the murder of George Floyd. His tragic death due to unfair police brutality has brought about an uproar from not only black Americans but people from all ethnicities globally. This unfortunately also served as a reminder of the racial injustice many experience and endure throughout the world and moreover racism as a whole. With more footage of black people being racially profiled in both America and Britain surfacing on social media platforms, it raises the issue of racism and just how much is endured and not openly expressed.
Black Lives Matter is an international human rights movement that encourages and raises awareness of the inequality faced by black people, the lives lost due to unjust systems and the social injustice and prejudice they face as a result of their skin colour. With protests and marches been organised and proceeding, it’s a reminder and demonstrates that everyone deserves to be treated equally. At a time like this, it is important to demonstrate our solidarity by being allies of not only the #BlackLivesMatter movement but also the wider ethnic community. Whether it is our family, our friends, our colleagues, our neighbours or those we know and those we don’t. We may not be able to end racism as a whole, but we can make a change in a positive direction, through various means. This could be through supporting causes and charities dedicated to seeking justice and advocating for equality for black people or by increasing the awareness of racial issues through education, our platforms, and networks.
Another way we can make a change our field of architecture and design is by encouraging and increasing diversity, inclusion and equality whilst moving away from a culture of tokenism; to meet the racial quota. We need to provide more prospects and job opportunities to black and ethnic groups as there is lack of representation within architecture, design and the construction sector. Architecture should hold a mirror and reflect society and not accept the historic attitudes that stem back to society’s construct, systemic and institutional racism and prejudice
Choosing to increase the number of black and all ethnic groups employed in architecture re we can begin to change the narrative and image of the workplace into a more racially inclusive and diverse; beginning the tactical fight against racism, one step at a time.