It was only three years ago, at a conference about race, that I overheard several directors of diversity and inclusion, from a number of high-profile organisations, saying that racism was becoming a thing of the past. Talking to the senior partner of a major accountancy firm, he refused to accept that any racism in his organisation was down to anything other than malevolent individuals. He didn’t acknowledge that they had any particular role to play in ensuring people were treated fairly and with respect.
A year later, in 2020, these directors had to radically rethink their ideas. Whether their responses to the murder of George Floyd and the ensuing worldwide protests were genuine or merely performative, only time will tell.
The complacency around the topic of race that existed before 2020 could well reinstate itself unless we remain focused and vigilant.
