Ethnicity is a grouping of people who identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups. Till today they have been protesting and riots going on for the rights of different ethnicity for example
Rosa Parks a coloured woman in 1955
was jailed for refusing to give up her seat to a white man.
George Floyd an African American man was killed during an arrest/ police detention in 2020 which shows things haven't changed even after 65 years.
Ethnicity in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics, there were approximately 64.6 million people living in the UK in the mid-2014 of these, 56.2 million about 87.2% were white British. According to the statics when we consider ethnicity in Architecture in the UK then 93.6% are white and 0.9% are black or black British which shows significant disparity. When we closely examine the racism in the architecture profession and this is only according to the BAME society in the UK 33% in 2018 said its white spread and 57% suggested that there is some and when the further question was asked if they have been the victim of racism at their workplace in the UK than 9% strongly agree and 28% disagree in 2020 it does show that professional ethnicity is not much effected but there are people who are still affected and a question arise if architecture is a profession for everyone as 86% are white and the rest is coloured people, even if there is the majority of votes of people saying Architecture is for everyone but the statics just show a majority of whites.
There are many people of a different race who want to feel safe, not discriminated and happy in their workspace or profession and just to support the black and Asian community there is an organization called Paradigm which is a professional network for architects who is passionate about increasing Black and Asian representation within the built environment.
However, ethnicity varies by region and by urbanization, as do the workplaces for architects. This should be noted when assessing what might constitute an inappropriate ethnic mix when judging diversity. So, for instance, architects are heavily weighted in London as are ethnic minorities. On that basis, we might expect statistically a far higher proportion of ethnic minorities in architecture if we were judging parity at a regional or more local level. Equally, we need to consider age when looking for a balance in ethnicity. The proportion of ethnic minorities is higher among the young. There are methods to be taken to control this kind of racism and this is just not a BAME problem for them to solve but everyone should be held accountable for their actions. The following link gives more details to this problem and steps to be taken to ensure this doesn't happen or to reduce it https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/architecture-is-systemically-racist-so-what-is-the-profession-going-to-do-about-it
Sir David Frank Adjaye OBE RA is a Ghanaian-British architect. He is known for designing many notable buildings around the world, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, and the Skolkovo Moscow School of Management. Adjaye was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. As part of our BAME Award Winners campaign, Sir David Adjaye OBE outlines the importance of diversity in architecture and having BAME role models.
When he received the award of knighthood, a statement from Adjaye Associates says in full: "I am truly honoured and humbled to receive a knighthood by Her Majesty the Queen for my contribution to architecture. I see this not as a personal celebration, but as a celebration of the vast potential – and responsibility – for architecture to effect positive social change, that we as architects have to bring something positive to the world. I am proud to continue to work in service of this mission as a global cultural ambassador for the UK."
In conclusion, when encouraging diversity in architecture, it becomes more and more important to look at what makes you unique. The distinction of each place is fundamental. These distinctions are born from people, place, history, community, activity. They give the character that allows people to feel empowered and engaged with their environment.
Ethnicity should enrich us; it should make us a unique people in our diversity and not be used to divide us --- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
International civil rights: Walk of fame. (n.d.). Retrieved June 17, 2021, from https://www.nps.gov/features/malu/feat0002/wof/rosa_parks.htm
Murder of George Floyd. (2021, June 16). Retrieved June 17, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_George_Floyd
Fulcher, M. (2020, July 19). UK architects are 94 per CENT white. Retrieved June 17, 2021, from https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/archive/uk-architects-are-94-per-cent-white
Green, B. (n.d.). Grounds for optimism in improving profession's diversity. Retrieved June 17, 2021, from https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/market-analysis-statistics-gender-ethnicity-socio-economic-background-architects
Who we are. (2020, July 18). Retrieved June 17, 2021, from https://www.adjaye.com/who-we-are/
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