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Riba investigates architect's allegations of institutional racism Riba investigates architect's allegations of institutional racism
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The Royal Institute of British Architects has launched an investigation into allegations of institutional racism made by a leading architect and member of its national council.The Royal Institute of British Architects has launched an investigation into allegations of institutional racism made by a leading architect and member of its national council.
Racist and sexist discrimination runs through architecture “like a stick of rock”, and it starts at the top with Riba, Elsie Owusu has claimed.Racist and sexist discrimination runs through architecture “like a stick of rock”, and it starts at the top with Riba, Elsie Owusu has claimed.
The Ghanaian-born architect, who co-led the 2009 refurbishment of the UK supreme court building, made the allegations after she stood for selection as Riba’s vice-president of practice and profession. She alleged that the election was rigged in favour of a rival candidate, and in a complaint to Riba’s president, Jane Duncan, she claimed it was “tantamount to institutionalised racism in my view”.The Ghanaian-born architect, who co-led the 2009 refurbishment of the UK supreme court building, made the allegations after she stood for selection as Riba’s vice-president of practice and profession. She alleged that the election was rigged in favour of a rival candidate, and in a complaint to Riba’s president, Jane Duncan, she claimed it was “tantamount to institutionalised racism in my view”.
Riba said it had appointed a QC expert in the field to conduct an independent investigation into the claims. Riba said it had appointed a QC and expert in the field to conduct an independent investigation into the claims.
Owusu, 62, who was elected to the institute’s 60-strong governing council three months ago, said she was shocked by “sexist” banter at Riba’s September council meeting, which she said was akin to a “boy’s club”. She alleged there were jokes and references to the president being an “Essex girl”, and male members giggling: “We love Essex girls.” Owusu, 62, who was elected to the institute’s 60-strong governing council three months ago, said she was shocked by “sexist” banter at Riba’s September council meeting, which she said was akin to a “boys’ club”. She alleged there were jokes and references to the president being an “Essex girl”, and male members giggling: “We love Essex girls.”
She claimed that when she stood for the vice-presidency she was told that the president would be backing another candidate, whom she said was not an elected council member, and the decision was made behind closed doors. The successful candidate is not accused of any wrongdoing.She claimed that when she stood for the vice-presidency she was told that the president would be backing another candidate, whom she said was not an elected council member, and the decision was made behind closed doors. The successful candidate is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Owusu, a founder member and first chair of the Society of Black Architects, said: “The banter, discrimination and treating black people worse then other staff goes through architecture like a stick of rock. It’s absolutely disgraceful and it starts at the top with Riba. Owusu, a founder member and first chair of the Society of Black Architects, said: “The banter, discrimination and treating black people worse than other staff goes through architecture like a stick of rock. It’s absolutely disgraceful and it starts at the top with Riba.
“And this is an example: when there are two people up for a job, one an elected member, the other not, to use the weight of the institution from the president’s chair to support a white person over a black person, when we are both equally qualified, to me is the institution using its power to support behaviour that is tantamount to racism.”“And this is an example: when there are two people up for a job, one an elected member, the other not, to use the weight of the institution from the president’s chair to support a white person over a black person, when we are both equally qualified, to me is the institution using its power to support behaviour that is tantamount to racism.”
She continued: “I am not saying there are people with white sheets over their heads, planting burning crosses on people’s lawns. But, within the terms of the Lawrence inquiry – after Stephen Lawrence – that is a definition of institutionalised racism.She continued: “I am not saying there are people with white sheets over their heads, planting burning crosses on people’s lawns. But, within the terms of the Lawrence inquiry – after Stephen Lawrence – that is a definition of institutionalised racism.
“I am pretty familiar with the Equalities Act 2010, and what that says is, all things being equal, if you have two people for a job, both are equal, both have the same qualifications, and if it is a job in a predominantly male arena, then it is within the capacity of whoever is making the appointment to decide they are going to take positive action and appoint a female. If it is a predominantly white group, again, positive action would say you could appoint a black person.” “I am pretty familiar with the Equality Act 2010, and what that says is, all things being equal, if you have two people for a job, both are equal, both have the same qualifications, and if it is a job in a predominantly male arena, then it is within the capacity of whoever is making the appointment to decide they are going to take positive action and appoint a female. If it is a predominantly white group, again, positive action would say you could appoint a black person.”
Owusu recently left the architectural practice Feilden and Mawson, and has said she plans to take them to an employment tribunal claiming “age, race and gender discrimination”. There was no comment from Feilden and Mawson.Owusu recently left the architectural practice Feilden and Mawson, and has said she plans to take them to an employment tribunal claiming “age, race and gender discrimination”. There was no comment from Feilden and Mawson.
Owusu said she joined Riba’s council because she thought it was important she did so, and she felt well qualified to stand for the vice-president post as she was “particularly interested in issues of diversity, working with small practices, minority ethnic practices and encouraging them”.Owusu said she joined Riba’s council because she thought it was important she did so, and she felt well qualified to stand for the vice-president post as she was “particularly interested in issues of diversity, working with small practices, minority ethnic practices and encouraging them”.
She is a Riba “role model” on diversity issues and sits on the Architects for Change group, which champions increased diversity within the profession. “I have been in practice since 1986. To my great pride my citation for my OBE was as chair of the Society of Black Architects. I am a campaigning architect. That’s what I do. It’s part of my architectural life,” she said.She is a Riba “role model” on diversity issues and sits on the Architects for Change group, which champions increased diversity within the profession. “I have been in practice since 1986. To my great pride my citation for my OBE was as chair of the Society of Black Architects. I am a campaigning architect. That’s what I do. It’s part of my architectural life,” she said.
Owusu said she had hoped the matter could be discussed and sorted out and had not expected an inquiry to be set up “at cost to members”.Owusu said she had hoped the matter could be discussed and sorted out and had not expected an inquiry to be set up “at cost to members”.
“I don’t know how its going to pan out. It’s going to take three months to sort out because the wheels of the Riba grind exceedingly slow. But I am going nowhere. I am going to see this through, and I think what we’ll find over the next three months, I am hoping, is other people will come forward with their stories as well,” she said. “I don’t know how it’s going to pan out. It’s going to take three months to sort out because the wheels of the Riba grind exceedingly slow. But I am going nowhere. I am going to see this through, and I think what we’ll find over the next three months, I am hoping, is other people will come forward with their stories as well,” she said.
Duncan, the Riba president, said in a statement that Owusu had written expressing her “dissatisfaction” and had alleged “that the election process may have been tainted by institutional racism”.Duncan, the Riba president, said in a statement that Owusu had written expressing her “dissatisfaction” and had alleged “that the election process may have been tainted by institutional racism”.
She continued: “As a longstanding equality and diversity champion for the Institute I took this allegation very seriously and in consultation with Riba’s senior members instructed the appointment of an expert on institutional governance, Stephen Hockman QC, to lead an independent investigation.”She continued: “As a longstanding equality and diversity champion for the Institute I took this allegation very seriously and in consultation with Riba’s senior members instructed the appointment of an expert on institutional governance, Stephen Hockman QC, to lead an independent investigation.”
She said a report would be compiled and discussed at the next council meeting in March.She said a report would be compiled and discussed at the next council meeting in March.
Duncan said she was disappointed that Owusu had chosen to make new allegations in the media, specifically accusing Riba of “a culture of institutionalised racism, discrimination and conflict”.Duncan said she was disappointed that Owusu had chosen to make new allegations in the media, specifically accusing Riba of “a culture of institutionalised racism, discrimination and conflict”.
“We have asked Elsie to put these broadened allegations to Riba directly and will deal with the matter in the appropriate way,” she said.“We have asked Elsie to put these broadened allegations to Riba directly and will deal with the matter in the appropriate way,” she said.
A Riba spokesperson said: “The Riba and our members are working hard and continuously to achieve a more inclusive profession, one that offers rich possibilities for talented individuals, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, social background, disability, religion or other important aspects of their identity”. A Riba spokesperson said: “The Riba and our members are working hard and continuously to achieve a more inclusive profession, one that offers rich possibilities for talented individuals, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, social background, disability, religion or other important aspects of their identity.”