Tackling Racism in the Jewellery Industry
In a very short space of time, the Black Lives Matter campaign has amplified awareness of racism in its many forms and given fresh voice to the experience of injustice and inequality faced by Black people. It has also caused many to reflect on the white privilege they’d never considered and address their accountability in both unconscious and conscious racial bias. This is a historic moment and must not pass without real change being the result.
Many of you will have read Kassandra Lauren-Gordon’s open letter to the jewellery industry re. racism, originally published on 17 June and reproduced here with the author’s permission. Alongside a call to action she also recounts some of her own experience of racism during her career.
What are we and our industry doing to make change?
The activity of Fair Luxury is often associated with materials sourcing and the supply chain but when we use the work “equitable” to describe the kind of jewellery industry we want to see, it includes reflecting the diversity of our society and ensuring the colour of someone’s skin is not a barrier to entry and opportunity in the trade.
Looking at the following definition, we know that that silence and passivity will not tackle inequality or bring about change in society:
"Anti-racism is the active process of identifying and eliminating racism by changing systems, organizational structures, policies and practices and attitudes, so that power is redistributed and shared equitably."
(NAC International Perspectives: Women and Global Solidarity from http://www.aclrc.com/antiracism-defined)
Fair Luxury acknowledges that good intentions are not enough to bring about change in our jewellery industry and we believe that, from educators to businesses to institutions, we need to proactively address and counter systemic and structural racism at all levels.
Working for equality and human rights is as important and urgent as tackling the climate crisis if we are serious about a sustainable future for humankind. Both call for action, whether we consider ourselves campaigners or not.
The NAJ and the Goldsmiths’ Company have released statements in response to the new awareness of racism, click their names to link to the statements.
Click the link for the Hardship Fund for Black Jewellers fundraising page
Click here for the Ethical Metalsmiths Social Justice Resources page
Please let us know of any initiatives or other useful links that we can include here.