Abstract

George Floyd’s murder and the subsequent resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 forced us all to confront the deep-rooted biases that shape our day-to-day lives. The global call to arms gave rise to a wave of advocacy and empowered many of us to demand change. For the students at the Sheffield School of Architecture (SSoA) this is manifested in ‘Anti-Racism at SSoA: A Call to Action’. The work of Metropolitan Architecture Student Society at London Metropolitan University and BLM_Arch@MSA at Manchester School of Architecture has been influential and at the forefront of the current anti-racist movement in architecture. I have interviewed two students, James Thormod and Elise Colley from these groups, to hear about their experiences, motivations and approach to activist work. With work of this nature, it is easy to shut yourself into your own echo chamber and method of approach. It is vital to consider the full spectrum of work already being produced at SSoA and beyond; to learn from our shortcomings and adopt new strategies. This article collates the conversations between James, Elise and I, offering the student perspective and insights into each of our institutions’ downfalls and achievements during this time.

How to Cite:

D’costa, A., (2022) “Anti-Racism at SSoA: A Call to Action' A Year On”, field: 8(1), 39–46.