001 Understanding Racism and privilege with Dr Titilola Banjoko

My guest on today's show is Dr Titilola Banjoko, MD NHS; Entrepreneur; Chair Board of Trustees, International Rescue Committee.

In this in-depth and freewheeling conversation Dr Banjoko speaks about:

- Setting up http://findajobinafrica.com (findajobinafrica.com) and Africa Recruit and twin tracks of growth

- Intersectionality, structural and systemic racism including in the NHS

- Purpose, Fairness and Equity

- DandI talkshow vs actual progress on diversity, equity and inclusion

- Blending in, being colour blind, white fragility and privilege

- Black Lives Matter and accelerated progress on inclusion?

- Focus as Chair of Board of Trustees International Rescue Committee

- Role of history in fostering a better understanding of the contribution of BAME communities to British society

- Dr Banjoko speaking about her achievements, and what drives her

Excerpts from Dr Banjoko’s conversations:

β€œAs a woman, I am fully consciously aware of myself and my own imposter syndrome. And what I would define is and you will recall this Sudha, that as women, we sometimes don't seem confident enough to occupy a space, and so we are apologetic. I'm consciously aware of that. I'm also consciously aware that being a black person, in the UK, operating sometimes in spaces where I'm the, I'm the only person of colour, how it can be challenging. But I have learned to grow with my confidence, learned to understand that I have the right to be where I am.”

β€œThe decisions that were being made in response to COVID, were being made by people may I say, who are not from these communities, or people who have no insight into these communities, the way we live, the way we interact, the jobs we do. So as a result of that there was a greater exposure by these communities, because there was no regard for them. And that has been the unfortunate thing. Because they are the ones who were didn't feel they could talk. We’ve all gone through years of what we discovered day to day micro-aggressions, where you get so used to it, so you just keep quiet and you do your bid. And sometimes that means people are put at risk in the process. They put themselves at risk. Because if I talk, they might not hear or they wouldn't act or I might even lose my job.”

β€œI said on Friday to someone, I don't know what it is to be white. I will never know what it is to be white. I can't, because I am not white. But I know what it is to be black. And I know what it is to live. So we all need to hear each other's story. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable, agree that we need each other, and work collectively. You can't prescribe solutions for experiences you don't have.”

β€œI think there are two reasons why - one is there’s been prescription of what the issue is by people who don't have the lived experience, coming up with solutions, and then implementing the wrong solutions because you don't know what the issue is. That's one part. The second part is those of us who are on the other side, have been quiet. We speak to ourselves. We don't speak out, we speak to ourselves. So, because we don't want people to be uncomfortable, because it is very uncomfortable.”

Useful links

https://www.rescue-uk.org/press-release/dr-titilola-banjoko-joins-irc-uk-chair-board-trustees (https://www.rescue-uk.org/press-release/dr-titilola-banjoko-joins-irc-uk-chair-board-trustees)

https://royalafricansociety.org/about/council/%252523submenu (https://royalafricansociety.org/about/council/#submenu)

https://www.forwarduk.org.uk/about-us/our-team/trustees/ (https://www.forwarduk.org.uk/about-us/our-team/trustees/)

https://www.thet.org/trustees/dr-titilola-banjoko/ (https://www.thet.org/trustees/dr-titilola-banjoko/)

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/jun/18/poor-countries-subsidise-the-nhs-by-training-doctors-compensate-them (https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/jun/18/poor-countries-subsidise-the-nhs-by-training-doctors-compensate-them)...