I think that we send a very clear message to people of color that you’re not welcome here. I think that’s the message that we’re sending, to people that have contributed so much to our medium and our industry and in ways that we benefit from.
I don’t think anybody wants a handout, or preferential treatment, although that’s what we give ourselves every year. I think people just want to be acknowledged, appreciated and respected for their work. This is not a self-righteous condemnation, because I’m ashamed to say that I’m part of the problem.
I have not done everything in my power to ensure that sets I work on are more inclusive, but I think it’s more than just having sets that are multicultural. I think that we have to really do the hard work to truly understand systemic racism. I think it’s the obligation of the people that have created and perpetuated and benefits from a system of oppression to be the ones that dismantle it, so that’s on us. Artist: Ali Elmaci