Royal College of Art drops white male diversity chief amid accusations of ‘insidious systemic racism’
Royal College of Art has withdrawn its job offer to Mark Harrison, a white man who was hired in a top diversity role.Harrison was dropped as Head of Inclusion after more than 800 members of staff at the institution wrote a letter, saying the appointment showed a “hideous culture of overt and insidious systemic racism”.Tutors also called for a vote of no confidence in the RCA’s vice-chancellor Paul Thompson, who gave the job to Harrison.“We know, thanks to the testimonies of staff and students of African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, Asian, First Nations and Indigenous heritage, that the Royal College of Art has for generations fostered a hideous culture of overt and insidious systemic racism,” said the letter.