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'Virtual Fireside Chat' with Manroe Berghof and Lady Shill
The meeting had been organised by Macquarie’s LGBT network group - a flagship event with Manroe and Lady Shill - a pair who I suspect would turn up to an opening of an envelope as long as the price was right.
The meeting had been organised by Macquarie’s LGBT network group - a flagship event with Manroe and Lady Shill - a pair who I suspect would turn up to an opening of an envelope as long as the price was right.
An executive from the group, who worked in compliance, was on hand to gushingly introduce the two leaches. Apparently over 270 LGBT+ corporate banking social justice warriors had signed up. The conversation was recorded for internal purposes (no doubt to be posted on
the company intranet page a few days later to no one’s interest).
The compliance executive was extremely excited about the new frontier of anti-racism (an ‘imperative’ apparently) and had been astonished at the level of anti-trans bigotry seen over the last few months.
The compliance executive was extremely excited about the new frontier of anti-racism (an ‘imperative’ apparently) and had been astonished at the level of anti-trans bigotry seen over the last few months.
Of course, the first issue on the table* was the fact that the bank had been named after Lachlan Macquarie, the New South Wales Governor, who ordered the murder of indigenous people at Appin.
It was really good to see them go for the throat of the beast so early in the
It was really good to see them go for the throat of the beast so early in the
in the fireside chat.
*Of course they didn’t say that. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/postcolonial-blog/2016/apr/05/lachlan-macquarie-was-no-humanitarian-his-own-words-show-he-was-a-terrorist
*Of course they didn’t say that. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/postcolonial-blog/2016/apr/05/lachlan-macquarie-was-no-humanitarian-his-own-words-show-he-was-a-terrorist
According to wikipedia, the bank was set up in 1969 by Australian businessman Stan Owens as Hill Samuel Australia Ltd, and renamed Macquarie Bank Ltd around 1980 when de-regulation came in.
Happy times.
Happy times.
No, Shill began by thanking Macquarie for giving her and Manroe a platform where they were able to amplify different voices and really speak to the issues. The conversation wouldn’t leave us feeling guilty, but rather uncomfortable and stirred.
Manroe said the webinar could be regarded as a starting place for your journey. Anti-racism was a never-ending journey of allyship. The UK was still in denial over the issue of racism and was only just confronting transphobia. The Govt. had used the pandemic to roll back trans
rights. On the positive side of things Manroe loves to celebrate all kinds of identities.
Lady Shill said that it was beautiful to watch Manroe in tough times. She then talked about herself rather a lot because, I suspect, she knew that Manroe would not reciprocate with
Lady Shill said that it was beautiful to watch Manroe in tough times. She then talked about herself rather a lot because, I suspect, she knew that Manroe would not reciprocate with
questions. BLM is a movement, not a moment.
At the end of it she posed the rhetorical question, why are we talking about toilets when George Floyd was murdered, and exppressed angst on behalf of her trans siblings.
At the end of it she posed the rhetorical question, why are we talking about toilets when George Floyd was murdered, and exppressed angst on behalf of her trans siblings.
Manroe agreed priorities were mixed up. (American policing problems coming first clearly.)
Shill hadn’t finished yet though, she wanted to do a mental health check-in. She wanted to know how Manroe was. Really was, and, just like they do in real cults, she asked him:
Shill hadn’t finished yet though, she wanted to do a mental health check-in. She wanted to know how Manroe was. Really was, and, just like they do in real cults, she asked him:
‘How are you? Really?’ wibbly-eyed.
Manroe responded that he was just doing ‘alright’. It was a struggle to deal with endless transphobia, especially as Trump had just rolled back trans rights to healthcare and homelessness [i.e. ensuring shelter provision is by sex].
Manroe responded that he was just doing ‘alright’. It was a struggle to deal with endless transphobia, especially as Trump had just rolled back trans rights to healthcare and homelessness [i.e. ensuring shelter provision is by sex].
All these stories were causing him an enormous amount of *stress*.
Plus there was JKR. https://www.vox.com/identities/2020/7/2/21311179/trump-hud-rule-homeless-trans-people
Plus there was JKR. https://www.vox.com/identities/2020/7/2/21311179/trump-hud-rule-homeless-trans-people
Manroe never thought a bank would open up their doors for he and Shill and it was obvious BLM had shifted us all into a new space, where we were no longer debating whether racism really existed, but actually debating anti-racism.
Shill felt people had started to use the word ‘intersectionality’ correctly and were not mixing it up with ‘diversity’. Shill talked about the injustices of Grenfell and Windrush and that black people were close to burn out with all the fights they had on their hands.
Don’t say BLM in a tokenistic way, warned Shill, and couldn’t stress enough how sad she was for her trans siblings.
Manroe bought up the topic of corporate greed and irresponsibility in direct response to Shill’s comment about the Grenfell Tower fire*,
Manroe bought up the topic of corporate greed and irresponsibility in direct response to Shill’s comment about the Grenfell Tower fire*,
as Maquarie had left Thames Water with an extra £2bn of debt with untreated sewage leaking into the Thames. The Judge overseeing the case had concluded:
"Knowledge of what was going on went very high indeed.” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41152516
"Knowledge of what was going on went very high indeed.” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41152516
*Okay Manroe did *NOT* say that. Obviously.
No, Manroe said that help was very individualised and that if you’re an accountant you can help the movement with accounting, if you’re good at design you can help with promo. *Doing* was very important.
No, Manroe said that help was very individualised and that if you’re an accountant you can help the movement with accounting, if you’re good at design you can help with promo. *Doing* was very important.
Yes, said Shill. Though Shill doesn’t like the term ally, as that suggests a war, she prefers ‘social disruptors’ (a new way to say corporate stooge obvs).
Manroe said it wasn't just for white people to take action, he would personally show up to show solidarity for Muslim
Manroe said it wasn't just for white people to take action, he would personally show up to show solidarity for Muslim
and disabled people.
Shill said that there was racism within the LGBT community and she was sick of being asked why did there have to be a separate Black Pride.
Manroe topped that by pointing out he’s the victim of racism, misogyny, transmisogyny and
Shill said that there was racism within the LGBT community and she was sick of being asked why did there have to be a separate Black Pride.
Manroe topped that by pointing out he’s the victim of racism, misogyny, transmisogyny and
- pre-transition - homophobia. On the plus side though he was a light-skinned black woman, and acknowledged his privilege over darker-skinned black women.
He has an article out in British Vogue soon in which he has *heavily criticised L’Oreal’s sale of skin whitening creams
He has an article out in British Vogue soon in which he has *heavily criticised L’Oreal’s sale of skin whitening creams
(*Ok, ok, just joking. Again. He's written an article about the beauty industry being an 'agent of change’ for Vogue, it isn’t published yet).
But L'Oreal's skin whitening products are a real thing. https://www.lorealparis.com.my/products/skin-care/concerns/whitening
But L'Oreal's skin whitening products are a real thing. https://www.lorealparis.com.my/products/skin-care/concerns/whitening
Manroe opined that white people digest black lives in pieces - as music, dance, fashion, culture - and this meant they weren’t seen as a whole.
Shill felt it was all about influencing legislation and that black people hadn’t been front and centre of policy changes - which
Shill felt it was all about influencing legislation and that black people hadn’t been front and centre of policy changes - which
directly contradicted her statements about the trade union movement moments earlier.
Shill said it was terrible that people had had to walk past the statue of Colston when he had profited from the slave trade.
(A sure sign neither of them had the wit to google the company.)
Shill said it was terrible that people had had to walk past the statue of Colston when he had profited from the slave trade.
(A sure sign neither of them had the wit to google the company.)
Shill thought mandatory ongoing training was the best way of challenging unconscious bias.
Manroe wanted to get rid of nepotism and that it was ‘easy not to be diverse’. Job ads should be placed where black applicants would find them.
Manroe said that only 3% of the UK
Manroe wanted to get rid of nepotism and that it was ‘easy not to be diverse’. Job ads should be placed where black applicants would find them.
Manroe said that only 3% of the UK
population was black, which was a bit of a slip up - as how can 3% of the population be present across all job sectors, roles and levels of seniority?
Manroe fudged that by coming out with some guff about getting the right balance.
Manroe fudged that by coming out with some guff about getting the right balance.
Shill, however, was ready to take on *Macquarie’s most shocking scandal.
Defrauding the German tax payer of $30Bn USD, described as a 'mind-bogglingly complex share trading technique' https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/game-over-macquarie-s-german-tax-scandal-20180928-p506n3.html
Defrauding the German tax payer of $30Bn USD, described as a 'mind-bogglingly complex share trading technique' https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/game-over-macquarie-s-german-tax-scandal-20180928-p506n3.html
Shill said it was a disgusting …. *okay it didn’t happen.
I found all these stories within 5 minutes of looking btw.
Ha, yes. That was funny! During the Q&A an employee from KPMG said that the George Floyd incident had inspired them to learn about the history of slavery.
I found all these stories within 5 minutes of looking btw.
Ha, yes. That was funny! During the Q&A an employee from KPMG said that the George Floyd incident had inspired them to learn about the history of slavery.
Nope, I’ve no clue either.
Shill encouraged us all not to feel guilty about being white - that’s just self-indulgent - she wanted us to feel uncomfortable instead, and to think about that fact we might be complicit in oppression.
Shill encouraged us all not to feel guilty about being white - that’s just self-indulgent - she wanted us to feel uncomfortable instead, and to think about that fact we might be complicit in oppression.
We all had the potential to be anti-racist until you know what anti-racism is.
Manroe had recently joined L’Oreal’s Diversity Board and that he was going to advise them on their advertising campaigns. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52984555
Manroe had recently joined L’Oreal’s Diversity Board and that he was going to advise them on their advertising campaigns. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52984555
Manroe was to work directly with the President to get more controversial people involved, with particular emphasis on how to *exploit the Instagram generation.
(*Joke) https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7468953/LOreal-boss-says-Instagram-pollution-good-business.html
(*Joke) https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7468953/LOreal-boss-says-Instagram-pollution-good-business.html
Then at the end some dim girl came on and told us how fabulous and engaging it had been and that Macquarie wanted to keep the conversation going.
Yeah, I bet they do.
Yeah, I bet they do.
@threadreaderapp please unroll
