Listening to Pakeezah
I am very emotionally impacted by the things Pakeezah says. I am shocked by the comments she had to deal with. But then I question why I am surprised by that. It is a very impactful statement to listen to, really thought-provoking. I remember reading her blog post at the time and reading this follow-up really underscores what she said in that initial statement.
Eleanor Mitchell, Website Manager
I know we have things to do in terms of representation, but the power of those individual interactions and that she still carries them with her now! There is definitely work to do on an individual level in our organisation. Everyone who comes into the museum needs to take responsibility, think more, be more empathetic. Every interaction is a building block for something, whether that is positive or negative.
Kate Burnett, Interpretation Developer
When she was revealing those incidents, I wanted to know who it was who said these things to her? Because it is likely someone I know/work with. And because it is also something I would have never encountered organically, as I have never had to deal with questions like that from anyone.
Jack Wentworth-Weedon, Festival Assistant
Pakeezah is drawing out the distinction between the institution and the people who work there. Intuitions can be monolithic with long histories, but people have the potential to make change non-the-less. We are the individuals who embody the institution, and whilst the museum is structured in a certain way, we have the agency to be the change. It is the people that are important within an institution, we set the vision and ambition, we live the values, we bring the collections alive.
Jo Quinton-Tulloch, Director
Pakeezah Zahoor's moment
In 2019, I contributed a blog post to the Bradford’s National Museum project; it was meant as both a response...
