TEDx talk by Professor Iyiola Solanke says discrimination needs treating like a virus

Professor Iyiola Solanke has delivered a TEDx talk where she suggests that thinking of discrimination as a virus, we might move closer to its eradication.

Professor Iyiola Solanke says that “like a virus, discrimination affects the individual and society and we can learn from public health professionals, and the way they tackle deadly epidemics like Ebola.” She draws comparisons between a virus and discrimination, with detrimental effects and contagious behaviour.

In her view the law expects too much of an individual to act in isolation against discrimination, for example taking a case to court themselves. Instead she argues that by learning from the way health professionals tackle a virus allows us to take a more social, collective, and holistic approach to effectively tackle discrimination.

The event took place on May 8 and was organised by TEDx London. Professor Solanke was invited to speak and addressed an audience of 2500 at the Royal Festival Hall in London's South Bank Centre.

Watch the TEDx talk