A letter to President David Malpass of the World Bank from Black CSOs across the world
(Submitted August 17, 2020)
We, the undersigned, are calling on the World Bank and its President, David Malpass, not to insult the global movement to end anti-Black racism, which was sparked by the killing of George Floyd in the United States.
Until concrete action proves otherwise, the long #EndRacism banners hanging on the World Bank Headquarters in Washington DC merely represent an opportune appropriation of the global movement to end racial injustice and window dressing to defuse the growing demands for action within the World Bank and its sister institution, the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
We welcome President Malpass’ promise to end racism in the World Bank, its programs and the countries where it works. However, this must begin with an acknowledgment of the systemic racism that has bedeviled the institution for decades followed by concrete steps to uproot this scourge.