Are you actually anti-racist? | Keon West | TEDxNorthern Quarter
Even with the recent backlash against DEI, many people believe they’re taking genuine steps to make themselves and their organisations less racist - but are they? In this thought-provoking talk, Professor Keon West reveals how much we assume and how little we truly know about the impact of our actions.He explores how to distinguish between meaningful change and well-intentioned nonsense, showing us how to tell the difference between speaking truth to power and simply talking about it. Professor Keon West is a prominent social psychologist at formerly at Goldsmiths, University of London, specialising in prejudice, identity, and intergroup relations.His influential research on racism and anti-LGBT discrimination has earned several prestigious honours, including the Michele Alexander Award and the APA’s Award for Distinguished Contributions to Ethnic Minority Issues. He’s also recognised for his teaching and mentoring excellence.A frequent contributor to Media articles, BBC / BBC Radio and Channel 4, West brings academic insights to mainstream conversations on bias. His 2025 book, The Science of Racism, presents an accessible, evidence-based examination of how racism persists in modern society.This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 13:20Local news: The thread to reknit our community ties | Kayce Ataiyero | TEDxWilmetteIn an era of increased polarization, local news is how we recreate the community connectivity necessary to a healthy society. Kayce Ataiyero is the Chief External Affairs Officer at the Joyce Foundation, where she oversees the Foundation's strategic communications, the Journalism Program and the Lend A Hand community grants fund. Kayce has extensive experience in communications, journalism and politics. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2018, she led communications for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, U.S. Congresswoman Robin Kelly, the Illinois Governor’s Office and the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office. As an award-winning journalist, Kayce previously worked as a staff writer for the Chicago Tribune, The Raleigh News and Observer, Philadelphia Inquirer and Washington Post. She is board chair of Media Impact Funders, a national organization that advances the work of a broad range of funders committed to supporting media in the public interest. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 5:15What money really means | Shaarav Bajaj | TEDxKings College SchoolShaarav (Year 9) explores The Psychology of Money and Value, challenging the assumption that humans make rational financial decisions by examining how emotion, social pressure and instant gratification shape our spending choices. He distinguishes between price and value, arguing that true wealth encompasses time, freedom, wellbeing and meaningful relationships rather than mere possessions, before introducing the concept of compound growth and encouraging mindful evaluation of financial decisions that balance immediate pleasure with long-term investment in skills, health and experiences. Shaarav is a Year 9 pupil at King’s College School, Wimbledon. He is very passionate about economics and has been reading many books on the topic lately. He enjoys maths, sciences, and Design Engineering at school and enjoys exploring extra-curricular topics around them. He also loves to play the piano, sings well, and has a passion for cooking and baking. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 5:12Why We Need to Hear Different Voices | Aarush Lala | TEDxKings College SchoolArush (Year 10) examines The Evolution of Public Discourse, exploring how modern communication platforms have transformed the way ideas are shared and debated. He investigates three phenomena shaping contemporary dialogue: the impact of group dynamics on individual expression, algorithmic echo chambers that limit exposure to diverse perspectives and potentially radicalise views, and the challenges of balancing protection from harmful speech with open discussion. He argues that exposure to different viewpoints drives societal progress and calls for active engagement with diverse perspectives to strengthen public discourse. Aarush is a Year 10 pupil at King’s College School, Wimbledon, and has a great interest in political sciences and the dynamics of free speech. He has often competed in essay competitions exploring these subjects, but also enjoys drama and film, which has led to an interest in acting, and naturally a hunger for public speaking. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 6:18The shape-shifting wing: Aviation's next revolution | Nemmat Tabandeh | TEDxKings College SchoolNemmat (upper sixth) explores The Future of Flight through morphing wing technology, examining how compliant morphic materials could revolutionise aircraft design by replacing conventional mechanical flaps with seamlessly shape-shifting wing surfaces. He explains how embedded actuators enable smooth transitions in wing configuration, delivering a 30% reduction in noise pollution and 2% improvement in fuel efficiency during NASA trials, before assessing the challenges and timeline for bringing this promising aerospace innovation to commercial aviation. Nemmat is a sixth form pupil at King’s College School, Wimbledon. As a qualified pilot and aspiring aeronautical engineer, Nemmat's passion for aviation has led him to engage with the challenges facing the industry and the technical innovation required to overcome them. He is driven by the ambition and desire to tackle problems, particularly within Mathematics and Physics. Beyond studies, Nemmat's curiosity also compliments his hobbies of travelling, hiking and orienteering. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 7:08The Gene Editing Dilemma: Where Science Meets Society | Chloe Richards | TEDxKings College SchoolChloe (upper sixth) examines The Ethics of Gene Editing, exploring how CRISPR technology enables precise modification of DNA sequences and the profound ethical questions this raises for society. She discusses both promising applications such as Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy and the challenges of ensuring informed consent, preventing societal divides between edited and unedited individuals, and balancing disease prevention with respect for those living with genetic conditions, before emphasising the critical importance of informed public discourse as gene editing becomes increasingly viable. Chloe is an Upper Sixth student at King’s College School, Wimbledon, and is studying the IB diploma. She is particularly interested in biology, and loves to deepen her understanding of the subject beyond the syllabus. As an aspiring medic, she is fascinated by the potential impact of medical advances, and the ethical quandaries associated with genome editing. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 4:08Beyond the Third Dimension | Mujahid Saeed | TEDxKings College SchoolMujahid (lower sixth) explores Understanding Dimensions Beyond Our Reality, demystifying the concept of dimensions as independent directions of movement before examining how space and time unite to form the four-dimensional spacetime fabric proposed by Minkowski and Einstein. He investigates string theory's radical proposition that our universe may contain 10 or 11 dimensions, with additional spatial dimensions compactified at scales too small to perceive, challenging our understanding of reality's fundamental framework and suggesting our universe represents just one possibility among countless dimensional configurations. Mujahid is a sixth form pupil at King’s College School, Wimbledon, who has a passion for metaphysics which ranges outside of the syllabus. He has a burning passion for the overlap between physics and philosophy, which questions the fundamental nature of our known reality - the universe – and explores what could possibly reside outside of it. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx








