Nearly three weeks have passed since George Floyd, an unarmed black man, died at the hands of a white police officer in the U.S. city of Minneapolis. His death has proved the catalyst for worldwide protests against racism and many international law firms have thrown their weight behind racial justice charities as a result. 

In an impassioned piece originally shared on the firm's website, Linklaters' global diversity manager, Daniel Danso, details his experiences of structural and institutional racism, and how a commitment to bring about positive change requires open and frank discussions about race across society.

As many of you know, I'm African American. What's happening in my country and to people like me is a frightening reminder of how little has changed.

My family are there now and I fear for them. I have cousins that are afraid of getting their drivers licences because they know they will get killed by police at routine traffic stops. Or, that they won't get jobs because their names are too "black".

"I've been called the "N" word standing outside our office in Belgium by a cab driver. I've been stopped and searched nine times by police in the UK since 2004."

So when I've gone around the globe teaching our firm about privilege, this is what I was talking about. And let me tell you, being black skinned in a variety of countries in which we operate is still downright dangerous, not always physically, but certainly socially and riddled with bias.