from the fatal consequences of greed

The Grenfell Tower fire of 2017 was one of the most devastating and consequential residential disasters in modern British history. When flames engulfed the 24-story tower block in North Kensington, London, killing 72, systemic failures and societal inequities were exposed. This public housing in Kensington and Chelsea, one of London’s wealthiest boroughs, had been home to mostly working-class and immigrant families. Survivors and community activists pointed to years of neglect and ignored complaints. A public inquiry revealed evidence of corporate corner-cutting, regulatory failures and a culture that prioritized finance over safety. Documents showed that cheaper and more flammable cladding had been chosen to save about £300,000 during a renovation completed just a year before the fire. In its aftermath, tenant voices that had long been marginalized helped to foster new advocacy movements, forcing the nation to reckon with how it treats its most vulnerable people.

Anne Griffiths in North Kensington, London