Introduction:
In this blog task, we were shown five different resources, all surrounding the topic of race:
- Racism Shapes Careers: Career Trajectories and Imagined Futures of Racialised Minority PhDs in UK Higher Education [Journal] (Garrett, 2024)
- A Critical Race Theory Framework for Education Policy Analysis: The Case of Bilingual Learners and Assessment Policy in England [Journal] (Bradbury, 2020)
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Learning How to Get It Right [Video]
(TEDx Talks, 2023) - Revealed: The Charity Turning UK Universities Woke [Video]
(The Telegraph, 2022) - The School That Tried to End Racism [Video] (Channel 4 Entertainment, 2020)
These works showcase specific examples of injustice, the nuanced implications of policies, and teaching methodologies, among other themes. Collectively, they explore the educational landscape and its inherent challenges regarding race.
Reflection and Analysis:
This assignment has further opened up my perspective on what racism in an institution can look like, and how we need to advocate for deeper institutional changes beyond surface-level diversity initiatives (Garrett, 2024). As educators, we hold significant power. The decisions we make, often without much thought, can have profound impacts: for instance, the imagery on a workshop slide, the diversity of teaching materials, the height of the table we sit at, or the cost of equipment used—these are all aspects that, while seemingly minor, can affect students’ experiences in meaningful ways (Bradbury, 2020). My role at UAL involves supporting students in finding creative and technical solutions, so naturally, I want to apply similar problem-solving efforts to issues of racism within my teaching space. However, this task is far more complex and layered, so even well-intentioned actions can have unintended consequences, such as critical race theory being criticised for its focus purely on race rather than other factors such as socioeconomic status.
The material that struck me the most was the film Revealed: The Charity Turning UK Universities Woke (2022) presented by the telegraph – which should be noted is perceived within YouGov polling as being right leaning politically (YouGov, 2024b), see figure 1. After recently becoming an associate fellow of AdvanceHE (AdvanceHE, 2024) myself, hearing criticisms from professionals in highly ranked educational institutions made me question my involvement. While I firmly believe that the course content has been thought-provoking and beneficial, this film made me reconsider how much I really know and the validity of the organisation I am part of. It underscores the dual perspective of being both an educator and a learner.
Figure 1: YouGov Poll, 2024b. “Is The Daily Telegraph more favourable towards Labour/the left or the Conservatives/the right?”.
Although I found the film The School That Tried to End Racism (2020) presented by Channel 4 Entertainment a great way of engaging young people in an experiential exercise (one I remember reading about in the start of this term) that would have allowed the students to conjure up their own emotions and discover those feelings regarding their experience of systematic and intersectional discrimination (Channel 4 Entertainment, 2020), however, I couldn’t help think about previous readings and discussions about the idea of ‘3 day discrimination courses.’ These are a great way of starting discussions but, at an educational level, feel like the bare minimum of resources that should be invested. I found this particularly concerning when you consider this is: The School That Tried to End Racism (2020). It is worth noting that the source that this came from is perceived within YouGov polling to me more favourably to the left in comparison to the telegraph (YouGov, 2024a), see figure 2.
Figure. 2 YouGov Poll, 2024a. “Is Channel 4 News more favourable towards Labour/the left or the Conservatives/the right?”.
Conclusion:
These resources sadly highlight the unbalanced nature of the British educational system. Discrimination and bias persist even at exceptionally high academic levels, such as doctorate programs (Garrett, 2024). They underscore the complexity and depth required to address racism effectively (Bradbury, 2020). As educators, we must remain vigilant and reflective about our practices, continuously seeking ways to improve and adapt (TEDx Talks, 2023). The resources provided have offered valuable insights, reminding us that the journey toward anti-racism is ongoing and multifaceted. It is crucial for us, as educators, to be aware and recognise the impact of our decisions. While we may not be able to change the institution as a whole, it does not stop us as individuals from making an impact as our efforts can significantly affect the students we interact with daily (Channel 4 Entertainment, 2020).
Bibliography & Image Index:
AdvanceHE (2024) Associate Fellowship | Advance HE. Available at: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/fellowship/associate-fellowship (Accessed: 5 July 2024).
Bradbury, A. (2020) ‘A critical race theory framework for education policy analysis: the case of bilingual learners and assessment policy in England’, Race Ethnicity and Education , 23(2). doi: 10.1080/13613324.2019.1599338.
Channel 4 Entertainment (2020) Heartbreaking Moment When Kids Learn About White Privilege | The School That Tried to End Racism. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I3wJ7pJUjg (Accessed: 8 July 2024).
Garrett, R. (2024) ‘Racism shapes careers: career trajectories and imagined futures of racialised minority PhDs in UK higher education’, Globalisation, Societies and Education . doi: 10.1080/14767724.2024.2307886.
TEDx Talks (2023) ‘Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Learning how to get it right | Asif Sadiq | TEDxCroydon’. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR4wz1b54hw (Accessed: 8 July 2024).
The Telegraph (2022) ‘Revealed: The charity turning UK universities woke’. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRM6vOPTjuU (Accessed: 8 July 2024).
YouGov (2024a) Is Channel 4 News More Favourable Towards Labour/the Left Or The Conservatives/the Right?, YouGov. Available at: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/trackers/is-channel-4-news-more-favourable-towards-labour-the-left-or-the-conservatives-the-right (Accessed: 8 July 2024).
YouGov (2024b) Is The Daily Telegraph More Favourable Towards Labour/the Left Or The Conservatives/the Right? Available at: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/trackers/is-the-daily-telegraph-more-favourable-towards-labour-the-left-or-the-conservatives-the-right (Accessed: 8 July 2024).
You address some complex issues in this blog. I appreciate the self reflection and consideration you are giving to working within such a systemically racist environment as higher education. And by identifying this and being aware of this I believe you are now able to make informed decisions and changes from a place of privilege which many individuals from minority groups could be impacted by. I thoroughly agree with your conclusion where you point out that although systemic change may be more powerful, individuals in positions of authority can also make changes and through these individual changes I have hope that institutions will come to see that there is a huge demand for increased inclusivity in our world.
I am a little unsure what you are using the graphs to highlighting and so would like to hear more about your comparisons of these resources and the political standing they have originated from?
I like to angle you liked at this from with regard to the political leaning of the source of the articles. It’s something I feel in the age of mass media many people give little thought to so long as it suits our existing opinion.
Although well intentioned universities must be mindful as to where funding comes from and what possible sources many charities and companies draw their own funding from as it can stifle impartiality not just is art & design but education as a whole.
Thank you Kira & Campbell, the political lens was something that I hadn’t considered to begin with, and was frankly only when I was doing the bibliography – hence the graphs and brief comments were injected in near the end. The ‘Woke’ university video caught me off guard to hear – everyone is indeed to welcome to their own views but I think it’s important to acknowledge the angle of the lens in which those views come to us from – as to not necessarily be blindsided by the perception of academic authority that I personally believe was being used within that video to create a more compelling argument – that is at least how I personally interpreted the video.
It’s great to hear that you’re perspective on what racism in an institution can look like has opened up as I think that alone can be a force for real change! I found your questioning of the institutions and bodies you’re apart of particularly meaningful. Simply because by being aware of the flaws and issues and willing to acknowledge them, you can do a great deal of good for the students you interact with and also educate and inform other staff members too, to help change systematic injustices that occur within your remit.
Thank you Jazmin, I think thats a great point, about staff members – we are all learning in some way or another and its much more than just students but the educational community as a whole. Thank you!