White Academia: Does this Affect You?

Aisha Richards, Founder of Shades of Noir

We at Shades of Noir continuously encourage discourse between all people. We do this as a form of resistance, which aims to support understanding and acknowledge difference. We believe this is a positive step towards social justice and cultural competency.

The following text reflects an interview in the form of a conversation with a senior academic (SA) within a specialist institution with Shades of Noir (SoN). The key topics within this dialogue are around diversity and social justice within a Higher Education context.

This interview has been anonymised in order to protect the identity of the participants. This is a rare opportunity to have this type of honest conversation shared. All parties hope that this dialogue will be a catalyst for further discussions to take place to support change.

SA: Hi

SoN: Hi. You look a little nervous.

SA: I wasn’t but now I am.

SoN: Don’t worry this will be anonymised. It’s really important that you don’t over think these questions and offer your truth. There is no judgment, nothing to be caught out on...it’s going to be fine and I will show you the piece before it gets shared too.

SA: I’m not sure I want it anonymised? Is that worse if I don’t put my name by it?

SoN: It’s interesting that you used the word ‘worse’, it will be fab. It will be. Sorry on this occasion it will definitely be anonymised. I think it will be stronger with people not knowing who you are. I know a lot of people...you could be anyone and that is the point.

SA: Can I ask why you have asked me to do this?

SoN: I don’t really know you, which is a plus so I don’t know what to expect. I’ve seen you in action saying what is on your mind even when it might make others uncomfortable but never heard your views on the topics I’m interviewing you on. I need this honesty for this piece so please please relax.

SA: I will try.

SoN: Ready? Ok, first question: As a person would you say that you have a diverse pool of friends outside of work?

SA: I’d never thought about this. Ok, politics, gender, yes. Mmm sexuality and religion are pretty diverse. Have I gone red? I have...I’ve gone red because I have very very few black (can I say black), or Asian friends. What does this say?

SoN: It’s fine for you to use whatever terms you deem appropriate to make your point. It is absolutely fine to use the words Black, Brown, Asian, People of Colour, BAME, BAM. Ok relax, remember just be you.

So, you are in quite a Senior role. In your team and the people in your direct reporting line, what do they look like?

SA: Predominantly White middle classed, women in my team and white men, middle classed as well above me mainly.

SoN: What about religion or any other intersections?

SA: I don’t know, I guess that is personal stuff, if they wanted to say...I don’t know. I feel a little bit bad that I don’t know - should I?

SoN: I don’t know. So with the predominantly white community surrounding you in all areas of your life does race, ethnicity or whiteness ever come up in discussion?

SA: Not really. Well, it does but in relation to students numbers and experience. This does come up very often.

SoN: How much time do you spend with students? I don’t mean Student Union or course reps. I mean students?

SA: Since being in this post, I spend most of my time in meetings and doing administration. I do present to Students within their courses, I have chats at lunch and around the college. I guess that is a yes?

SoN: So of the students you come into contact with, who are they?

SA: What do you mean?

SoN: What do you know of and or about these students?

SA: Ok, they are quite diverse, is that what you want to know?

SoN: I am...I’m aiming to understand and share what you define as knowing somebody in the broadest terms.

SA: Ok so with the students I guess I only really know a very small amount about them in real terms. But I don’t think that is unusual in this job. How can we know many (shaking head), I think that is impossible to do and do all of the other things the job requires. The voice of the students comes through the union and reps.

SoN: Ok so what does diversity and social justice mean to you?

SA: Well Diversity I believe means difference, different races, genders, religions, politics, sexuality...oh and I think ages too. Social justice is making changes to support equality of all the differences that may not be being treated equally or rightly.

SoN: Ok, so where do you think both diversity and social justice sit currently in Higher Education?

SA: It’s really top of the list, I think the student population has changed and this has meant that equality of experience of all students is driving change.

SoN: If you don’t have a diverse pool of friends, your team is fairly monocultured and you do not have time to get know students, how do you personally support meaningful change?

SA: Wow, me. When you put it like that it sounds pretty bad. This is a difficult question because I’m thinking now, I guess I can’t. The word ‘meaningful’ is a hard one to assess. I suppose I do mention Shades of Noir a lot, I do encourage diversifying recruitment panels, diversifying reading lists, and definitely engage in any discussions with my colleagues that come up. I suppose what makes this ‘meaningful’ is, what it means to me? Maybe I haven’t been black or Asian, or really been disadvantaged so talking about it and encouraging others like me is what makes it meaningful?

SoN: Do you think that there is a need for you to spend time with your students and staff from different communities? Why and how could you go about this?

SA: Yes I do need to find time to do this. I think it could help me know how ‘meaningful’ the activities are to students and staff. What was the last bit?

SoN: How could you go about this?

SA: Maybe invite people to lunch with me, maybe a group lunch once a month or term, with a mix of students and staff. I suppose this is why you asked me to do this interview, to acknowledge that I am not doing enough?

SoN: No, definitely not. I asked you because, like many, this is an area that seems to be difficult to grapple with. As someone that I don’t work with often, who is not necessarily present at events and meetings I attend, in a position of power, I thought I would reach out to spend some time understanding who you are.

SA: Ok.

SoN: Ok that’s great, can I go back to something you mentioned earlier. You suggested that you have mentioned Shades to peers, can you provide an example of why and how this would or could happen?

SA: Mmmm well just last week, a course leader was saying that they were working on bringing in creatives from a diverse community to enrich the curriculum. I suggested that they have a look at the site for inspiration.

SoN: Ok, so if you were to explain what Shades does what would you say?

SA: Right, so Shades of Noir is an external programme to University of the Arts London, but works with them predominantly as well as other institutions to embed social justice in all aspects of an organisation. It also has a fabulous online presence where it shares information, articles, research and creatives of or by Black and Asian people. I’ve been following you and refreshed last night on the website to get ready for today. There is so much online now. Very very useful. To be honest, I hadn’t looked in a while and to see all of the new bits in the education part, this is really going to be useful.

SoN: We have another 40 minutes allocated as was stated earlier, do you fancy going out for lunch and calling this a rap?

SA: That sounds perfect, lunch is on me...have I really provided enough?

SoN: Let’s call it a work in progress. I would love to interview you again in 18 months to see and hear of any changes? But I have one last question, this is a tricky question. Why don’t you attend the meetings specifically around attainment and or inclusion?

SA: Ok, I’m really feeling hot now.

SoN: Remember whatever you choose to say, there is no judgment and there will be others who feel the same as you.

SA: Ok, well...I don’t feel comfortable talking about race. I don’t really know if I should be saying anything. I am a little worried that I may say something to offend someone. I know this maybe seems like a cop out but I suppose what can I really bring to the table.(?) I haven’t really experienced prejudice I don’t know what it’s like to be a black female like you and you will know more about this stuff than me.

SoN: I know I said that was the last question but I want us to build or expand on your response. Look, I understand how difficult this must feel to say this out loud but it is important that you do. Prejudice affects everyone, it’s not good for society so to reach people like yourself (as you are included in the everyone) is super important. Ok... so how do you think you could overcome all the things that currently prevent you from joining the collective community at the types of meetings that make you uncomfortable (who don’t always agree, in fact I’d say mostly don’t agree at times) to be part of the change?

SA: Well, to be honest this interview has helped. I think I’ve realised that you do have to start somewhere. Continuing to have discussions with the majority of white staff, students and my friends doesn’t necessarily help. Ok...I didn’t acknowledge ‘this’ before, that I have things to do and maybe this is part of the change. This type of subject really didn’t seem to include me, but maybe actually it really does? Anyway thank you for this….was this ok? I have learned a lot about myself which I didn’t expect. Am I done? Gosh, I’m hungry and tired.

SoN: Thank you for taking time out to meet with me.