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Being Black in a White World: Understanding Racism in British Universities

13 November 2017

This paper critically examines the experiences of racism encountered by academics working within British universities. It presents a rich and complex set of snapshots that document the various challenges and barriers faced by British academics of colour/difference in HE. The empirical data that informs the piece has been generated by a series of interviews with academics of colour and of difference, and who are based broadly within the social sciences and humanities.

Those interviewed come from a range of different racial, religious and ethnonational backgrounds, and occupy different academic positions within the university structure. Through a close engagement with the empirical material, it analyses the effects of the structural and systemic nature of racism as experienced by my respondents. The account is focused around three key themes including microaggressions and institutional racism, teaching, and promotion and support. Dr Katy Sian is a lecturer in Sociology at the University of York.

Black in a White World: Understanding Racism in British Universities [263kb]

Last updated: 13 November 2017