Though Black History Month in the UK is a celebratory month of Black British culture, our history, and our people, this is an issue for everyone. The purpose of Black History Month is to praise Black pioneers past and present such as Sonia Boyce OBE, Diane Abbott MP, Olaudah Equiano, Baron Simon Woolley, Dr Harold Moody, Dame Elizabeth Anionwu and many more. This issue purposely highlights proud moments in Black history, but more importantly, our writers have cast a spotlight on the struggle that these Black pioneers past and present have faced throughout their lifetime. Obstacles that I myself have faced, and continue to face at the University of Edinburgh.
The University of Edinburgh is a Predominantly White Institution (PWI): in 2009 Black students only made up 1 per cent of the university’s student body, between 2015 and 2016 the number of black students admitted was 0.7 per cent, and today we only make up 0.9 per cent of the study body. In turn university societies, like The Student are extremely unrepresentative of the Black student body. The lack of racial diversity at Edinburgh University is not overlooked by its Black students.
Since the age of four I have attended PWIs. The lack of racial diversity at my old schools meant that I was used to being the only non-white person in the room, and this is still the case at Edinburgh. Growing up as a Black-British girl living in Surrey, the only Black people I would see were my family members and the only other Black family who lived down the street, everyone else was white.
I am forever grateful for my parents for creating an inclusive domestic environment, which made sure I recognised Black beauty, created a deep connection with my Ghanaian and Dominican heritage and a constant ethos that despite my race, I can do anything I set my mind to. However, their efforts would not have been needed if the institutions I attended did not make my “difference” feel like a chip on my shoulder.
As top institutions such as Russell Group Universities and high-ranking job positions are dominated by white straight men, it is assumed that to be a member of an ethnic minority in a predominantly white environment means that you have succeeded in your career. This assumption pressures Black students to aim for a place in PWIs, spaces that are often not inclusive and allow racial discrimination against students of colour to thrive without consequence.
The discriminatory environment at PWIs like the University of Edinburgh, have made me feel isolated from white students who do not have the same university experience as I do. They do not understand how ignorant it is to continually mispronounce my name, yet never miss a beat when it comes to Tchaikovsky. They do not notice the racial stereotypes that are falsely attached to my identity as a Black woman. For example, having to master the art of debating topics in tutorials knowing that I may be labelled as too loud as I have been before; or not truly expressing anger when I experience racism at this university or in my personal life as I do not want to be stereotyped as ‘the angry Black woman’.
It’s hard feeling like you don’t fit in because of a factor that you can’t and don’t want to change, but what is worse is having people tell you, both directly and indirectly, that you do not belong in the same space as them. The fact that we have to create inclusive spaces such as the African Caribbean Society and BlackED in order to showcase the presence of Black students only emphasises the lack of inclusivity at Edinburgh. Additionally, Edinburgh University is making little attempts to decolonise the curriculum across all subject areas. It is unfair that Black students must only learn about their history in relation to the colonial empire, when white English students have the luxury of learning about a kinder history.
Please check on your Black friends, whether they attend this university or another PWI. They are probably lonely, I know I am. Having to live everyday feeling isolated in your experiences with almost no one in your environment who can relate to you can change your perception of an institution that was once your dream.
Whilst non-Black readers may find some of the topics addressed in this issue to be uncomfortable, your discomfort is unmatched in comparison to your Black peers. Your silence on racial topics is an answer in itself, it tells non-white people that you are compliant with racism. We don’t need your pity or to hear about your guilt. Black students need you to learn from your mistakes, educate yourselves to understand our experiences and have compassion for the trauma that comes from the racial discrimination that PWIs allow to thrive.
To all the Black readers, you are not alone in your struggle as you push yourselves against the current of colonialism’s trauma and the systemic racism that accompanies it. Do not feel ashamed to be angry, loud, quiet, or reserved. Use your emotion as power against these institutions and make them recognise the racist culture they create and sustain.
Image courtesy of Keisha Frimpong.