Jason and I discussed how racism is still shockingly prevalent on university campuses and is keenly felt by both students and staff. Increased reporting and social media access may even make it feel as though it’s getting worse. With simple, clear steps towards progress, funding in the right areas, collective awakening to the extent of the problems, it’s something that can be addressed in an intersectional way.

“You’re asking the oppressed to relieve themselves of their own burden. It doesn’t make any sense to me whatsoever.” – Dr. Jason Arday

Dr Jason Arday is a Senior Lecturer in Education at Roehampton University, School of Education, a Visiting Research Fellow at The Ohio State University in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and a Trustee of the Runnymede Trust, the UK’s leading Race Equality Thinktank.

We cover a wide range of topics, including:

• Why is racism at universities still so prevalent, what are the conditions that allow this to happen?
• What’s the impact of racism on BAME students?
• The role of the curriculum and why it should reflect the lived experience of a much broader range of students than a largely Euro-centric one.
• Why is there such an attainment gap?
• Staff in academia; the shockingly low levels of BAME representation and the impact of racism and bias on staff wellbeing, including lack of opportunity for BAME students to progress beyond degree level and into academia.
• The importance of intersectionality when addressing equality and how different groups have different funding attached to its progress is problematic.

“There’s responsibility on us as individuals to equip ourselves with the best knowledge available to navigate a multi-cultural society.” – Dr. Jason Arday

And much more. Please enjoy, and be sure to grab a copy of Racism at Work: The Danger of Indifference and connect with Professor Binna Kandola OBE on LinkedIn to join the conversation or share your thoughts.

You can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn or in any other podcasting app by searching for “Racism at Work Podcast“, or simply by asking Siri and Alexa to “play the Racism at Work podcast“.

Mentioned in the show

• The Macpherson report [1:49]
• The Runneymede report [2:16]
• Advanced HE Race Equality Charter [21:31]
• Athena Swan – Equality Challenge Unit [22:36]
• Black in Academia [25:40]