The event has the attendance of speakers from the University of Chichester and Goldsmiths University, with students in Leeds and the members of CRED.
The Office for National Statistics shows that 751,485 people were living in Leeds in 2011. By racial proportion of 3.5%, Black was ranked as the third largest populace of Leeds. This percentage is believed to continue increasing as the total population size in Leeds has grown by 8.1% in 2021.
This has also emphasised the need of addressing racial discrimination for equal education. The seminar of the CRED event ‘Black Student Teachers’ Experiences of Racism in the White School: Strategies of Resilience and Survival’ on Wednesday, 12 October turned back to the root of this problem through an in-depth analysis of the life experiences of Black students and teachers in the UK.
Tackling long-lasting racism in the system
The director of CRED, Professor Vini Lander, expressed her aspirations towards the event: “We invite eminent academics and specialists in the study of race and education to share their research with the audience and to engage in discussion with them. All children are entitled to a fair and equitable education. But over the last 50 years, there has been a persistent issue related to the underachievement of some youngsters from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups. Research indicates that this underachievement is not just due to family or culture but to the systemic racism within education.”
“In order to address the issues of underachievement of racially minoritised youngsters and the disproportionate exclusion of Black and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils, the education system needs to recognise there are many forms of racism, namely personal, institutional and structural racism; to recruit more Black and global majority teachers, senior school leaders and governors; embed anti-racist practices throughout the school. Racism damages the well-being and self-esteem of Black and global majority youngsters and teachers. It is a safeguarding issue,” she said.
