In solidarity, learning, growth, and resistance.

It's not uncommon for 'white' people to ask me if they can be victims of reverse-racism from a Black person. Here are two infographic PDF resources (and a Padlet with excellent videos and reading materials) to help develop your racial literacy. But remember, understanding this and the ways in which society racialises you as 'white' (and what that means for the part you play in a racially-unjust system) takes much effort, reflection, discomfort and time. Disclaimer: I receive no revenue from this blog nor the resources I make, nor any of my anti-racism (though if a big corporation is interested I'd charge in partnership with a Global Majority partner and with a donation to a relevent community organisation). I am currently incredibly fortunate to be supported by my employer to complete a PhD in this area. These resources are one of the ways I try to give back some of what I am benefiting from. Infographic 1 - What is 'white', whiteness, and white suprema...

I regularly talk about social justice to friends and family (but sadly not my nan, anymore. And by sadly I don't mean she has passed away, I mean she remains a staunch racist despite my efforts). I also talk to colleagues involved in all areas of education from library staff and lecturers, to senior leaders and support and cleaning services (one of my priorities in my personal and professional life is to hold myself and others to account in our efforts to fight racism and dismantle white supremacy). When the topic of race equity comes up, people are often unsure of what I mean when I refer to 'whiteness'. Thanks, National Curriculum. This is because the system is not-so-cleverly designed to disguise itself. Some people I talk to know far, far more about it than me (unsurprisingly, not my nan). Anyway, here's an infographic that might help us understand whiteness as key in perpetuating white supremacy. Free PDF available by request @Cole_Therapy_Ed. Did I ...

Conferences and related events (symposia, unconferences, cafes, uncafes, whatever) in the field of education are notoriously exclusive spaces. And this is still often the case when the event is about social justice issues in education. Cue Alanis . Whether it's only white people talking decolonisation, or charging the best part of a grand to bring your research there ( AdvanceHE and NET , I'm looking at you), if you're a struggling academic or student, the message is clear: this is more for 'them' and less for you. From sexual harassment (thanks, men) to explicit and hidden disincentives and barriers to engage for carers, students, and especially those who are introverted, have low disposable income, or from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds (thanks, neocolonialism), equity for speakers and delegates is still a pipe dream. Or it would be a dream if organisers were conscious of it. Hold on, it could still be a dream from the subconscious, rig...

“ The journey towards understanding structural racism still requires people of colour to prioritise white feelings. ” Reni Eddo-Lodge , Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race In the wake of UK edutwitter's # ListGate , a well-known edutweeter, Greg, published another blog piece about racism . As a fellow racialised-as-white educator, I feel obliged to take the time to address it. So I will ( again ). One of Greg's main arguments (see image) is his contention that the concept of white supremacy is flawed because its circular reasoning results in those accused of holding white advantages as guilty because of their very denial of them. In the time-honoured language of male righteousness , Greg uses the analogy of witches to demonstrate his point.  But of course, anyone who is reasonably well-read in this area knows that the in-admission of one's complicity in racism ( i.e. the inequitable distribution of power, choice, social mobility, and proximity to j...

Joining the dots In order to better understand how society works, and how we are agents within it, I believe it may be helpful to conceptualize society through a critical lens as an animated 'dot-to-dot' drawing - a moving 3D picture that, in addition to form and content, has a time-constrained dimension of 'dynamism'. We can consider the 'dynamism' ( direction, speed, velocity, momentum, effects of drag, friction, and gravity)  along vectors pertaining to established notions of values or paradigms, for example, conservatism and liberalism, or capitalism and socialism. Do you remember the dot-to-dot illustration activities you did as a child? The ones where you had hold of the pencil, and were guided by two sets of forces: 1) external forces: the instructions printed to one side;  the location of the dots; the ascending numbers or alphabetical sequences; the previously learned rules for drawing activities; and the quality and type of the pencil; and...

Have you heard the story about " the white cishet male " being an oppressed group?  Have you seen the  straight pride march ? Have you heard that " a Christian curriculum " is needed for proper cultural literacy? Or that the " moral question " [of sexuality is] far more complex than the liberal-dominated edu-community seems to understand "? Note that the first statement was made by a well-known misogynist and proponent of eugenics , who believes in a meritocracy but got his  university place and at least one  role through nepotism. Despite how very  tedious it is, note that it's one amongst many platformed cries from advantaged groups, disguised as victimisation and dressed in faux appeals to reason. There is one goal in mind: to keep the power with those who have always had it. Note that the 'straight pride' march was organised by a member of the far-right, a group typified by thei...

As a racialised-as-white man (whether I'm aware of this is or not, whether I like it or not, and whether I resist it or not - because I'm always a recipient of its societal advantages , and a beneficiary of its oppressive cultural heritage - and despite 'white' being biological bullsh*t and pseudoscientific sh*te )...wait, where was I..? ...dammit, where was I ? Let me see...Errr..." As a racialised blah blah, something something, yaada yaada "...Oh yes: as a person with socially-constructed advantages who is trying to do anti-racist work in a system that's predicated on my complicity, there are a few things I've learned (and am still learning) both from the work of others and from personal experience about how I can grow, and reduce the risk that I'll inadvertently make things worse. So here's my quick rundown for 'white' people who already 'get it' enough to be actively involved in anti-racist movements, or ar...