Part II - Being Black is not an optional luxury! Struggles for rights and recognition in the White academic space

Summary

The following accounts present the struggles and barriers Black PhD students face in pursuing and creating novel research in spaces that are ill- equipped to support them. Each chapter is a unique story on how these barriers make Black students feel and how they navigate a system that currently disputes their rights and recognition of their identity.

Given the small number of Black scholars in UK academia, it is unsurprising that many students enter this space unfamiliar with the reality of the power structures and limited avenues for support. This lack of appropriate support and community in academic institutions can be isolating and clearly has an impact on the confidence and outcomes of many Black students. This is discussed in detail by Amira, who struggled with self- doubt during her studies. Black students in academia, like in other white- dominated systems, have reported adopting a performance, or censoring themselves to fit into the dominant culture. This coping strategy may, at times, allow them to navigate academia facing less hostility, but comes at the cost of reducing their sense of belonging and wellbeing in these spaces (Arday et al., 2021; Stoll et al., 2022).

Black students can also face a lack of academic support and investment in their areas of interest, which points to the inequitable research funding opportunities in the UK. Funding agencies and research institutions are key players in deciding which research projects are funded, which scholars are recruited, and what kind of infrastructure is available to support scholars. In Alanah's chapter, it is clear that despite Black students being highly motivated to conduct research, academic institutions can lack the expertise and networks necessary to support students’ academic interests. This is not simply an issue of a lack of scholars, or lack of awareness given that universities make intentional decisions on who and what is included in curricula. In July 2023, the University of Chichester was criticised for making redundant the first British history professor of African heritage, Professor Hakim Adi (The Voice, 2023).