This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Bristol chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.
Ever since Meghan and Harry announced their plans to step back from being āseniorā royals, it seems like the tabloid press got what they wished for: a person of colour out of the forefront of a British institution.
But you know what, all of this coverage of āMegxitā or whatever they are calling it is not the issue here. At the end of the day, whatever, if it makes then happy then fine. The real issue is behind the tabloids and between the lines: it points to the blatant institutionalised racism in this country.Ā
I agree with Stormzy in his interview with La Repubblica, the cracks are beginning to show within society.Ā
Our PM has been able to openly call Muslim women āletterboxesā (islamophobia) and African people having āwatermelon smiles,ā almost allowing racist actions to occur.
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Hateful campaigns like the Brexit referendum are giving consent to the white majority that ‘hey itās okā to yell at people in the street. ‘Hey itās okā to use racist slurs, āhey itās okā to enforce stereotypes or assume someone has a certain heritage or holds certain views. It explains why racially and religiously charged hate crime has increased by 19.2 points more than was predicted after the EU referendum (Home Office police recorded data).Ā
On a smaller scale though, I worry about the future and I worry about the world Iām growing up in. We need to push for greater, more equal, more liberating education.
But even then, the curriculum is so white! We are always looking at every subject from the view of the white Western man. Even our educators are largely white: there are just 17 black female professors in the whole British university structure and even then BAME academics earn around 26% less than their white colleagues. Institutionalised racism.Ā
I knew that following my passion and studying Philosophy and Theology in a very white university would be a challenge, and Iām game. Call people out on their prejudice. Show them their wrongā¦ or that is what I tell myself.
Iām constantly experiencing racist micro-aggressions at this University, people assume my background based on my membership to the BAME community and being constantly expected toĀ be this āangry BAME student.ā When you suggest someone is being racist you are goaded, taunted:Ā
āWhat, you calling me a racist or something?āĀ
āIām not a racistāĀ
ā Ha, says the racist.Ā
