Institutional racism in Academia and @BFI: How to fight it

*Attend Prince of Peckham University for great weekly talks, July-September HERE

How to deal with systemic racism in Academia and at the BFI (British Film Institute)

Following the unlawful killing of George Floyd (May 2020 in the USA) many UK higher education leaders and corporate CEOs made:

• Well-meaning proclamations to decolonise the curriculum
• Have stated to somehow close the ethnicity attainment and pay gaps
• Have targeted equality, diversity and inclusion as a prioirty once again

Recent data shows how UK Higher Education Institutions are becoming more ehtnically diverse and yet..disproportionately lower numbers of BAME staff (compared to non BAME staff)

• Have permanent contracts
• Hold senior leadership positions and are on higher level pay bands (AdvanceHE 2021)

The BFI executive management team did not have any Black staff on it up to 2021.The BFI was set up in 1933. Since 2020 there has been only one Black person on the executive despite claims from the BFI CEO in 2020 that it is 'anti-racist' and that 'People of colour are underrepresented across the organisation'. HERE

This presentation will reveal details of the research by Dr Charmaine Brown, into systemic racism in academia, how institutions talk the talk but fail to walk the walk , performative anti-racism and how to take action and ensure concrete change.

What is Prince of Peckham University ?

Black History Walks has teamed up with the Prince of Peckham pub to offer high quality, educational talks by Black academics on a variety of subjects. Prince of Peckham is a black-owned venue offering high quality food, drink and entertainment. Black History Walks runs walks, talks, films, river cruises, helicopter and steam train tours on London's Black history. All of our speakers hold doctorates, are Phd students or authors

There will be fascinating talks each Tuesday from 15 July to 23 September 6.30-8.30pm. Just book your free ticket, come have a drink, meet nice people,chew a pattie and learn. Just as good as Oxford/Cambridge, but it won't cost you £9000 !

These events provide a safe space at a time when they are serious cuts to to Black history /education at Chichester, Birmingham and Goldsmiths universities. Executives at BSix College in Hackney, that has a record of pushing Black students to Oxford/Cambridge, wants to cut its education/Black history programme due to 'restructuring' . The BFI Southbank despite 17,000 signatures to keep the 17-year-old African Odysseys, educational, anti-racist film series going has cancelled the programme due to 'restructuring'.

For more information and to support BSIX click HERE

For more information and to support African Odysseys click HERE

Prince of Peckham University talks list. 6.30 to 8.30pm. Talk starts at 6.45pm

• 15 July. The gentrification of Peckham and Black Urban Removal worldwide
• 22 July. Successful Community activism in Peckham: The Rye Lane Campaign 2011
• 29 July. Hollywood, Zombies and the demonisation of African Spirituality
• 5 August. African Women Resistance Leaders. Political and Spiritual
• 12 August. Sinners Movie Breakdown Part 1/4
• 19 August. African Imagery and history of Black-owned Pubs
• 26 August. 20 Banned Black films you need to see: African Odysseys
• 2 September. Institutional racism in Academia and @BFI: How to fight it
• 9 September. Sisters and Black British Civil rights 1970s/80s
• 16 September. The Black History of Comedy !
• 23 September. A Black Activist in 1900s Britain: SJ Celestine Edwards

Black History Summer School for kids and adults weekdays 11am to 1pm

Monday 18 August : How Black People won World War Two part 1

Tuesday 19 August: How Black People won World War Two part 2

Wednesday 20 August: Hidden Black History in your street

Watch our latest African Odysseys film, Reclaiming Cocoa 21st June, about how Europe gets rich from Ghana's chocolate and how to reverse the process HERE

About the Speaker for Institutional Racism : Charmaine Brown BA, MSc,Phd, Cert Ed, RSA Adv Dip, Certificate in teaching Adult Literacy, CeLTT

Is a Jamaican born teacher educator for pre-service and in-service education and training programmes (Further Education) in the UK. She has trained teachers at the University of Greenwich for over 20 years. Professional memberships include Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA), Society for Education and Training (FSET) and Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (MCIPD).

Her teaching career started in adult community learning (ACL). From 1990-1995, she was the Education manager at the Peckham Literacy Centre (PLC), (The Bookplace). She is a ‘skills for life’ specialist, managing and teaching on adult literacy courses at PLC and for the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA).

As a lifelong community activist, in 2012 she led a successful campaign to empower the local community to challenge the practices of racist shopkeepers.

Her research disseminations include institutionalised racism; decolonising the curriculum; widening participation in further and higher education; gentrification and displacement. She is a Judicial Office Holder for HMCTS in England and Wales; and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, adjudicating on Equality, Diversity & Inclusive (EDI) legislation