Anti Racist Statement | New City College

We have a lot of listening, learning and growing to do to ensure we stand up and show up for all of our students and staff, all of the time

Fighting systemic racism in all aspects of society requires ongoing action and reflection in every classroom, workshop, studio and management meeting and board room. We are taking this time to ask ourselves uncomfortable questions and to work out how we can best fight racism.

While listening, reflecting and planning we intend to amplify Black voices right now.

We will capture student voice on racial justice and produce a manifesto for change. This will include training up student ambassadors to lead this work across our colleges.

We will involve staff in an ongoing dialogue, with real outcomes.

We will encourage recognition and respect of the identity, background and history of every individual. This will involve celebrating positive history and experiences and acknowledging where lessons need to be learned.

We will publicise appropriate reading and resources.

Ultimately, we want to effect long term organisational awareness, impact and change and to play an active role in positive change throughout our communities.

Read our Study Contract.

Useful resources

Our partner, the University of Middlesex, has compiled and shared a list of anti-racism recourses. We are making sure that our libraries hold these books, and others, and are making the online resources available (see below). We are also researching further into British and European sources.

Anti-Racism Reading List

1. Books – (these books are currently being sourced for our libraries)

When They Call You a Terrorist – Patrisse Cullors and asha bandele A powerful memoir of the prejudice and persecution so many black Americans experience at the hands of law enforcement.

Sister Outsider – Audre Lorde A collection of essays and speeches which gives us a language and context for what we’re seeing today.

So You Want to Talk About Race – Ijeoma Olu This book addresses head-on issues such as privilege, police brutality, micro-aggressions and the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Revolutionaries – Elisa Camahort Page, Carolyn Gerin, and Jamia Wilson This is for people of all ages and backgrounds who are ready to step into advocacy and activism, but don’t know where to begin.

Me and White Supremacy – Layla F Saad This book helps readers through a journey of understanding white privilege and participation in white supremacy

2. Online Resources

The 1619 project The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from the New York Times Magazine, which aims to re frame the America’s history by placing the consequences of slavery at the very centre of our national narrative. Find the article here.

The Combahee River Collective Statement A statement from a collective of Black feminists who have been meeting since 1974. Find the article here.

‘The Intersectionality Wars’ – Jane Coaston An article about Kimberlé Crenshaw, who coined the term intersectionality over 30 years ago, a 60-year-old Ohio native who has spent more than 30 years studying civil rights, race, and racism. Find the article here.

Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups – Craig Elliott PhD Craig Elliott explores how to recognise whiteness and white privilege, identify and interrupt our internalised dominance, and collectively develop strategies for liberation and change. Find the article here.

‘Where do I donate? Why is the uprising violent? Should I go protest?’ – Courtney Martin A Q&A by—and for—people with privilege who want to learn more about racial justice. Find the article here.

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack – Peggy McIntosh Peggy McIntosh discusses the impact of white privilege in discussions of power, gender, race, class and sexuality in America. Find the article here.

Who Gets to be Afraid in America? – Dr. Ibram X. Kendi ‘Ahmaud Arbery Could have been me’ -Ibram X Kendi speaks about his experiences growing up as a black male in America. Find the article here.

3. Podcasts

1619 – Podcast from the New York Times An audio series on how slavery has transformed America, connecting past and present through the oldest form of storytelling. Listen here.

About Race This podcast hosts lively multiracial, interracial conversations about the ways we talk about culture, identity, politics, power and privilege. Listen here.

Intersectionality Matters! A podcast hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American civil rights advocate and a leading scholar of critical race theory. Listen here.

Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast This podcast features movement voices, stories and strategies for racial justice. Listen here.

Pod For The Cause The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’s new podcast! Listen here.

Pod Save the People Activist DeRay Mckesson explores news, culture, social justice and politics with fellow activists. Listen here.

Seeing White Just what is going on with white people? Why? Where did the notion of ‘whiteness’ come from? John Biewen takes a deep dive into these questions. Listen here.