Make a Stand Against Racism

Pledge to be an Ally

At Canterbury Christ Church we stand against racism, discrimination, harassment and bullying. We believe that everyone has a right to a good quality education, in which diversity is celebrated.

What is racism?

Racism is the oppression and marginalisation of individuals based on the colour of the their skin. It is a form of prejudice, hatred or discrimination against a person because of their skin colour and/or ethnicity and it largely affects individuals from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic backgrounds as well as individuals from mixed-heritage backgrounds. Racism can be overt (e.g. racial slurs) and/or covert in the form of micro-aggressions (e.g. touching an individual's hair because it is different or asking questions like, where are you from?) and systemic racism. The impact of racism on those that are experiencing it is damaging and long-lasting including feelings of upset, depression, loneliness and fear.

Racism is never OK and it is never the fault of the person experiencing it. Therefore, it is crucial that we all work together to tackle racism and promote racial equality.

About IMATTER/Allyship

Together we want to shine a light on racial inequalities, build a supportive learning and working community in which members of Christ Church and Christ Church Students' Union can stand together against racism. Most importantly, we recognise the importance of allyship in tackling racism and dismantling assumptions.

Through IMATTER and Allyship, we want the university community to come together to provide an opportunity for Black voices to be heard and non-black individuals to stand in solidarity.

Calling all Black students and staff to take part in the I Matter campaign

What is Allyship?

Allyship plays a critical role in helping us to dismantle inequalities within our society. Allyship involves being empathic, actively listening to the lived experiences of marginalised groups, calling out racism and standing in solidarity.

As an ally of the IMATTER/Allyship you will have the opportunity to support individuals from the black community and use your voice alongside theirs but not instead of. In this way we can all work together to promote racial equality within our society.

To take part in the IMATTER/Allyship campaign at Christ Church please sign the pledge and post a picture using the IMATTER/Allyship hashtags.

Pledge to be an Ally

10 tips for impactful Allyship

Amplify the voices of marginalised groups.
Actively listen to the voices and lived experiences of marginalised groups. Respect their experiences and understand that it will be different from your own experiences.
Understand and educate yourself on your own privileges and understand how they may impact on others.
Stand up in solidarity even when it may be difficult.
Check in on friends. It is important that you show up for friends and provide support through actions.
Understand and recognise your own biases when it comes to race.
Commit to changing your behaviour and learning from your mistakes and assumptions.
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Conversations on race and racism is difficult but they need to happen in order for us to progress.
Speak up for marginalised groups and not over them.
Lead with empathy, put yourself in someone else’s shoes before passing judgement but always remember that you should treat people how they want to be treated.

Reporting

At Canterbury Christ Church University we do not tolerate racism, bullying, harassment and violence of any kind. Any staff, students or visitors to the University that experience or witness any form of racism to report using our Report + Support system.

An Education on Race

We have several useful resources that you can use to educate yourself on race, racism, and privilege. View the resources now.

Staff member Kristy shares her personal reflections on anti-racism practice and the journey towards allyship. Read the blog now.

Report+Support

I Matter

Pledge to be an Ally

Black History Month at CCCU

Black History Month UK

Allyship pledges #CCCUBH365

Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Rama Thirunamachandran

• I give respect to all regardless of race or ethnicity • To take responsibility for helping to create a positive and inclusive learning environment in which diversity is celebrated • To take positive action to prevent racial discrimination of any kind • To educate myself and others on race and racism • To stand up against racism

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen James

David Leah, Director of Finance and Chief Financial Officer and member of the University's Senior Management Team

Margaret Ayers, Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development and member of the University's Senior Management Team

Jo

I pledge to give respect to all regardless of race or ethnicity. I pledge to take responsibility for helping to create a positive and inclusive learning environment in which diversity is celebrated. I pledge to take positive action to prevent racial discrimination of any kind. I pledge to educate myself and others n race and racism. I pledge to stand up against racism.

Clare

I am attending workshops internally and with external providers relating to 'facilitating talk on race and racism in the classroom' and 'decolonising the curriculum'. I am also writing and researching on social justice and parity of treatment for marginalised groups and those experiencing racism. Ensuring students and colleagues are aware of the 'closing our gap' research is important and to consider how we can all benefit from work done to address this issue. Be an ally for students and colleagues whenever I can.

Ellie

I pledge to give respect to all regardless of race or ethnicity, taking responsibility for helping to create a positive and inclusive learning environment in which diversity is celebrated. I pledge to take positive action to prevent racial discrimination of any kind, I shall educate myself and others in race and racism and stand up against racism; calling it out whenever and whereever I see it. I promise at all times to respect individuals and to ensure that everyone has a voice and is listened to.

Katie

I pledge: to make anti-racism work a priority for both myself and the Arts and Culture team. That means embedding anti-racist work in all of our activities, conversations, and personal and professional development. It means asking the cultural organisations that we work with about their anti-racism plans. It means working with the staff and students of CCCU to create a cultural programme that really reflects the diversity of our community.

Maria

Kath

Why am I pledging to be an ally? I have been committed to and involved in decolonising creative curriculums since I started teaching in 2003. Recently, I have been working to evolve our university approaches to delivering an inclusive and decolonised curriculum and close the attainment gap, which I am passionate about. Thinking about our Black students experience as they transition into and through university has been a part of that. On a personal level my pledge connects to my own learning particularly in the last few years as I have been challenged to develop by attending workshops across the UK where the focus has been on exploring how to strategically evolve approaches to improve attainment gaps. Last summer I read Reni Eddo-Lodge's book 'Why I am No Longer Talking To White People About Race( 2018) and was again personally challenged to work harder at 'chipping away against the power of structural racism' as Eddo-Lodge states when I realised my own knowledge of Black British history was wanting. I would love to meet up and support you to consider ways to develop and decolonise your curriculum to support the retention and success of all our Black students- get in touch! kath.abiker@canterbury.ac.uk

Melissa

I pledge to be an ally. To be active in a community that promotes equality and respect, that listens and acts, and that challenges inequalities wherever it exists. I will do everything I can, professionally and personally, to be more aware, to learn and to listen, and not make assumptions. I pledge to be an ally who stands up to racism and who works hard to promote respect and empathy.

Supporting Links

Closing our Gap

Black, Asian, Mixed Heritage and Minority Ethnic students

The University aspires to provide an inclusive learning community and aims to work with all our students to achieve their goals.