Things that white academics have said to me
When I see a hijabi-babe, I watch and wait to see if it slips to see her hair.
You don’t want to do that [top] job when you have kids.
Are you trying to find a husband?
When I see her, I don’t see race. I see class.
My wife is Indian.
Most staff I’ve had a problem with are women.
This is all about the challenges for coloured doctoral students.
I’m colour-blind.
They don’t want to do Black British history.
Where are you from?
Things that academics of colour have said to me
How do you cope?
I need to leave academia.
I can’t tell you how much what you’ve done means to me in my life.
I need your advice.
I need a hug.
I sat there with your book in my hands and thought to myself, if she can do it, then I can too.
One day, that’s what we’d like to be like.
You’ve made a huge difference to what I thought was even possible.
Congratulations!
Thank you.
Inspired by Susan Harlan’s ‘Things that Male Academics Have Said to Me‘. Part II to follow.
Qualia's Qualms 