The Normalcy of Racism in the School Experience of Students of Colour: “The Times When It Hurts”

Abstract

This paper focuses on racism in Scottish schools drawing on data from focus groups with secondary students of colour. The study explores racial inequity in schools through students’ reflections on enactments of bias and privilege. Findings demonstrate that 1) students of colour experience racism but race is being ignored or deflected in their interactions in schools; 2) students feel discriminated against due to race; and 3) they do not feel that they are heard and supported by their school. Employing a Critical Race Theory perspective, the article argues for the necessity of race talk in schools and the need for student voice. The study concludes with implications for teachers, research, and education policy, and suggestions for more explicit focus on race in the classrooms, curriculum and policies.

‘Once you bond … you want to create social change’: Interpersonal relationships in youth activism

“…In school, their experience was of being the only Black girl or girl of colour or one of only a few and not seeing themselves significantly represented in the curriculum. Many participants also recounted racism they faced in school, from peers and teachers (see also Kennelly & Mouroutsou, 2020). In the above quote, Faith contrasts feeling ‘different and excluded’ throughout her life to the positive experiences of belonging that she had in IYS.…”

“…These findings support Black feminist scholars' claims about the political significance of friendships (Brown, 2021), positive relationships and community (Anim‐Addo, 2014; Collins, 2010; Luna & Laster Pirtle, 2021) dedicated organisations (Bryan et al, 2018; Sudbury, 2005) and safe spaces (Kelly, 2020; Showunmi, 2017) for Black girls and women. The novelty of this paper is in its focus on Black girls and girls of colour in Scotland, who are under‐researched in British academia (Kennelly & Mouroutsou, 2020) outside of a racial deficit perspective (Palmer, 2016).…”

“…To do this, the paper draws on a 15‐month‐long multi‐method qualitative study conducted with young people who attended the anti‐racist Scottish youth work charity Intercultural Youth Scotland (IYS) and their youth workers. The vast majority of the Scottish population identifies as White 2 and the small number of studies conducted with students of colour in Scotland show that they experience everyday racism (Kennelly & Mouroutsou, 2020) and a lack of understanding of their identity from school staff and peers (Guyan, 2019). IYS works to bring together young Black people and people of colour and support them in contending with and challenging the discrimination and prejudice they experience in Scotland.…”