Racism Matters in Decolonising Universities

Suki Ali, LSE, Department of Sociology

In this talk I will draw on over twenty years’ experience working on issues of race in/equalities to explore what is at stake in the shift in approaches to racial injustice in HE. Focusing on the past ten years I consider the move from anti-racism to decolonisation and ask what elements of both might be required to bring about more meaningful change for both staff and students. Using auto-ethnography and work a project delivering ‘the inclusive curriculum’ ask why change is so slow in coming and suggest that a lack of consensus on methodologies as well as aims and outcomes is hampering progress.

Dr Ali is Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the LSE. She previously taught at Goldsmiths College, the Institute of Education and University of Greenwich. Her main theoretical interests focus upon feminist postcolonial theory, research methodologies, visual culture, and processes of identification and embodiment. Her work centralises the interplay between gender, sexualities, race and class and she has published research that engages these issues in education and family life. Whilst continuing to work within these areas, her current research explores processes of racialisation with specific regard to family life, identification and postcoloniality; and knowledge politics and practices.