Black Voices at Bath

The SU is celebrating Black voices at Bath. If you would like to post something here email your tesimony to: su-liberation@bath.ac.uk

Submissions:

Anonymous

Concentrate on obtaining the assistance that someone like you requires, and then do your best to ensure that everyone around you can access that assistance. The University of Bath was the first place where I couldn't find a black female therapist. I've always thought it was natural to seek emotional support from someone who looked like me. When I realised this wasn't the case, I fought for it.

I ran a LinkedIn campaign and spoke with students and staff until I got a call saying they had found a black therapist. During my first therapy session, I cried. They helped me navigate the complex emotions of being a black woman in a predominantly white environment in the following weeks. Following that, I fought for culturally appropriate support for every student. I communicated with every staff member, filed complaints, and followed the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education's protocol (OIA). I was even the first black person to run for student union president, where I advocated for culturally appropriate support for all students.

I now have a 2:1 in Applied Social Studies, a fantastic boyfriend, and the graduate job of my dreams. All because I was focused on obtaining my necessary help and support. Then I made sure that everyone could benefit from this assistance. I can't promise that Bath will always provide culturally appropriate support. However, as I transition out of higher education, I can say that how I did things has given me the tools I needed to cultivate the life I desired.

I'll conclude with my poem titled Whiteness:

Whiteness walks into the room and says:
That's not racist,
I don't see colour,
I have friends that look like you.

Then whiteness says,
You aren't being warm enough.
Like you don't have reasons to be cold sometimes
Like you don't have reasons to cry sometimes.

And you look tired.
Like you are tired of talk.
And meetings
and meetings
and meetings
where no one does anything.

Whiteness walks into the room and says,
To do anything,
We need more time,
Your grandmother times
Your mother's time.
Your time.
Whiteness always wants more time.
Like they haven't taken enough time.

Now when whiteness walks into the room,
You wonder,
You wonder what it's like to be safe
And then you wonder what it's like to feel kindness against this skin.
And then you wonder what it's like to belong.

But to wonder is not to be warm enough,
And whiteness always wants you warm enough,
Even when you have reasons to be cold sometimes,
Even when you have reasons to cry, sometimes
And you look tired.