Swazi,

I thank you for rethinking the name.

At the moment, with 'Athena Swan' and 'Race Equality', you run the risk of pandering to those who believe (albeit unconsciously) that all the women are white and all the men are black. (Indeed, the name 'Athena' was a particularly unhelpful choice, in this regard. Cf. the white backlash over 'Black Athena': http://athenatrickster.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/putting-athena-into-black-athena.html) You need to advance public understanding of the intersectional nature of social oppression. 

Please read the keynote I delivered at the UCU Equality Conference, last year: http://www.academia.edu/9304819/Lordes_London_Lessons. In honour of the 50th anniversary of Claudia Jones, of her colossal activist contributions (founder of the first black British newspaper; founder of the Notting Hill Carnival), and of her colossal academic contributions (transnational, anti-colonial theorist, who came up with the concept of 'triple oppression'), you should rename this Charter Mark the Claudia Jones Charter Mark.

Nathaniel

Nathaniel Adam Tobias Coleman, PhD

Research Associate in the Philosophy of 'Race'
Department of Philosophy, University College London
Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, dtmh.ucl.ac.uk, #DTMH


On 10 Mar 2015, at 10:48, McClement, Fiona <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Dear SAT Members,

Please see below. Ideas are most welcome.

Best wishes,

Fiona

 

Fiona McClement
Equalities and Diversity Adviser
University College London

Tel: 0203 108 3988  Internal 53988
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/equalities/

 

  

From: Higher Education Race Action Group alerts and communications [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Swazi Rodgers
Sent: 10 March 2015 08:07
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Your thoughts please

 

Dear all,

As you know the race equality charter mark is in a trial phase at the moment and one of the areas we are developing is the identity (including the name) of the charter when it ‘goes live.’ We want to involve you in the discussion about what to call the charter mark and ask for your thoughts and suggestions.

Up until now it has been given the generic title of REM and we would like it to have a distinct identity. For example would it be better to give it a person’s name or a word that has meaning ? What are the implications of either choice ? The name should represent the importance of advancing race equality and be meaningful without excluding communities or ethnicities.

Any comments or feedback would be helpful and welcome.

Kind regards,


Swazi

 

Swazi Rodgers
Senior Policy Adviser

T:        020 7269  1016

M:      07889 757 503
E:        [log in to unmask]

 

Equality Challenge Unit
7th floor, Queens House
55/56 Lincoln's Inn Fields
London, WC2A 3LJ
T:         020 7438 1010
F:         020 7438 1011
W:       www.ecu.ac.uk

 

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