The School of Mathematics is working to create an inclusive culture which ensures we celebrate diversity and foster a feeling of belonging for students and staff of all races and ethnicities. Definitions Race is defined in the dictionary as 'any one of the groups that humans are often divided into based on physical traits regarded as common among people of shared ancestry' (Merriam-Webster, 2022). However, it is much broader than this. Race is a colonial construct, created to group people and enforce colour-coded hierarchies, and legitimise white supremacy. The term generated racial classification to identify and marginalise racialised communites, and divide the human population into groups based on physical appearance, social factors and cultural backgrounds. Ethnicity is defined as 'of or relating to large groups of people classed according to common racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or background' (Merriam-Webster, 2022). This means ethnicity refers to a shared cultural expression. Racism is recognised world-wide as a systemic issue. This means people of colour are discriminated against by an entire system, arisen from structures and expectations throughout society. "Reverse racism" is a term which has been discussed recently, and refers to supposed racism towards white people. However, it is not possible for white people to experience racism, because the systems of power and privilege throughout society have solely benefitted white people, and the positions of power have been solely occupied by white people. So "racism" towards white people isn't a problem, as there is no systemic discrimination in place supporting this (1). However, people belonging to certain ethnicities may be white, for example some Jewish people, and travelling people. These individuals experience discrimination on the basis of their ethnicity as well, even though they may be white. Disrimination on the basis of race and ethnicity is a very complex, broad topic which cannot be summarised easily. It is most important that people listen to the voices of those who have experienced racism and discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, and learn to be actively anti-racist by reading, listening, and being empathetic and respectful. Inclusive Language and Behaviour The School is promoting many initiatives and projects to ensure we are not just passively against racism, but actively antiracist. We are working to understand the history of a mostly white university, and how it contributes to students who feel as if they do not belong. The School of Mathematics aims to listen to the lived experience of people of colour and work to take accountability, so that we can enact real change. The University have provided an Inclusive Language Guide which details how to discuss race and ethnicity in an inclusive way. This guide is by no means exhaustive, and the School recommends its students and staff do some research of their own surrounding terminology and language to use. The most important and easiest way to be respectful is to ask each individual their preferences, as everyone is different. The University's main EDI webpages provide information surrounding racial microaggressions and how to identify and address them. How does this affect mathematics? Too often, mathematicians promote the work of white European men, and no-one else. There has been a history of ignoring the contributions of other cultures and ethnicities, which the School of Mathematics is aiming to combat by decolonising the curriculum (see Decolonisation in Mathematics for more information). This is an informative video about 11 famous African American mathematicians and their important contributions to the field. HTML Further Reading "Racism against white people doesn't exist in America, and here's why" is a useful article, explaining the term "reverse racism" and the falsities behind it. (1) "Race" is a resource which provides informative definitions of 'race' and the history behind the term. The 2020 RACE Equality Code is a useful framework for any organisation across all sectors to use, with best practice tips and a set of standards for promoting racial equality. The Equality and Human Rights Commission have provided a document about tackling racial harassment in the university sphere, which contains experiences of students and staff of colour in university and provides recommendations to begin combatting these issues. The Anti-Racist Educator is a collective working towards building an education system which is equitable and free from racial injustice. They provide lots of resources to read and listen to as well. #ClosingTheGap is a movement based on reducing the inequality in student attainment between people of colour and white people, for UK universities. They have written useful articles regarding their work, such as "Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic student attainment at UK universities: closing the gap" and "What progress have we made since the launch of #ClosingTheGap?". CERES Blogs is an Edinburgh-run research centre for the study of race and ethnicity in Scotland, and contains many informative articles surrounding education, and also has a podcast and event series. To read more about the initiatives and events the School of Mathematics is involved in to tackle racism within the school, read our EDI Action Plan and visit our Initiatives and Events page, and see how you can get involved. This article was published on 2025-04-22
