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17 Unravelling the tapestry of unspoken rules: living with being different in the academic space
Abstract
In this chapter, the author explores her journey to doctoral studies as a Black student with a mental health condition. She contextualises her experience by describing the immense toll that academic pressures, lack of institutional mental health guidance and systemic racism had on her wellbeing – highlighting the significance of the support she received from networks and relationships within and outside the academy. In particular, the author examines how virtual communities became a powerful source of strength and solidarity amid the pandemic and racial reckoning of 2020. This includes her experiences of co-founding the West African Research Collective.
You are currently not able to access this content.
Abstract
In this chapter, the author explores her journey to doctoral studies as a Black student with a mental health condition. She contextualises her experience by describing the immense toll that academic pressures, lack of institutional mental health guidance and systemic racism had on her wellbeing – highlighting the significance of the support she received from networks and relationships within and outside the academy. In particular, the author examines how virtual communities became a powerful source of strength and solidarity amid the pandemic and racial reckoning of 2020. This includes her experiences of co-founding the West African Research Collective.
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Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Acronyms and glossary of terms vii
- Notes on contributors ix
- Acknowledgements xiii
- Foreword xv
- Introduction: Black PhD journeys in context 1
-
The ‘weighted’ waiting game: being Black and applying to do a PhD
- Underrepresented and undervalued: my reflections on school, university and the doctoral application process 19
- Climbing the rough side of the mountain: getting into a PhD programme 23
- What I wish I knew: deciding on when to pursue the PhD 26
- The long and winding road: tackling barriers and prejudice on the journey to PhD study 31
- Ignorance is not bliss: what every potential Black PhD science student needs to know 35
- Being one of the few among the many: my journey to the PhD starting point 40
- Making the garments fit: transitions to a better place 44
- Reflections on Part I and prompts for action 48
-
Being Black is not an optional luxury! Struggles for rights and recognition in the White academic space
- Studying while Black: reflections on researching Blackness in White space 53
- Through, around or over the gate? Navigating academia from a Black Muslim woman’s perspective 57
- Fighting the power: challenging institutional discrimination – a personal perspective 63
- The missing ones 69
- Reflections on Part II and prompts for action 70
-
For us, by us: finding one another amid the storm
- That ain’t it, so we’ll create it: supporting Black students when and where our institutions fail 75
- Finding the Black immunologists in a pandemic 80
- In the meantime: creating change through community 85
- Networks, networking and finding my place in the academic space 90
- #BlackInTheIvory: social media as a tool for racial healing 93
- Unravelling the tapestry of unspoken rules: living with being different in the academic space 98
- Making space for Black voices and Black visions: the formation and work of the African Diaspora Postgraduate Network 104
- Reflections on Part III and prompts for action 109
-
Academic support: the right thing, in the right place, at the right time
- Reaching beyond the horizon: being inspired to succeed against the odds 113
- In and out of prison: my personal research journey of being a Black woman, researching Black women 118
- Not in this alone: being supported to break down barriers to PhD success 122
- When seasons change: dealing with a change in my situation while studying for a PhD 127
- Believing that the impossible is possible: my story of being supported to succeed 131
- Reflections on Part IV and prompts for action 136
-
Reflections at the completion of the PhD journey
- What it means to be the first: my journey from Windrush to PhD 141
- Why the ‘P’ in PhD stands for (Black) Power 146
- (Un)making the imposter syndrome 152
- I came all this way for this?! An international student’s experience of UK higher education 157
- Reflections on Part V and prompts for action 162
- Conclusion and recommendations 163
- Our ancestors’ wildest dreams … (fictionalisation) 176
- Afterword: For our community 179
- Index 180
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Acronyms and glossary of terms vii
- Notes on contributors ix
- Acknowledgements xiii
- Foreword xv
- Introduction: Black PhD journeys in context 1
-
The ‘weighted’ waiting game: being Black and applying to do a PhD
- Underrepresented and undervalued: my reflections on school, university and the doctoral application process 19
- Climbing the rough side of the mountain: getting into a PhD programme 23
- What I wish I knew: deciding on when to pursue the PhD 26
- The long and winding road: tackling barriers and prejudice on the journey to PhD study 31
- Ignorance is not bliss: what every potential Black PhD science student needs to know 35
- Being one of the few among the many: my journey to the PhD starting point 40
- Making the garments fit: transitions to a better place 44
- Reflections on Part I and prompts for action 48
-
Being Black is not an optional luxury! Struggles for rights and recognition in the White academic space
- Studying while Black: reflections on researching Blackness in White space 53
- Through, around or over the gate? Navigating academia from a Black Muslim woman’s perspective 57
- Fighting the power: challenging institutional discrimination – a personal perspective 63
- The missing ones 69
- Reflections on Part II and prompts for action 70
-
For us, by us: finding one another amid the storm
- That ain’t it, so we’ll create it: supporting Black students when and where our institutions fail 75
- Finding the Black immunologists in a pandemic 80
- In the meantime: creating change through community 85
- Networks, networking and finding my place in the academic space 90
- #BlackInTheIvory: social media as a tool for racial healing 93
- Unravelling the tapestry of unspoken rules: living with being different in the academic space 98
- Making space for Black voices and Black visions: the formation and work of the African Diaspora Postgraduate Network 104
- Reflections on Part III and prompts for action 109
-
Academic support: the right thing, in the right place, at the right time
- Reaching beyond the horizon: being inspired to succeed against the odds 113
- In and out of prison: my personal research journey of being a Black woman, researching Black women 118
- Not in this alone: being supported to break down barriers to PhD success 122
- When seasons change: dealing with a change in my situation while studying for a PhD 127
- Believing that the impossible is possible: my story of being supported to succeed 131
- Reflections on Part IV and prompts for action 136
-
Reflections at the completion of the PhD journey
- What it means to be the first: my journey from Windrush to PhD 141
- Why the ‘P’ in PhD stands for (Black) Power 146
- (Un)making the imposter syndrome 152
- I came all this way for this?! An international student’s experience of UK higher education 157
- Reflections on Part V and prompts for action 162
- Conclusion and recommendations 163
- Our ancestors’ wildest dreams … (fictionalisation) 176
- Afterword: For our community 179
- Index 180
