Enough is Enough

We, your Student Union, stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

We believe in equality for all our students and will keep fighting for them.

Racism isn’t just America's problem. Institutional systemic racism exists everywhere. Think about it, how many Black teachers have you had? How many Black professors? We celebrate Universities welcoming their first Black PhD graduates when that should really be the norm. Enough is enough. Black lives matter.

Black people aren’t being listened to. We have to stand together to make sure they are heard. So here we are, we are listening, we are fighting and we stand with you.

There are ways you can get involved. Use social media, donate to relevant charities if you can, and raise awareness offline as well. Have those difficult conversations.

We are aware that protests are happening in Edinburgh this week. If you intend on taking part, please adhere to government rules regarding social distancing (including self-isolating for 14 days afterwards) and remember to stay safe. Real-life protests put other people’s health at risk as well as your own.

What can you do?

Speak up

Don’t be afraid to have challenging conversations with friends and family. Check out this handy guide from Amnesty International https://www.amnesty.org.au/tell-someone-love-theyre-racist/
 

Reading to educate yourself and better understand

• Taking Up Space by Chelsea Kwakye and Ore Ogunbiyi
• Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo
• Me and White Supremacy by Layla F Saad
• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
• Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
• The Good Immigrant edited by Nikesh Shukla
• Don’t Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri

Reading not your thing? You can watch or listen to these

Netflix:

• When they see us, Ava DuVernay
• 13th, Ava DuVernay
• Dear White People, Justin Simien
• Teach Us All, Sonia Lowman
• See You Yesterday, Stefon Bristol
• American Son, Kenny Leon

Podcasts:

• Say Your Mind
• No Country for Young Women
• Slay in Your Lane: The Podcast
• George The Poet
• Witness Black History

Follow these amazing accounts on Instagram

@BlackLivesMatterUK

@ColorofChange

@Ckyourprivilege

@EqualityLabs

@Bree.Newsome

@AustinChanning

@EbonyJanice

@LadyPhyll

@GeorgeThePoet

Let us know if you think of any other resources we should add to our list - just email them to hello@hwunion.com

For White allies, please remember:

“White progressives can be the most difficult for people of color because, to the degree that we think we have arrived, we will put our energy into making sure that others see us as having arrived. None of our energy will go into what we need to be doing for the rest of our lives: engaging in ongoing self-awareness, continuing education, relationship building, and actual antiracist practice. White progressives do indeed uphold and perpetrate racism, but our defensiveness and certitude make it virtually impossible to explain to us how we do so.” - Robin Diangelo (from the book White Fragility)