Activism, Publications, Workshops

Launch of the BARC Workshop Guide

Too often anti-racist discourse in the academy is dominated by abstract discussions and theoretical approaches. However, the very nature of anti-racism demands proactive and conscious efforts to work against the multidimensional structures of racism. 

For this reason, over the last six months, members of our collective - Sadhvi Dar, Angela Martinez Dy, and Deborah Brewis - have been working with student organiser Niroshnee Ranjan to create a practical guide to running your own anti-racist workshops. This guide is our contribution to help create intentional and proactive anti-racist work around the world, for the higher education context in particular. In it, you will find workshop modules that we also designed and facilitated. Drawing on our experiences of collectivising and community building, we offer the guide to support anti-racist scholars, students and practitioner communities in their own anti-racist journeys.

This guide provides comprehensive information about the different sessions you can run, how you can prepare for your workshop, our take on compensation for anti-racist labour, and so much more! The structure of the guide itself mirrors that of a workshop: beginning with guiding principles and frameworks, moving into activities, and then encouraging reflections. This guide also provides insight into logistical issues such as participant registration and welcome packs.

At the heart of this guide lies the importance of collective learning and community development. Relatively small interactions in our own communities teach us the skills needed to shape systemic change, and transform the world around us (brown, 2017). Therefore, we recommend that you undertake these sessions with a group of individuals as opposed to on your own.

In solidarity and struggle,

The BARC Collective, with Niroshnee Ranjan

Creative Commons Copyright © Building the Anti-Racist Classroom 2021

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

You are free to:
• Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
• Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
• The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.

Under the following terms:
• Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and
indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not
in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
• NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
• No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological
measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

How to cite this publication: Building the Anti Racist Classroom (2021).
Workshop Guide. Accessed at: https://barcworkshop.org/workshop-guide/

References

brown, adrienne maree (2017) Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds. Chico: AK Press.

Activism

BARC Bank: Funding available for student-led anti-racist and decolonising projects

As a next step in our journey, BARC would like to fund student-led decolonising activities and anti-racist practice in higher education. Some examples might include: scholarly or creative/artistic events, establishing networks, hosting teach-ins, seminars and webinars. We are also happy to fund practical support for ongoing projects, e.g. costs of materials and supplies (digital or analogue), venue rental, production, publishing and printing.

Download the application form here.

Applications must be submitted by 15:30 on Saturday 26th October by email or in person at the Organising for Liberation event at QMUL. Please come to see us at 17:30 at the close of the day to find out if your proposal has been awarded funding. If you are not able to attend or stay till the end of the event, we will contact you with the contact info you provide.

Proposals will be considered according to the following principles:

  • Does the activity centre the voices and interests of students of colour?
  • Does the activity help to expand, strengthen, or build upon existing efforts, networks, connections and communities?
  • Is the activity feasible within the proposed budget?

N.B. Maximum allocation is £300. We have a limited pot of funding to distribute, so cost-effectiveness will allow us to fund more proposals!

Send your applications to us at barcworkshop at gmail dot com or drop us a line at @CollectiveBARC on Twitter.