’How did it go?’ Negotiating race, racialisation and identity when teaching issues of race and equality in HE

Abstract

This paper reflects on our experiences of teaching various aspects of race and ethnicity within the higher education context over the past decade. We highlight various ways in which teaching race and ethnicity is ‘sensitive’, and reflect upon our teaching practice. We also highlight some of the approaches that we use in our teaching. In particular, we consider the value of a focus on ‘everyday’ spaces for teaching and learning about race and ethnicity. We also explore issues relating to the positioning of ourselves, our ethnicities and social biographies, within the context of our teaching. In so doing, we engage with issues relating to authenticity, conflict, emotionality, racism and backlash narratives.