Researching the Shades of Noir resources over the last few months I had read about POC’s experiences of ‘silence’. It was an abstract concept to me at the time, not having known, acknowledged, or recognised what it was, in retrospect being blissfully ignorant of it.

I experienced that ‘silence’ today.

Working with two white peers, sharing our learning journeys, our approaches, teaching and professional practice experiences, the discussion came round to the subject of individual tutorials. My peer shared their experience of an international student who ‘didn’t speak’. This lead me to reflect, openly, on the pastoral aspect of our role as teachers working with young, international students, and how non-interaction presents a problem for us in terms of providing feedback (to feed forward). I raised the issue of inclusion, diversity, equality, sharing a story I had heard from another peer, that foregrounded an explicit racist situation with a black student, in an organisation who’s very existence claims to address these issues.

Then the silence came.

There was no further comment from my peers on the issue of racism, inclusivity or diversity…only silence. And a jaw dropping expression.

I reflect on why this silence happens, and why my own silence occurs with the topic of racism although I am becoming braver.

Toni Morrison provides an explanation:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDtwLHlCwiI/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D