Students sue after ‘decolonising black history’degree axed
University students have launched a discrimination claim after a ‘decolonising’ black history course was scrapped.
they say the University of Chichester breached the equality Act as the course was created to encourage more black students into academia.
the History of Africa and the African Diaspora Master’s by research (Mres) was set up in 2017 to ‘decolonise the curriculum’. it was led by Professor Hakim Adi, who was shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize.
Labelled the first African-British history professor in the UK, Professor Adi said the axing was an ‘attack’ on black history.
He said yesterday: ‘As a result of the Mres, we encouraged many black students to embark on PhD research. We established one of the largest cohorts of black postgraduate history students in the country. these students have been left without appropriate supervision and their studies have been completely disrupted.’
Figures in the curriculum included Haitian independence leader toussaint Louverture, south African human rights activist Alice Kinloch, and Amy Ashwood Garvey, co-founder of Jamaica’s Universal negro improvement Association and wife of Marcus Garvey. Last summer, the university announced the course would be suspended because too few students signed up, which led to Professor Adi losing his job.
it said the course was financially unviable to take on new applicants but existing students could continue. However, the 14 students taking action say they are not taught by a specialist and have launched a ‘letter before action’, alleging discrimination and breach of contract. Jacqueline McKenzie, of lawyers Leigh Day, which is representing the students, said the axing of the course ‘stopped our clients’ academic careers in their tracks’, branding the decision ‘clear discrimination’.
Jabari Osaze, an Mres student said: ‘Chichester should have focused its efforts on recruiting more students like me but instead it seems they undervalued the programme.’
An online petition has gained 14,000 signatures and an open letter has been signed by more than 300 academics and staff.