Adèle MacKinlay: Reflections on a privileged life
As a University we have set out our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy and within this the goal to create an inclusive, diverse and accessible environment where it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure all members of our University are treated with fairness, dignity, respect and have a sense of belonging.
Following a discussion at SLT where we talked at length about how we can deal with racial inequality and racism I wanted to share with you my reflections on what I recognise is my privileged life.
I grew up in Chester, England, in the 70s and 80s. My dad was a physicist; my mum was a stay-at-home mother; I had two siblings; we had one dog. We didn’t have any ‘spare money’ for anything other than day to day living, but I guess we were ‘middle-class’ although I had no idea what that terminology meant back then. I was deeply loved by my siblings and parents, had a happy childhood, did well at school. All was good in my world. I had no idea or awareness that there might be another world or experience.
The first time I met someone from a Minority Ethnic background, and I am literally not exaggerating, was when I was 17. He joined the Lower 6th at school. He was the only person of colour at our school (which was the local state school) at that time. He was in the ‘in-crowd’ and started dating the most popular girl in the school. They later married. I have no recollection of any conversation at all about race or ethnicity. I don’t recall any conversations about his family, his cultural heritage, his background. I have no awareness of any micro-aggressions. That doesn’t mean they didn’t happen of course, but that just wasn’t on my radar (and maybe not on anyone else’s) at the time.
I went to university to study languages. I went out with an international student from Burkina Faso. I don’t recall race being something that we actively explored together. He was my boyfriend; I was his girlfriend. We hung out. I spent six months of my placement year in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, but again, not a particular trigger for exploring issues of race, racism and white privilege. After I graduated, I spent a year in Dakar, Senegal. All my friends were Senegalese; I had a blast. We didn’t talk about race, racism, white privilege. I met one of my life-long best friends during that year; she was later my bridesmaid. She was in Dakar doing the same as me (teaching English as a Foreign Language). She’s from London, of Jamaican heritage. In so many ways, we were the same with similar educational and life experiences. We didn’t at that time explore the differences. It just wasn’t on the radar.
Fast-forward 25 years, and I realise that my ignorance on issues of race, racism and white privilege far exceeds my knowledge. I worry that I am that person that assumes that because I have many people from a Black or different backgrounds in my life, I can’t possibly be racist. I worry that I am that person that assumes that because her professional expertise is around people and organisational development, I don’t have bias. I worry that I have spent years of my life not recognising that the lived experiences of people who I love and/or work with are very different to my own. Why did I never ask questions about those experiences? Why have I never realised that whilst I may have had times of challenge in my life, it has never been because of the colour of my skin? Why have I not acknowledged that my children, by virtue of the colour of their skin alone, have privilege.
I am in a role in which I can influence change. I make two commitments to those reading this short reflective piece. I promise to invest in deepening and broadening my understanding of race, racism and white privilege. I promise to use the position that I have to influence change.
Thanks for sharing your personal reflection.
White privilege is like male privilege. Its roots are historical oppression that endures through conscious and unconscious bias and systemic failings to correct. Silence is its biggest ally, so well done Adele for talking about it. As with male privilege, white privilege can only be dismantled by making it visible, making reparation to minoritised people (as with compensation for women found to be doing equivalent work to men), and affirmative action (such as the 100 Black Women Professors NOW campaign)
Thanks for writing this Adele, it is open and brave. As a black woman, it is encouraging to me to see this level of honest acknowledgement from a leader in a position to influence within our institution. I hope it is as thought provoking for others as it has been for me and those who have commented here.
All the best.
Thank you to colleagues who took the time to read my blog and thank you for your supportive comments. I was quite anxious putting my story ‘out there’ so it’s good to read that we have the type of culture in which it’s OK to be vulnerable. Like many of you, I truly believe that we can really make a difference to how inclusive our organisation feels to all colleagues and students who choose to be here – thank you.
Your views and experience as really interesting to read and resonate with me when I reflect back on my own privileged upbringing. Thank you for sharing this and provoking us to think and learn more.
Thanks for this though provoking piece, and your openness. A good reminder for us all to reflect on our experiences, and to continue to challenge ourselves.
Thank you Adele for articulating how you feel. It really resonates and has made me think hard about my own upbringing and experiences and my own ignorance of others. I look forward to supporting you in the future.
Really interesting and thought provoking, thank you.
Many thanks for sharing your reflections. I’m been to develop as an effective activist for anti-racism, and your comments have helped me to feel braver and stronger.
Thank you Adele for writing candidly and reading your personal blog is not only inspiring but also brings hope to new strategies for EDI and People. Have a lovely Christmas with your family and to a safe and successful New Year.
Thanks for sharing these thoughtful reflections, Adele.
Thought provoking and very transparent of you to talk about your intentions to influence change for the better.
I really see signs of hope and long overdue regeneration through our new strategies for EDI and People.
I really hope we can deliver the vision as this is exactly what our people desperately need to see the university as a good place to work and a organisation which puts people at its heart.
Thank you Adèle for sharing your reflection with us.
Thank you Adèle for this very honest and thoughtful viewpoint.