For black students studying at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, academic pressure isnt always the only challenge. For some, it can feel like entering a new world. You feel like you have to be strong. You know . My mum keeps saying to me, just keep fighting. Tearfully just keep going, just get that degree. Over the years, oxford and cambridge universities have come under pressure for their lack of Ethnic Diversity. I think its a place where race has not been acknowledged as relevant, particularly to the whole intellectual experience of being at cambridge. Last year at cambridge, the numbers improved on previous years, with the university accepting a Record Number of 91 black british undergraduates. But beyond numbers is the experience. Im ashleyjohn baptiste, a bbc reporter, but also a cambridge graduate myself, and whilst im so glad i studied there, as a mixed race south londoner who grew up in care, it felt worlds apart from what i was used to. And nearly ten years on from my own time, i want to find out what life at cambridge has been like for a new wave of black british freshers. Cheering the data is stark black british undergraduates have never made up more than 3 of cambridges undergraduate population. This doesnt include international students, who roughly make up a quarter of all undergraduates. Steps have been made to improve things. In 2018, the university launched the stormzy scholarship to fund a selected number of black freshers. But i know first hand that, once you enter cambridge, its not uncommon to feel out of place. And as much as the university did offer support, i often felt like an impostor and totally out of my depth. Its because of my own experience that i really want to know how current black students are coping in a space that is still predominantly white and privileged. So rude and to give us their insight, meet fabianna. Success. And sharon. Having started their first term last october, i caught up with them a few weeks in. Success is from manchester and studying medicine. For his nigerian parents, seeing their son study at cambridge is nothing less than a dream come true. Back home in africa, when they want to maybe make fun of you if you are studying so much, they will ask you, why are you studying so much . Are you going to cambridge . Yeah, thats true so that tells you. That tells you the position where cambridge is. Its a big thing for us. Did you worry about what it would be like for your son being in cambridge as a black person . Socially, is he going to cope . How is he going to cope eating, feeding himself . What do you mean by that . Well, for instance, we dont have. You dont have african food there. Will he continue to eat fish and chips every day . Have you been eating fish and chips every day . Come on burger every day . So these things get me concerned. Cambridge, theres no jollof rice. And if theres nojollof rice, theres nojollof rice. I was definitely worried. First thought, initial thought, definitely Ethnic Diversity. I could count the amount of ethnic people that i could see probably on two hands. Grab some of this. Im taking even more. Success is enjoying university a few weeks in, but he was a bit concerned about finding a barber in cambridge who could cut afro hair. Big day success, why has it taken you so long to get a haircut in cambridge . Ah, man when i looked in the mirror one day and saw this mess, i didnt really know where to go. Is it going to look like this for eight weeks . Am i going to have to buy 50 hats to cover it up . Were you concerned that you wouldnt be able to find a barber shop that could do afro hair . Yeah, genuinely, iwas a bit worried about it. A few weeks into cambridge, hows it going . Yeah. Ah, man its stressful. I did kind of worry about fitting myself, from where i come from, this, like, very, very traditional, very nigerian culture, into what is, like, what i assume to be, like, an upper class white community. So i was a bit worried, but it has been good. Like, i have found people that are quite like me. Ive found people that are very different to me, and we get on, and, yeah, itsjust been a really good experience. I cant lie, its been brilliant. When i heard about cambridge and oxford and all that kind of stuff, like, this is the place that ive wanted to go to. Love that sharon from tottenham is studying history and spanish. Herfamily, of eritrean origin, have come to visit. Growing up, cambridge always was seen as something so, like, unattainable, but it was always, like, a goalfor you, you always wanted to go to cambridge. I feel like cambridge is very welcoming. And shes, like, representing for eritrea, theres not that many eritreans that go to cambridge. I came, just this short time in this country, and i never dreamed that my daughter would go to cambridge. But itsjust a dream. Thank you, sharon, for making me proud as a mum. I think you do get a sense that you are different. It doesnt feel bad, but itsjust something that you do have to kind ofjust think about, just be like. You know, if you enter certain, like, classes, you might be the only person of colour there. You might be the only black face there, you might be the only one with your hair there. Do you know what i mean . Your hair . Yeah what do you mean by that . You know, like, my big, curly hair afro hair . Yeah, like some of my friends have said, like, theyve changed hairstyles and then people dont recognise who they are. Academically, its definitely lived up to its name. But what i was surprised about is how ive been eased into it, in a way. Fabianna is from coventry, where she lives with herjamaican mum. Shes studying psychology and behavioural sciences. You know where youre going, so you had to play the part. It doesnt work overnight, just get up and say, im going to be posh. Youve been working towards this. Youre not a follower, youre a leader im a leader mm hm you are just a few weeks in, fabianna says she encountered Racial Discrimination from another student at a social event. The incident involved the use of a racial slur. When we were all drinking together, so this boyjust said, like, a really ignorant comment. Hejust said, im too drunk to say the n word. So that was something that, like, threw me off, because ive never really experienced someone, like, outwardly saying Something Like that to me, like, ive never been called the n word or anything like that. And just for detail. Yeah . This happened onsite at the university . Yeah. And this was another cambridge student . Yeah, so it happened at girton in ourunderground bar when we were all drinking together, by another student. Was this a white student . Yeah, it was a white student, a white boy. But it really threw me off, because i was with another friend of mine thats also black, and were just like, like, never gone through Something Like that. Youre used to the microaggressions, but youre not used to someone, like, outwardly saying Something Like that to you. She decided not to report the issue, but confronted the student privately, who she says later apologised. When that comment was said. What went through your head . It was mainly just shock, like, ididnt. I couldnt say anything. Everyone was just like, oh, my gosh, i cant believe hes just said that. But no one really spoke up apart from me and my black friend. But when someone makes a comment towards you like that, youre definitely like, im black at cambridge. Whilst the incident did have a negative impact, fabianna is positive about her start at cambridge. What do you want out of your first year at Cambridge University . I just want to build, like, loads of relationships with people. Like, being here, any conversation you have could be a link for yourfuture. Mostly im fine, like, im having a good time. Its been really, really good. Its not too long after her own encounter that fabianna hears of another black student who alleges theyve been discriminated against. According to the student, the incident involved a staff member from Trinity College, which is one of the colleges of Cambridge University. I was on the train, one of my feet was on the seat, and i wasjust sitting there. A man from Trinity College came on, looked at me in disgust, and just literally looked over andjust said. Bleep verbally assaulted me on the train. Yeah. For no reason. For literally no reason. The only reason, i believe, is because my foot was on the seat. Yeah. No one was around and i was unwell. He had the Trinity College lanyard, he had the Trinity College tie. He had the Trinity College uniform, it was very clear that he was from there. And when i said to him, im just letting you know im going to be reporting you to the university for what you just called me, he said, go on, then. Ive got loads of friends who work inside the university. I think to myself, would i have been spoken to like that if i were a white man . Yeah. So did you complain to the university about the situation . I complained to the university. Yes, they sent me some links in an email. They sent me over to a complaints line that i could use. I had people contacting me saying, where are you . And i felt too embarrassed to even reply to them and say what was going on, because it was having such an effect on me. It was having such an effect on me, and. It really grates me that im getting emotional about it. Yeah. Because you feel like you have to be strong. You know . My mum keeps saying to me, just keep fighting. Tearfully just keep going, just get that degree. Shes saying, do you want to drop out . Do you want to leave . So you felt like you wanted to drop out because of these incidents . I have, but im fighting for every other black person who i know needs to occupy these spaces. Because black people need to come here. Black people need to know that they need to get here so that we can pave a way for others, and we need to break that glass ceiling. And i will not leave this place, and i will not shut up, i will not be quiet until. Until i see change. The university has taken steps to improve its diversity, but its clear that some black students still struggle. I took the guys to share their concerns with the universitys vice chancellor. A lot of black students feel like, when they get here, they dont really feel like a part of the university. Like, instances where we just feel like outcasts. What mechanisms does the university have for issues that black Students Experience . So the first step is creating a Critical Mass of bame students, black students in particular, so that people never feel alone. One of the things that weve done is committed to a three Year Programme of increasing dialogue around issues of race. Do you think this is a place that is institutionally racist . I think its a place where race has not been acknowledged as relevant, particularly to the whole intellectual experience of being at cambridge. So, in that sense, i would say it is racist because it doesnt acknowledge race in peoples lives. My commitment to every student coming to cambridge is that she or he should feel that they are fully a part of the institution. Part of that is making sure that people who come from backgrounds that are different, and particularly students who come from race backgrounds that are not dominant, have to feel at home. What do you guys make of the stormzy scholarship . Yeah, i think its sick. Like, i really, really love, like, the work that you guys and stormzy have done. Yes, it was great, but i was wondering, like, is this really his responsibility . So the stormzy scholarships are not the only Scholarships Available to black students, or any student, for that matter. Weve got a huge initiative called the Student Support initiative where were trying to raise £500 million as part of ouroverall campaign, purely for Student Support. And thats really directed at people who are coming from Widening Participation backgrounds, less privileged backgrounds, who wouldnt necessarily feel that they had the resources to come to a place like cambridge. It is our responsibility. Stormzy came to us, and we were really grateful, because itjust. It was a way of telling the story in a much more accessible manner. But its a much wider story than just stormzy. Since last meeting the students, theyve all joined the universitys african caribbean society, also known as the acs. Its a University Club that celebrates african and caribbean culture. And tonight, a few weeks into the new term, theyre attending a special dinner. Its not your average student party, but its still a vibe. Theres a strong turnout for the dinner, made up entirely of black and ethnic minority students. We had a group of students who suggested that we run a dinner specifically to celebrate our Ethnic Diversity in cambridge, and we thought it was a great idea. We decided to put it on, host the event. And because it was so popular, weve done it every year since then. After a drinks reception, the students make their way into the main hall for tonights dinner. Wanipa is the president of the acs. When else in cambridges history would you get a room full of, you know, black and minority ethnic students . And, like, were alljust here, existing and thriving, its just such a beautiful symbol of how far weve come, and were here to stay, and to thrive, basically. Yeah. Were here to stay. Were here to stay im not leaving now whats on the menu . Right, so, weve got caribbean spiced chicken wings, or cauliflower. And then weve got salmon jerk, caribbean pea rice. Oh, wow so its Caribbean Food . Yeah, but caribbean pea rice . 0k interesting, interesting. It was just over halfway through the Academic Year that the National Lockdown was announced as a result of the coronavirus. The university closed, students sent home, lectures were moved online. It marks the end of their Student Experience as they knew it. We will beat the coronavirus, and we will beat it together. And therefore i urge you, at this moment of national emergency, to stay at home, protect our nhs, and save lives. This whole coronavirus thing has just been getting on my nerves. I feel like its stressing everyone out. Theres nothing to look forward to because summer is basically locked off now. Like, this whole situation is just putting the whole country into panic. I wish that this virus would just disappear next week, but it seems to be getting worse and worse. Ive done lots of work, but i have nothing to show for the year. Like, i have to take exams at home. Itsjust, like, its not going to be an accurate representation of what im capable of, because im going to be doing it at home, and theres loads of students like myself, like, have an environment at home where you just feel like you just cant really work. Like, this makes me feel like what was the point of this year . Like, ifeel like i need a refund on my 9k or something. This is me on my last day here in cambridge for the entire year this coronavirus stuff has made it so easter terms been cancelled, which is really sad. The university issued, like, a code red. Those of us who could leave were asked to leave as soon as possible. Its been four weeks, i think, since i was back at home. What the heck is going on with my hair . Exams are in september now. It is what it is. Ive not done any work in, like, three weeks term is cancelled, in terms of, theres not going to be anything in cambridge, but we still have online lectures. Nothing is what ive been up to ive done literallyjack like, work has been practically non existent. And whilst dealing with lockdown, black lives matter protests broke out across the uk in the summer following the death of george floyd in the us. My Mental Health is not in the best shape. Im sure every black person in cambridge has a story to share about some sort of covert racism or ignorance that weve experienced, and its nice in times like this, when. Black lives are up for discussion, having people around you that have had the same experiences as you. Its kind of hard being away from cambridge and not having that support system. So, yeah, it makes me miss cambridge a lot. Unis almost done. Ive literally got, like, one assessment left to do, and then ill have finished first year. Hey, guys. So today is saturday 6th june, and we are on our way to our second protest for black lives matter. It wasjust, like, the best thing, like, the level of solidarity, the level of, like, unity. Its been really amazing, despite whatever the medias trying to say. Like, whatever theyre trying to say and make out like it was really violent. It was not. No violence. It was really peaceful. Ok, ive just come off the phone. Ive just had my director of studies meeting, so kind of like my parents evening without my parent, and i got my exam results somehow, i managed to bag a first in both history and in spanish and then when she told me, iwasjust like. I just. I dont know how, especially in this term, because its just been, like, its been disgracefully hard and i dont think ive actually had time tojust kind of process this year properly and just sit down and, like. I dont know. A lot of it was kind of filled with fearand, like, obviously the whole, you know, impostor syndrome and feeling like, do you really belong here . Like, are you really the type of person theyre looking for . Were you just kind of, you know, were you a bit of, like, a pity acceptance . Theres all those kind of things that rush into your mind, and thenjust kind of come out on the other side. I dont know, its actually a miracle, and if this is what i can achieve in my first year. Best believe its been so long since ive seen the students, so long that a whole term has passed. I catch up with them to find out how, despite everything thats happened, they feel their first year has panned out. All right, so you guys have had a year of being at cambridge. Is this a space where black people can flourish . It is. Yeah. It is, because i feel like ive learned a lot about myself, and ive always been very aware of my blackness, very immersed in my culture. But i always say that ive never felt as black as i have here in cambridge what do you mean by that . I mean, like, in coventry, theres a lot of black people around. Theres asian people around me. Like, its very diverse. But here, its not diverse. Youre very aware that you are black here. Like, its something that i realised in freshers week. But that doesnt mean that you cant flourish. Like, your environment can make things difficult for you, but its not a barrier. Yeah. You can overcome whatever you want to overcome. Absolutely. And be who you need to be. It mightjust be a little bit more difficult, but that doesnt mean you cant do it. When we spoke to the vice chancellor, stephen toope, he admitted that race was an issue that needed to be explored more. He even acknowledged stains of institutional racism. What needs to change, in light of everything thats happened over the summer . Words, especially in this day and age, are very cheap. Like, you can Say Something and, you know, if what you say, like, appeases the masses, per se, at that time, then you can kind of get away with not doing anything. Yeah. And i think that, for a very long time, powerful institutions, you know, cambridge included, have fallen, you know, to that kind of standard. You know, theyll Say Something, and there will be no, you know, actionable plan in place. Thats the next step. Its all well and good changing sentiments and feelings towards something, but if theres no practicality, if theres nothing that you apply to make black students feel more, you know, safe and more accepted in this community, then, at the end of the day, you know, you cant say weve made progress. Now, of course, as well as lockdown, weve had. Black lives matter protests in the wake of the death of george floyd. As black students at cambridge, how are you feeling . It made me just become disillusioned with, like, almost everything. I think id been a person initially thatjust, like, trusted the system. Even if it was, like, implicitly, and i dont mean the system like the government, or, like, something big. But just, if you just stick by the rules, and if you just, you know, do what you need to do in the capacity that you can, like, things will be fine. And then just, like, it was like bit by bit everything wasjust, like, no, actually, just no. Weve tidied our hair. Weve spoken the way that we need to speak. Weve silenced these elements of our culture. Weve done this to be accommodated in these spaces, and still thats not enough, and still youre going to go on social media and still see people dying, and still see just, like, just injustices everywhere, and then having to confront that. I ended up feeling guilty because i was like, why did i tolerate so much . Why did ijust think so many things like little microaggressions or little comments or little perspectives ofjust my place here in like a white, so called, quote unquote, white country. Like, theres more to be done, and theres more that i can say and speak out about without feeling like im disrupting people or making people uncomfortable. That was really hard to deal with, and ifeel like if i was in cambridge, we would have, like, our friends in acs and everything to be able to talk about it, and share how we feel. But doing that on your own, lockdown in itself was hard, like mentally, that drained a lot of people. But then on top of that, with being black and seeing, like, your people hurting was really, really hard to deal with in lockdown. Outside of academics, i think acs is going to be, like, a really big part of my year this year, and just being able to create just an amazing space, covid, no covid, just because weve got such a huge intake of black freshers, and, like, ijust want them to be able to just experience what we experienced. Hello there. Were moving into a quieter spell of weather. It may only be short lived, mind you. Essentially weve got High Pressure dominating but again the centre of the High Pressure is towards the north of the uk, hence those winds off the north sea as weve seen over the past few days bringing with them a few showers as well. Probably not as many showers today compared with what we had yesterday. And more places will be dry with a little sunshine. But it will be a chilly start to the day on friday especially where weve got the clearer skies in the west. We start with a few showers mainly for the eastern parts of england. Theyll run their way through lincolnshire through the midlands towards parts of wales and some showers in the extreme south east of england, the odd one possibly in Northern Ireland too. But more sunshine for South West England and more sunshine for northern england. And the best of the sunshine in scotland, i think, will be across the western side of the country. For many parts of scotland, it looks cloudy. Its going to be a cool day as it was yesterday. That cloud continues to push down across scotland into northern england. One or two showers continuing into the night, may be a few more showers arriving in the far south west of england as well but probably not quite as cold early on saturday morning compared with friday morning. Those temperatures under the cloud at around 6 7 celsius. The weekend looks quiet, little or no wind. The winds very light, we have a lot of cloud around, many places will be dry and still quite cool. Got a few showers towards the south coast of england, the south west. The odd one from the cloud across england and wales and a bit of drizzle coming in across northern and eastern scotland perhaps into the north east of england. Thats going to make it feel quite cold. Temperatures struggling to make double figures in northern scotland. 12 13 again is going to be a fairly typicalfigure, a lot of cloud around too. And on the whole, it looks quite cloudy on sunday but if anything, the cloud is a little bit thinner for many areas, so a better chance of seeing some sunshine. A better day for the south west of england for example. But signs of a little rain just beginning to arrive in Northern Ireland, perhaps the north west of scotland, and thats a sign of things to come really because if we look further ahead into the early part of next week, instead of High Pressure dominating the weather, the pressure is falling and low pressure is going to take charge. You can see weve got a number of weather fronts on the scene as well. So, we can tidy that up really into just this sort of headline because the early part of next week looks like its going to be a big change in the weather to wet and windy conditions, maybe not quite as chilly as the weekend. Welcome to bbc news. Im Lewis Vaughan jones. Our top stories donald trump and joe biden make rival tv appearances, as early voters head to the polls. Twitter says its investigating a global outage as millions of users werent able to post oi read messages. A warning to europe from the World Health Organization impose new restrictions to save lives, as the continent reports more covid cases than the us and india. Riot police in thailand clash with demonstrators, protesting against the king and the prime minister
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