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1/12) I& #39;ve come to the conclusion that unless @UKRI_News and the new @UKRI_CEO change, it would be kinder for research funders to say "Black people need not apply". The pain in the process is just too much. I will try to explain.
2/12) The COVID research funding came out after we had been watched our friends and family disproportionately become infected and die. As a community over represented in frontline NHS and essential work, they had to deal with the risk whilst carrying on. I wanted to help
3/12) on top of COVID we experienced extreme emotional trauma caused by heightened racial tensions. As Black academics, we were bombarded with people wanting to understand our lived experience & wanting us to do extra work for free to tackle racism - compounding the pain
4/12) Because Black academics are disproportionately on zero hour / insecure contracts. Many Black academics lost employment as universities cut back, which added to their trauma, despite promises from universities stating Black Lives Matter. Our lives didn& #39;t seem to matter
5/12)The @UKRI_News research funding seemed like a lifeline. It was offered as way to fill the gaps of the PHE inquiry. It seemed like a lifeline and a way of Black academics utilising their hard fought skills to help their communities. It was like dangling hope before us.
6/12) When I learnt that £0 from £4.3 went to Black academics, that no equality data was Captured & that one person who sat on the assessment panel was also connected to 3 out of 6 awards. I realised how foolish I was to ever have hope of equity or fairness in research or HE.
7/12) I remember when myself & Michelle @MMKingOkoye literally spent all night up writing funding applications with hope. But the more I research @UKRI_News the more I realise how many other Black academics like us had false hope. We never had a chance
8/12) part of my heritage I am most proud of is coming from a long line of individuals who fought for justice. It& #39;s in my blood. Despite the history books often ommitting their names Black women in particular have shown that they will keep on fighting for justice despite the cost
9/12) We keep on fighting. Amazing @MMKingOkoye is doing her study on COVID and ethnicity completely unfunded. We still work together, but I& #39;ve focused on trying to change the system (again without institutional support or funding) via my tiny nonprofit @ladders4action
10/12) 10 Black women rallied to write a collective letter as we all are concerned by knowledge inequity @MissChisomo @DrFuraha_Asani @PaperWhispers @DoulaSmith @docadisa @pwi11iams @RuthAgbakoba @itsJaninebtw @MMKingOkoye
11/12) Despite all that we are doing we still need the help of our allies to keep hope - please read, sign, share the open letter - ask your universities to support - consider writing a letter of complaint to UKRI - join us on 10th Sept to discuss https://knowledgeispower.live"> https://knowledgeispower.live
12/12) As we take action we are noting what appears to be a difference of response between how @UKRI_News deals with concerns led by white academics and those led by Black academics. We are asking @UKRI_CEO to take an interest
PS. As mentioned via @ladders4action I am fighting for equity in @UKRI_News completely unfunded. If you want to make a donation or commission me for paid work you can find details on https://ladders4action.org"> https://ladders4action.org
Thank you here is a direct link to the booking page https://ukri_knowledgeispower.eventbrite.co.uk
