UK academia: I cannot get over this. These are processes that lead to having few like me. This goes beyond this volume. The door is firmly shut and now protected by younger generation. Black academics not given the opportunity to publish in various journals and https://twitter.com/OlivetteOtele/status/1301976805285523458

volumes or for those who are PhDs not mentored while others are groomed from the start are stuff that were common when I was a PhD student then as a postdoc. It's only AFTER I became prof that these invitations in UK to contribute in edited volumes on slavery started coming.

In our profession/discipline, publishing & in certain journals is vital in job market. If you're not then chance 2lectureship are extremely slim. Even for temporary teaching posts at unis deciding factor between candidates w both teaching experience, is often those publications.

Many black academics who know the drill of academic white gatekeeping (please don't give me the 'it's hard for all'. It's harder for black ones in the UK, trust me. I could write a whole book about this) asking me why even bother and not create black led uni only.

Well black students (£9000/yr X3 years is a lot of money)continue to fund those unis as well so they too deserve to see teachers who look like them.

Once inside, so much microaggression (fr colleagues within and outside departments), subtle ways of cutting you out of stuff that raise your profile on top of giving u2 much, like most young academic, narrow your chances of being able to publish hence the lack of promotion.

Once Prof. It does NOT stop! That's why I work harder & longer (yes for often half or same reward). Mentally it does take its toll at times but I will not allow anyone to stop me after I and many others have endured so much.

Black academics in global north are standing on shoulders of powerful ancestors. Many white academics are writing about them, building their careers on their stories. I don't have issues with that.

What I won't accept: they continue to exclude people whose histories of exclusion they are working on. Things won't change unless you white academics do something about it, and push for change. It also implies SEEING what happens before your eyes.