Racism and Education in Britain: Addressing Structural Oppression and the Dominance of Whiteness

This book is concerned with racism and education in Britain. It aims to seek greater understanding of the nature and endurance of racism within education practice in the 21st century and to examine the relationship between racism and the educational experiences and outcomes of many Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) children and young people, with reference to school and university. Employing Critical Race Theory, Critical Whiteness Theory and Intersectionality, this structural analysis traces the historical and contemporary development of racism in education. White privilege and White supremacy, it is argued, are central to the perpetuation of racism and the failure to either understand or recognise the systemic nature of racial oppression. The book focuses on Britain, but the analysis locates racism as a global phenomenon. In spite of decades of policies on ’race’ equality in Britain, BAME children and young people continue to be discriminated against and are failed by theeducation system. Applying a theoretical analysis of racism and White supremacy and privilege to an examination of government policies and research in schools and universities, the nature and extent of racism is revealed in the educational experiences of young people.

Gill Crozier is Emerita Professor of the Sociology of Education at the University of Roehampton, UK. She was formerly Director of the Centre for Educational Research in Equalities, Policy and Pedagogy. She has researched and published on ’race’ and racism, parents and schools, children’s school experiences, and students social and learning experiences in higher education.