Race Equality Review: Slavery and colonialism investigation

One of the recommendations of the Race Equality Review in 2021 was for the University to examine its history for links to slavery and colonialism. Here, Professor Parveen Yaqoob and Dr Allàn Laville, members of the Race Equality Review team, outline plans for a roundtable discussion on whether to go ahead with this investigation.

It is now 18 months since the publication of the University’s Race Equality Review and there has been much progress in the implementation of its recommendations.

We discussed this progress at the October 2022 all-staff briefing, where we also explained that there had been a relative lack of progress on Recommendation 18, which is about whether the University should explore its links with slavery and colonialism.

A number of other universities have done this, most beginning with research-based reviews, followed by consultation with staff and students. They tend to conclude with changes to names of buildings, removal of heraldic signs/symbols or public acknowledgement of how the institution benefitted from slavery and colonialism.

Some have been able to achieve these outcomes with little controversy, while others have attracted significant publicity and been subjected to criticism and abuse, often directed at those carrying out the work.

The Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, Stephen Toope, responding to some of this criticism, explained that he considered it better knowing than not knowing about the institution’s past and that while it is not in our gift to right historic wrongs, we can start by acknowledging them.

Moral complexities

The University of Reading’s short history means that it is free of any direct links with slavery that older universities have to grapple with and therefore the extent to which direct historic wrongs connected with it is likely to be limited.

Whether we decide to explore our past and possible connections with slavery and colonialism is our choice and there is no assumption that we should do it.

If we were to undertake a review, we would have to be clear about the parameters and acknowledge that it may not be possible to resolve the moral complexities of links with colonialism and slavery that might emerge should a review be undertaken.

Furthermore, a review would require resource, which some may feel would be better directed to support actions which improve the lives of those who face racism here and now.

Roundtable invitation

In May 2022, we put out a call for participation in a roundtable to consider:

1. Experience of the ‘review and report,’ approach and action taken at other universities;
2. Key questions for UoR to consider with respect to exploring its history;
3. The process for consulting staff and students about exploring the University’s links with slavery and colonialism, should there be interest in taking the next step.

The roundtable ultimately did not go ahead due to lack of response.

During the all-staff briefing in October, we discussed the roundtable, invited comments from participants and indicated that we would run the call for expressions of interest once more, which is the basis for this announcement.

If there is insufficient interest again, we will consider the recommendation closed.

Expressions of interest

If you are interested in a discussion about whether the University should explore its links with slavery and colonialism, please get in touch with Sinead O’Flynn at s.oflynn@reading.ac.uk by Friday 17 February 2023.

Participation in the roundtable will include some of the University’s academic experts and archivists, but it will only go ahead if ethnic minority voices are in the majority.

Alternatively, we welcome comments on other ways we can bring Recommendation 18 to a conclusion.

Professor Parveen Yaqoob OBE, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Dr Allàn Laville, Dean for Diversity & Inclusion