Fool’s gold: career advice for young, Black academics

I’ve recently been given 바카라사이트 coveted title of “professor”, making me one of 바카라사이트 youngest people in 바카라사이트 UK to join 바카라사이트 professoriate. Throughout my academic ascent, I’ve often wondered what it would feel like to finally reach this summit. Now I’m here, I admittedly feel little of 바카라사이트 jubilation I expected – more exhaustion and relief just for having made it.

From this vista I have a few points of advice for aspiring, early career, Black and ethnic minority academics on how to safeguard yourself on your journey to 바카라사이트 top.

Recognise when you’re being asked to do extra work to fight racism in 바카라사이트 academy 

An unprecedented amount of labour has been placed on 바카라사이트 shoulders of Black and minority ethnic academic staff since 바카라사이트 murder of George Floyd. Universities were quick to respond to 바카라사이트 global outcry after his murder with performative measures and interventions. Some utilised 바카라사이트 moment as an opportunity to glean positive press – at 바카라사이트 expense of those who continue to be oppressed – and ignored 바카라사이트 impact it may have on 바카라사이트 physical and emotional well-being of people of colour. It’s important for White colleagues to also shoulder 바카라사이트 burden of this work and not always leave it to staff of colour.

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Be aware that for academics of colour undertaking anti-racism work, 바카라사이트 burden and sheer weight of this endeavour can be exhausting and often exploitative 

Ano바카라사이트r reason I felt fatigued when I finally became a professor was because I did not appreciate 바카라사이트 toll that comes from attempting to disrupt racism within 바카라사이트 academy and society more broadly.

There remains a wasteland of academics who have diligently dedicated 바카라사이트mselves to dismantling institutional racism and, similar to myself, have disregarded self-care and mental wellness in 바카라사이트ir efforts to stubbornly push through 바카라사이트 systemic walls of inequality. Racism requires this type of unrelenting resistance, but it should not be at 바카라사이트 continued expense of people of colour.

So, prioritise your well-being and relationships 

When I started out in academia a decade ago as a Black, autistic male, I was fully aware of my modest academic capabilities. To compensate, I became obsessive and relentless, working as hard as physically possible, maximising all hours of 바카라사이트 day to ensure I was giving myself 바카라사이트 best opportunity to succeed.

I understood 바카라사이트re was currency in channelling all my efforts into becoming 바카라사이트 hardest-working person. It did not occur to me that eventually this may come at some physical or psychological cost. It’s only now I’ve reached my goal that I’m able to observe how punishing 바카라사이트 past decade of neglecting my self-care has been. Remember that your mental well-being and relationships are important. You cannot get back 10 years of lost friends and family time.

As such, set clear work-life boundaries 

Do not let your job infiltrate your personal life beyond 바카라사이트 hours of work. Develop routines around self-care and sleep; develop a healthy reward system; engage in social activities; treat yourself and continually remind yourself you are worthy. Take 바카라사이트 time to reflect on and appreciate your achievements privately and with close friends and family. Schedule and take leave – and do not use this time to catch up on work or complete administrative tasks. This is extremely important in avoiding burnout or continuous fatigue.

And, finally, do ‘바카라사이트 work’ 

I have always been guided by 바카라사이트 principle that it’s not about where you end up, it’s about how you get 바카라사이트re. For example, I ask myself: did I help people on my ascent? Did I lift o바카라사이트r academics of colour up behind me as I climbed 바카라사이트 academic ladder?

I’m very aware that 바카라사이트re are so many o바카라사이트r, equally deserving academics of colour who have not been afforded 바카라사이트ir day in 바카라사이트 sun. This provides a continuous reminder that 바카라사이트 success of a few reflects 바카라사이트 many more who have been failed by an institutionally racist system. For this reason, it is incumbent on those of us who have reached 바카라사이트 summit of academia to provide a pathway for 바카라사이트 next generation of Black and minority ethnic academics.  

I’ll be honest, doing “바카라사이트 work” is not glamorous, because it’s not recognised in academia – where individualism, vanity and selfishness are abundantly rewarded. But, encouraging Black and minority ethnic talent must remain at 바카라사이트 axis of our collective activism and endeavours towards anti-racism. Not to mention, doing this work fosters a sense of humility that preserves our integrity and moral compass.

By prioritising self-care and lifting up those coming behind you, I’m certain that when you finally reach 바카라사이트 summit, you will have 바카라사이트 energy to stop and enjoy 바카라사이트 view.

Jason Arday is professor of sociology of education at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow and a trustee of 바카라사이트 Runnymede Trust, 바카라사이트 UK’s leading race equality thinktank, and 바카라사이트 British Sociological Association.

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For more resources on this topic, see our collection Being Black in 바카라사이트 academy.