NUS black students conference

sarah · (#1 (**permalink**))

The NUS is holding their black students conference, in Wolverhampton this weekend... the conference posters say its open to "any student that self identifies as black, this including indian, chinese, pakistani, afghani etc etc".

What does everyone think to this? Firstly, the concept of a black students conference in the first place, or rather what really should be the topics on the agenda, and secondly the self identifying aspect to being "black" - who does it not include. I have images of a gang of white boys in fubu and wu tang gear rolling in and talking some mutant patwa.....

AfriCariBrit · (#2 (**permalink**))

sarah wrote:

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The NUS is holding their black students conference, in Wolverhampton this weekend... the conference posters say its open to "any student that self identifies as black, this including indian, chinese, pakistani, afghani etc etc".

What does everyone think to this? Firstly, the concept of a black students conference in the first place, or rather what really should be the topics on the agenda, and secondly the self identifying aspect to being "black" - who does it not include. I have images of a gang of white boys in fubu and wu tang gear rolling in and talking some mutant patwa.....

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"including indian, chinese, pakistani, afghani etc etc"

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This to me sounds more like a 'multicultural' conference rather than whatthe lable'Black' usually implies. It goes to illustrate differences in and potentialadvantages of identifying as 'African' over identfying as 'Black'...

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I assume because the conference is for self-identified 'Black' people rather than African people, then the agenda will reflect this and the topics covered will be fairly broad and generic - most likely those topics applicable to 'minority groups'as a whole. If so, this is likely to mean more serious topics of specific relevance to African students are less likely to feature on the agenda, or, if they do make the agenda, discussion of the issues will be necessarily superficial...

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I'm saying this though, without knowing anything about the conference other than what you've written so maybe I should go try and have a look at the agenda for myself and stop working myselfup to a rant before I've even woken up good!

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@ Sarah - Aside from the white fubu clad dudes; What do you make of it all? Do you have any info on what the conference themes are?

Happiness · (#3 (**permalink**))

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"including indian, chinese, pakistani, afghani etc etc"

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This to me sounds more like a 'multicultural' conference rather than whatthe lable'Black' usually implies. It goes to illustrate differences in and potentialadvantages of identifying as 'African' over identfying as 'Black'...

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@ ACB - how are you! (hopefully, I am not owing you a PM...if I am please accept my apologies!!) Anyway, I think this is the best argument/example I have seen on the subject of black vs African. I think for those of us over here in America, we dont have the same confusion as to what is "black" (as in "of African origin") -- I understand better now why Ligali is on its mission to use the word "African" instead of "Black" (check out their website at www.ligali.org)

question: how did "black" in the UK start to mean everything that wasn't "white"??

(#4 (**permalink**))

Happiness wrote:

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I think for those of us over here in America, we dont have the same confusion as to what is "black" (as in of African origin) -- I understand better now who ligali is on its mission to use the word "African" instead of "Black"

question: how did "black" in the UK start to mean everything that wasn't "white"??
________________

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Great question sisclp)...as you said here, there is no confusion.

AfriCariBrit · (#5 (**permalink**))

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@ ACB - how are you! (hopefully, I am not owing you a PM...if I am please accept my apologies!!) Anyway, I think this is the best argument/example I have seen on the subject of black vs African. I think for those of us over here in America, we dont have the same confusion as to what is "black" (as in "of African origin") -- I understand better now why Ligali is on its mission to use the word "African" instead of "Black" (check out their website at http://www.ligali.org)

question: how did "black" in the UK start to mean everything that wasn't "white"??

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Hello Happiness!I'm very well thank you, onward and upward and all that!! How are you? I hope very well. No, you don't owe me any mail - no worries there!

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Its funny you should mention the ligali site as it was the legali discussion that took place a few months ago that also crossed my mind when first reading this post... I'm not entirely sure of how this 'black = not white' state of affairs came to be - but it strikes me as a deliberate ploy to undermine, belittle and detract from all that is African - which is hardlya new thing... Although on the other hand, if we (African/Black people) weren't being considered a real threat to the existing structures and powers at be, there would presumably be no need for such 'undermine and destabolise' tactics...

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I too have a better understanding of Ligali's intentions and motivations, and support the assertion that to identify as an African or an 'African-whatever' is the way forward. Having be defined, redefined and misdefined by many in the past, for me, being an African represents both my first and final stance.