“The Unfortunate Truth About Oxford University” — Vice, 2020, 6:17 — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFq8jyqvlj0

Contributed by Mary Scafidi, Cabrini University

This video raises questions about Oxford University’s racist and colonialist legacy. Many universities have a history rooted in racism, and many of these schools openly celebrate individuals with atrocious legacies because they donated money to the school. Students have demanded changes, and while there have been some changes, reforms have not gone far enough. Statues of racist individuals still remain, and their names are still on buildings. Indeed, the troublesome past of these universities will not be reconciled easily and many of them have not taken the right actions to remedy their histories. If these universities want to welcome BIPOC students, they should find a way to rectify their racist past as much as possible. This is also a time where BIPOC individuals are at the forefront of conversations about race and how to be an anti-racist. What actions can such institutions take to better uphold their commitment to BIPOC students? Do you think universities can ever redeem themselves from a history riddled with racism and colonialism?

From the video’s description: Zing Tsjeng visits Oxford to examine the ongoing controversy as universities across the UK reckon with their unsavoury connections to colonialism. People like slave owners, slave traders and white supremacists have historic connections to some of the UK’s finest universities. They don’t put that bit in the prospectus, but it’s the truth.