Being black at Cambridge University - BBC News

As the new academic year begins at Cambridge, the university has exclusively revealed to the BBC that they have admitted a record number of 137 UK black UK students, the highest figure ever for the university and up 46 students on last year, which was also a record year.

Whilst this is a step in the right direction for Cambridge, they admit there is still a way to go. BBC reporter Ashley John-Baptiste has followed three black students who started last year through what turned out to be quite an extraordinary year.

Produced by Adele Tobe.

Filmed and edited by Rob Taylor.

Graphics by Mel Lou and Naomi Goddard.

Additional filming by Emily Brooks, James Anderson, Martin Roberts and Henry Jackson.

[hugster]

Equal opportunity doesn’t mean equal outcome. Concentrate on opportunity - outcome is irrelevant.

[catherineg]

I can't believe people think it's okay to compare "class" to "race". Seeing a lot of comments of how about working class white people? You can change your social status but you can't change your race. Talking about racial discrimination against Blacks should not be perceived as a dismissal of White-people problems.

If you feel that you are discriminated because of your race or status, talk about. Do something about it. Stop disparaging others who are trying to address this disparity!

[The_Greedy_Orphan]

How about being working class at Cambridge?

[QwadLuzr]

I live in Cambridge. No problem with diversity of skin colour but definite problem with lack of working class students.

[carenzaprice]

I'm a fresher just started at Cam. I'm not a person of colour but I am from a non traditional background. I'm already struggling with the culture and inherent privilege, I can't imagine some of the difficulties the dimension of race and racism would add to that. These students are an inspiration, the only way the culture of this place will change however is with sheer numbers. Until the proportions of working class students and students of colour increases significantly, the 'improvements' are just superficial.

[roundhousetrainspotting]

It doesn't matter what colour you are, you should only get on to the course if you are good enough.

[sarahstrong]

It is shocking that black people have experienced any racism at a prestigious university where people frankly should be bright enough to know better.

[sarahstrong]

It is hard for white people from poor backgrounds too. A white friend of mine from a deprived back ground had a similar experience. She didn't have the right clothes, hadn't got the right accent & vocabulary, didn't have the right parents, couldn't invite anyone home for the holidays, & hadn't been to the right schools, she hadn't learnt to ride & hadn't been on holiday abroad, etc etc. She found herself ostracised, commented on or disregarded & left out. Almost as though she was not at the same college.

[Iamharryparker]

Class, wealth and school are the biggest barriers into top unis, not race

[Ozymandi_as]

Looking at my year photograph from 1984, there were no black faces at all, and just a handful of brown or yellow. Black British students rarely attend public schools, and predominantly grow up in inner cities, and come from economically and socially disadvantaged communities, in which academic achievement is low. Young black people encounter many barriers to academic attainment, and outside the worlds of sport and entertainment, have fewer role models for success. Cambridge by its very nature is an elite institution, and democratising access to the opportunities that it offers requires the institution itself to make efforts to broaden access. That does not mean giving places to people of lower ability on the basis of their skin colour, but encouraging bright students from all backgrounds to apply, and reassuring them that they will be welcomed and supported if they succeed in securing a place. These kids deserve their places, probably more so than many of their peers from the likes of Eton and Westminster. They have a great deal to offer to their fellow classmates by broadening the diversity of the student population, and they will probably give more back to society too, as they go on to their careers, as role models for generations to come. Why would we not want this to happen? Why should it not be a matter of legitimate interest and concern? Why would the BBC, as the national broadcaster, not give its journalists the editorial space to consider the issue? Because we resent the successes of anyone that doesn't look like we do? Not good enough, not by a long chalk.

[dresdi]

What is the bbc wasting their money on?

[JohnSmith-zesv]

At least they made it to Cambridge university. Who cares whether they are black?

[priasethecow]

You just can't help yourselves can you BBC

[antonioochoa]

Y'all remember back in the day when students were selected on scholastic merits and not skin color

[Bantu]

How many white working class people does Cambridge have?

[ldcharper]

I'm not going to spend my life being a color!!!

[Seanmchannel]

Forgive my ignorance, but what does he mean by "(Cambridge) is racist because it doesn't acknowledge race in people's lives"? Isn't that the antithesis of racism?

[Naomi-fszz]

I can't believe the comments i'm reading! They aren't complaining, they're just sharing their experiences being a student in such a predominantly 'white' place, and I know first hand as a black british student that a lot of the time you feel out of place on your own campus.

[JiSiShen]

Which is called
Political correct=Forced diversity

[foxabilo]

"sharing your experience" of how you were oppressed in the most privileged place on the planet, you make me sick.