Decolonising isn’t a journey… it’s an expedition
Dr David W. Robinson-Morris
Founder of The Center for the Human Spirit and Radical Reimagining
The terms ‘decolonising’ and ‘diversifying’ are both used throughout the toolkit. We regard the terms as overlapping, but they do not have the same precise meaning or carry the same weight. In the toolkit we see ‘decolonising’ as the overarching work needed at a strategic level to address and help mitigate the ongoing, harmful legacy of colonialism on our learning, teaching and research. It cannot be emphasised enough that this should be a continual process of striving towards a more just and equitable experience for all our students. It is not a task that can be finished and then forgotten about. It involves ‘A reconsideration of who is teaching, what the subject matter is and how it is being taught to ensure all students can see themselves and their backgrounds reflected in the curriculum’ (Siddiqui, 2022). It is hard work, tough going, an expedition undertaken with intent rather than a meandering journey, but it should be a joyful experience too.
When we refer to ‘diversification’, we mean the expansion of our curriculum and resources to encompass the voices and experiences of all academics and students, especially those whose work is currently underrepresented in their fields. This includes, but is not limited to, those marginalised on account of their race, ethnicity, religion, geographical location, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status or disability. These voices may be more likely to be found represented in sources other than academic books and journal articles, such as cultural artefacts, blog posts, documentaries, podcasts, or social media posts.
Finally, we wish to acknowledge that while diversifying our reading lists represents progress towards decolonisation, this is very far from being the only or most important step that needs to be undertaken to change our thinking and our University culture. It may be more helpful to consider this work as a starting point or way into an endeavour that might otherwise seem overwhelming in its scale and challenges. We have intentionally chosen to name the toolkit diversifying reading lists rather than decolonising reading lists to reflect this.
We hope this toolkit can support you in the challenges you face, whatever your next steps might be.
References
Robinson-Morris, D.W. 2023. Healing justice: Moving beyond data towards transformative, collective liberation. 9 October, University of Leeds.
Siddiqui, S. 2022. Decolonising Student Education in AHC. [Online]. [Accessed 02 April 2025]. Available from: https://sway.cloud.microsoft/XndGZbt4kjVK1Dkb?ref=Link&loc=play.