Professor Nasar Meer talks with Professor Rollock about her new book, The Racial Code: Tales of Resistance and Survival, which uses narrative to explore and document the realities of everyday racism.
In this transformative book, Nicola Rollock, one of our pre-eminent experts on racial justice, offers a vital exploration of the lived experience of racism. Miles, a successful lawyer, is mistaken for the waiter at a networking event. Femi is on the verge of breakdown having been consistently overlooked for promotion at her university. Nigel's emails, repeatedly expressing concern about his employer's forthcoming slavery exhibition, are ignored. Carol knows she can't let herself relax at the work Christmas party... This is racism. It is not about the overt acts of random people at the fringes of society. It's about the everyday. It's the loaded silence, the throwaway remark, the casual comment or a 'joke' in the workplace. It's everything.
The Racial Code is an unprecedented examination of the hidden rules of race and racism that govern our lives and how they maintain the status quo. Interweaving narrative with research and theory, acclaimed expert Nicola Rollock uniquely lays bare the pain and cost of navigating everyday racism – and compels us to reconsider how to truly achieve racial justice.
'A powerful, salient and gracefully written study of the corrosive dynamics of race in Britain from a trusted voice on the subject. We can all benefit from reading it.' - Diana Evans
'A must-read book for anyone who wants to examine their own assumptions and dig deep into what it means to be, as Rollock puts it, "racialised as white". . . The addition of Rollock's own experiences and the short-story format of her case studies are what makes this book so different and valuable for anyone willing to challenge themselves and advance diversity and inclusion for all.' - Financial Times
'Using Nicola Rollock's own salient insight into Black British reality, The Racial Code unreservedly explores the Black experience through a series of vivid tales from modern life. Sharp and engrossing on every turn of the page.' - David Lammy
'Nicola Rollock brings together rigorous scholarship, personal experience, and immense empathy in this informative and insightful manual for surviving racism in contemporary Britain. Accessibly written and presented without sacrificing intellectual acuity, The Racial Code is an illuminating, painful but ultimately hopeful read that informs and inspires in equal measure. I wish I had the essential guidance and tools included in this book when I first arrived in Britain - I would have avoided much pain!' - Sunny Sin
Presented by Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power, IASH, RACE.ED, CASEI Lancaster and Sociology at Lancaster University.
Professor Nicola Rollock
Nicola is Professor of Social Policy & Race at King’s College London and Distinguished Fellow, Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge. She is interested in how we think about and understand racism as a basis for fostering meaningful change. Nicola is also founder and Director of NIANRO Consulting a boutique research company specialising in innovative racial equity research and advice and, author of The Racial Code: tales of resistance and survival published by Penguin Press in October 2022.
She was previously Specialist Advisor for the Home Affairs Select Committee’s inquiry ‘Macpherson: 20 Years On’ and has held advisory roles at the University of Cambridge, the Wellcome Trust and the British Science Association.
Her work is highly regarded both within and outside of the academy: in 2021, she was selected by apolitico as one of the 100 most influential academics in politics; in 2020, following an endorsement by Baroness Doreen Lawrence, she was included in the Duke & Duchess of Sussex’s list of Next Generation Trailblazers for challenging prejudice and contributions to British society and in 2019, she was selected by Times Higher journalists as one of the 'people of the year', from across the globe, who impacted on higher education.
Hybrid Event
Book free tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fireside-chat-with-professor-nicola-rollock-tickets-559363781127
In-person venue: Seminar Room, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH), University of Edinburgh, 2 Hope Park Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9NW. If you wish to join in-person, please choose the In-person Attendance Ticket.
Option to join online (via Zoom) is also available. If you wish to join online, please choose the Online Attendance Ticket. Zoom joining information will be emailed to you on the day of the seminar.
Time: 10.15am-12.00pm GMT. (The discussion will be followed by a book signing and reception for in-person attendees at approximately 11.35am until 12pm GMT. Light refreshments will be provided.)
This is a free event, which means we overbook to allow for no-shows and to avoid empty seats. While we generally do not have to turn people away, this does mean we cannot guarantee everyone a place. Admission is on a first come, first served basis.