Race Equality Week

This is the second blog in a four-part series about Race Equality Week. 

Hello and welcome again.

I would like to continue our reflection on Race Equality Week by thinking about the role our accommodation plays. I often describe University accommodation as a small version of the world. You might not find every country represented, but you will almost always find every continent. It is in these shared spaces that we experience things we may previously have only seen on television - at least in my case.

I remember celebrating Diwali with my Indian flatmate, being invited into the common room where colours were gently placed on my face and everyone was filled with joy and the room warm with laughter. I remember receiving rum cake from my flatmate from Barbados, a speciality from home that he wanted to share with me. I remember my Hungarian flatmate (the one that left the Milka chocolate during Christmas) bringing back cheese after visiting Hungary. I had seen it in supermarkets before, but it tasted different because it had travelled from home and I felt special. A Polish flatmate once brought me beautiful blue earrings after visiting her family. I also learned from my Senegalese flatmate about the difference between being vegan and vegetarian, a distinction I am still learning.

There were desserts made with poppy seeds, chai brewed so well that one flatmate earned the title “King of Chai,” and countless shared meals that became moments of connection. These stories may sound warm and joyful, and they are, but what I want to highlight is the practice behind them. Recognising difference. Making space. Being open. Allowing others to bring their full selves into shared spaces. While race is central to this conversation, difference more broadly is also important. Embracing difference means speaking up when someone’s culture is mocked, challenging misconceptions within your own circles, recognising your privilege, and using it when it matters.

We come from different parts of the world, but the flat brings us together. Let us make that shared space one of care, respect, and belonging.