King’s College London, a prestigious university, found itself in the midst of controversy when it offered free tai chi classes aimed at combating chronic stress triggered by racism. Here’s the full story.
Combatting Racism Through Tai Chi for Non-White People?
King’s College London organized free tai chi classes with the intention of addressing the chronic stress experienced by individuals due to racism and systemic oppression.
A memo promoting the event specified that it was exclusively for staff who identified as black, people of color, or part of the global majority.
The latter term, as per the Cambridge Dictionary, refers to people who do not consider themselves or are not considered to be white.
The decision to restrict tai chi classes to a specific racial group caused an uproar among several white lecturers and critics.
Surely That’s Against the Principle of Diversity and Inclusion
They argued that such segregation goes against the principle of diversity and inclusion, raising concerns about whether the university’s approach aligns with equality laws.
Sir John Hayes, chair of the Common-Sense Group of Tory MPs, even expressed his intention to inquire whether the event organizers had violated any legal statutes.
Critics drew parallels between this event and a similar incident at the University of Westminster, where events were reserved exclusively for Black students during Black History Month.
Dr. Neil Thin, a social anthropology lecturer at Edinburgh University, criticized such practices, comparing them to the segregation once seen in South African and American education systems.
Such Exclusion May Spread Divisions
However, defenders of the university’s approach argued that offering specialized programs and events to underrepresented groups, such as Black students, can help bridge the gaps associated with success measures.
The central question raised by both critics and supporters of King’s College London’s event is whether segregated tai chi classes are an effective means of achieving diversity goals.
Some argue that such exclusion may spread divisions and hinder the goal of creating a truly inclusive campus environment.
Critics also questioned the rationale behind using tai chi classes to combat racism-induced stress, suggesting that a more inclusive approach to addressing racism at its root might be more effective.
“Imagine if I Ran an Event for Whites Only”
Several social media users expressed their thoughts on the incident.
One Twitter user wrote, “So that must be racist in itself for banning whites from attending. Imagine if I ran an event for whites only, perhaps that should be done to offset these non-white events anyway”
Another User wrote, “We white people really need to understand, we are the only people who are racists, and the only color that you can never be racist of.”
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The post This Top University Strives to Combat Racism, Chronic Stress and Systemic Oppression By Running Tai Chi Courses for Non-White People first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
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Source: Daily Mail