Judi Mesman: 'Racism and discrimination in education are unacceptable.'
Friday, March 21, is the International Day Against Racism and Discrimination. This day was declared in 1960 by the United Nations. It is still desperately needed attention. We ask professor Judi Mesman about her role in The Advisory Committee Diverse and Inclusive Higher Education and Research and her book Growing up in Color, a book for parents who want to know how to talk about ‘color’ and racism in the family.
In conversation with professor Judi Mesman
Judi Mesman (1974) has been professor at the Leiden University since 2009 and focuses on study of social (in)justice with special attention to intergenerational issues at individual and institutional levels. Since 2024, she has also been professor of social responsibility and impact.
Policy and impact
'Like the other members of the Advisory Committee, I try to contribute from my own professional and personal knowledge to the conversations about policy and practice regarding diverse and inclusive higher education and research. My academic expertise is particularly on the topics of racism and sexism in relation to youth and education, but my administrative experience within the university I can also use to think strategically about policy and impact.'
Broad-based approach
'The added value of the national action plan for more diversity and inclusion in higher education and research to which the advisory committee is contributing is that it transcends local initiatives and advocates a more systemic broad-based approach, so that there is no need to reinvent the approach again. That is valuable.
When it comes to diversity and inclusion in education and research, my goal is that it is no longer seen as a nice-to-have but as a must-have. As an obvious thing whose value is evident and it has become ingrained in the heart of institutions to the point it can be eliminated.'
Unacceptable
'Racism and discrimination in education are unfortunately issues that continue to negatively impact the educational careers of marginalized groups from primary school through higher education. Unacceptable and contrary to the idea of the Netherlands being a meritocracy.'
About the book Growing up in Color
'The main message of my book is that so-called “color blindness” is not conducive to countering racism and discrimination in children. It does not do justice to the everyday experiences of people of color (who do know through their experiences that people are not ‘color blind’) and it makes it virtually impossible to teach children anything about racism, what it looks like and where it comes from. So do recognize and discuss color where relevant to make its social impact visible and teach children how to combat racism. That message is as relevant to parents as it is to people in education.
