LSE Race Equality Charter Staff Focus Groups’ Report

Three focus groups were held with black and minoritised and white academic and professional staff in May and June of 2021. Overall there were 13 staff who attended and participated. Some follow up email communication was received in addition to the focus groups. The staff who participated in the focus groups all had experiences of racism, or shared experiences of black and minoritised staff and students facing racism.

This report is grouped under salient themes that emerged from the focus groups that form elements of the nature of institutional.

Within the report participants begin to identify their own reflections and thoughts on solutions and actions needed to the identified issues and problems they and their colleagues face racism at LSE and its impact on all staff and students.

The participants unanimously shared at the end of the three focus groups how much they had valued being able to have the space to discuss their experiences of racism, participants described it as cathartic, empowering and liberating. The value of space to discuss race and racism emerges within the report.