My radical reflection, ‘who taught you to hate yourself?’ Malik El Shabazz

This autoethnographic account explores my experiences navigating identity, race, and academia through the lens of Critical Race Theory (CRT), radicalism, and social justice activism. Reflecting on my childhood in a predominantly white environment, I examine the internalised struggles of dual heritage identity and the systemic forces that perpetuate exclusion. Influenced by Malik El Shabazz’s (aka Malcolm X) teachings, I became committed to education, activism, and decolonisation. My academic journey, from social work to higher education, has reinforced my awareness of structural racism within the academy, a ‘white fortress’ that continues to marginalise minority voices.

Using CRT, I analyse racial disparities in student outcomes, the underrepresentation of minority faculty, and the persistence of bias in institutional structures. I offer a potential way forward through co-creation with students, advocating for systemic change, fostering inclusive educational spaces that empower marginalised voices and challenge white supremacy. This article highlights co-creation working in unity with students as a form of activist scholarship, driven by CRT’s tenets of resistance, intersectionality, and storytelling.

While CRT asserts the permanence of racism, I argue for transformative change within existing structures wherever possible, using regulatory frameworks and institutional incentives to advance racial equity within the premises of interest convergence. Ultimately, this work underscores the moral imperative for academia to dismantle systemic racism and foster a truly inclusive educational environment.