Surviving whiteness : a documentary-practice led exploration of a black PhD student experience in a predominantly white University

Abstract

This creative-practice PhD uses documentary filmmaking to capture the journey of a Black male student from the USA undertaking a PhD at a predominantly white university in the UK. The creative practice output, a 70 min film called "Surviving Whiteness", employs mobile filmmaking to adopt an autoethnographic approach intertwining personal histories, lived experience, and sociopolitical analysis to illuminate systemic challenges for people of colour in academia, including tokenism, racism, and mental health issues. By humanizing these themes, the film, "Surviving Whiteness", aims to stimulate a critical dialogue in advocating for systemic change and greater equity within educational institutions. "Surviving Whiteness" captures the filmmaker's journey as a Black PhD student, with specific focus on accumulated personal experiences, including the challenges of relocating to a new country, the impact of COVID-19 on my study, the loss of an aunt and sister, and my own breast cancer diagnosis. The inclusion of these experiences underscores the intersection of stress, mental health, and physical illness within a systemically racially biased academic environment. My creative practice research contributes to discussions surrounding the role of autoethnography and mobile filmmaking as innovative tools for storytelling and social justice advocacy. Crucially, it highlights the empowering potential of autoethnographic filmmaking for marginalized communities to reclaim their narratives and remain resilient within oppressive systems. Keywords: Documentary, Autoethnography, Racism, Whiteness, Ethics, Blackness