Durham students’ ‘white saviour’ whine nearly sabotaged funding for African literacy
An African literacy charity has complained that it was nearly denied money after students said that a fundraising event would promote a “white saviour trope”.
The Literate Earth Project, which provides books, resources and training to libraries in east Africa, was selected as the partner charity for a Durham University fundraising fashion show.
However, the show’s organisers contacted Jeff Fonda, the charity’s chief executive, to explain that “someone from our university got in contact” to express “concern and offence” at the choice of organisation.
Mr Fonda was told that the complainant “saw the charity, and our efforts to support it, as supporting the ‘white saviour trope’”.
The complaint was submitted after a picture was published on the fashion show’s social media account showing black children smiling, according to Durham's student paper Palatinate.
Addressing ‘demographic challenges’
The student organisers, from St Aidan's College at Durham University, went on to explain that the “demographic challenges” of a predominantly white student population meant it would be “tricky and contentious” to support the charity.
They said that their “primary responsibility” is to ensure that “no one’s voice, especially people belonging to the BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour] community, is being silenced or unheard”.
However, the students later reversed their decision after the charity wrote to St Aidan’s College’s principal to complain.
Trevor Anderson, the chief operating officer of The Literate Earth Project, said there had been a “misunderstanding”.
“The students of African descent raised completely valid concerns about a marketing post, which our organisation wasn’t aware of, that some found to be inappropriate,” he said.
“They encouraged their friends to ask some tough questions of us to ensure our work is actually having an impact rather than, like so many organisations operating in Africa, just utilising images of African children to fundraise while often having little, no or even negative impact on the continent. We have since assuaged those concerns.”
Race discussions ‘more difficult now than ever’
He said that “concerns about white saviorism” are not held by the student organisers of the fashion show, which is due to be held this summer.
“They, like us, agree that white people should be more than comfortable lending a hand (or money) to a cause that helps people of colour. It is absolutely true that such efforts and funding should go to organisations led by those who the organisation is attempting to help, which is why our board is majority African,” Mr Anderson said.
“Discussions about race are more difficult now than ever, but there is a significant portion of the population who feel that a white voice has no place to speak about race, and most only listen and follow.
“Even clarifying questions about what a person of color says can be taken as questioning them, and that is unacceptable too many. Sometimes, that leads to a dynamic where someone is guessing about what action they should take, rather than having a productive conversation. This is part of what happened here.”
A Durham University spokesman said: “Durham University aims to offer a wider student experience to rival the best in the world and opportunities to develop leadership skills are an important part of this.
“The St Aidan’s College Charity Fashion Show is a student-led initiative, with advice and guidance available to student leaders from University staff.”
