Black Studies At UCD: Pioneering or Tokenism?

Image Credit: UCD Course Catalogue

Arpita Chowdhury interviews Dr Ebun Joseph, module coordinator of UCD’s “Black Studies and Critical Race Theory” module, set out to transform how Black history is taught. However, five years later, the course is at a crossroads: popular among students yet disregarded by the institution.

In recent years, there has been a significant upsurge in the demand for Black Studies in University settings, driven by Ireland’s expanding diversity. University College Dublin has been at the forefront in addressing this demand. In 2018, UCD introduced a module titled ‘Black Studies and Critical Race Theory (EDUC10210)’, a first of its kind in Ireland. The module, offered through the Department of Education, is a 5-credit course for undergraduate students. Nearly five years have passed since its introduction, and much has evolved, both positively and negatively.

Module Coordinator and Special Rapporteur for the National Plan Against Racism, Dr. Ebun Joseph, introduced the course to examine the histories, social movements and contributions of people of African descent, and look at contemporary forms of Blackness in society and worldwide. In an interview with The University Observer, Dr Ebun Joseph recalled that the narrative surrounding Black history was predominantly negative. She discusses the inadequate teaching methodologies and asserts, “It was not being taught correctly.” Emphasising the need to reshape how Black history is presented, she states,

“It is our history, and that history must be taught correctly. We cannot do a disservice and injustice to young people by raising them without teaching the correct history.”

Many students have benefited from the course, and the module has succeeded in examining movements such as the Civil Rights movements, Black Lives Matter, Black Power movements, the arts, literature, scientific inventions, music, and the movements and theories that have shaped the development of the African diaspora. Dr. Ebun says, 

“Most of them (students) reach out to me when they want to pursue a Master’s even though I have just taught them one module.”

Interestingly, Dr. Joseph notes that nearly two-thirds of her students are White, and she consistently sees a high level of intersectional and socio-economic diversity in her class. She attributes this to a widespread interest in understanding Black history and addressing ongoing injustices.

“I believe that to be truly anti-racist, you must understand Black history,” Dr. Ebun asserts.

However, while the module initially garnered significant interest and popularity, over time, attention has waned. Despite efforts, the course has not expanded into a fully-fledged programme with research opportunities at the undergraduate, master’s, and PhD levels. Dr. Joseph has expressed significant disappointment over UCD’s lack of investment in enhancing the course. “By now, UCD should have had a full department of Black Studies,” she laments, highlighting the irony that, although UCD pioneered the introduction of a Black Studies module in Ireland, it has shown little interest in further developing it.

In addition to the lack of expansion, students have raised concerns about timetable conflicts and limited availability, which have hindered many from enrolling in the module. Moreover, research scholars often struggle to find supervisors with expertise in Black Studies, further limiting academic opportunities in the field.

Despite UCD’s pioneering role, a survey conducted by The University Observer revealed that more than 80% of responding students were unaware of the existence of the Black Studies module.

This gap isn’t surprising, as Dr. Ebun Joseph highlights that UCD fails to promote the course. “Students often email me because they can’t find it, and it's not my job to advertise it.” Student interest is stifled without institutional support to market the module, reinforcing systemic barriers. Nearly 97% of surveyed students desired more Black Studies courses, proving that demand far outstrips availability.

Some potential solutions include expanding the module into a full-time course offered multiple times a week to accommodate more students. Creating a dedicated Black Studies department could be a meaningful step toward fostering a greater understanding of Black history. 

The National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPR), implemented by the Irish Government in 2023, recommends including taught modules to combat racism. In light of this mandate, expanding the Black Studies module at UCD could play a significant role in deconstructing systemic racism, mainly since the module is housed within the School of Education. It could equip future teachers with the necessary resources to teach anti-racism effectively in schools.

UCD’s single Black Studies module does not meet the growing demand for a more comprehensive exploration of Black histories, cultures, and experiences. Dr. Joseph’s insights, coupled with the survey results compiled by The University Observer, demonstrate that both students and faculty recognise the need for expansion. UCD can lead by example, but only if it moves beyond symbolic gestures and makes a real investment in the future of Black Studies.