My first thought is who splits the groups up? I’m just thinking this could be very tricky for peoples right to privacy regarding their race or ethnicity, because contrary to some people’s opinions, you can’t always “tell”.
Do the lecturers decide on splits or is it learner/student determined?
I also think these discussions are often clumsy and lack nuance. What happens to people who may come from a Gypsy, Roma or Traveller background/community? Some would say Roma are not white, some would say the same for some Traveller groups, others not. In terms of discrimination faced by individuals is it fair to compare a white-passing middle class person of colour with a light skinned Roma person in terms of disadvantages experienced? If not, what is the utility of lumping them together in this context?
I’m also minded of the awful way a lot of US universities come at this issue and write off all “Asian” students as privileged when not only is it not the case but some kinds of privilege don’t preclude you from experiencing racist abuse or structural disadvantages.
FWIW our university tried this (MA in a Psychotherapy context) and it descended into a grievance session, which was obviously felt necessary by some students but others (some students of colour) found it really embarrassing and pointless. In terms of a learning opportunity I think it was wasted to be honest.
Plus it seemed like the only tick box the uni was doing to look at “inclusivity”, when the class issue was always neglected (loads of students of Psychotherapy and as a result trained therapists are from middle class and upper backgrounds - which was seen as not an issue despite it possibly being off-putting for working class clients who find themselves in therapy), and of course, as always, people with disabilities largely unrepresented or accommodated in terms of demographics of therapists.
I think these courses need to be specific about why they are addressing these issues, to what end, I think if it’s to make some students feel better that’s fine, but ultimately it should be about ensuring therapists are properly trained to work with a diverse group of people. Treating every “person of colour” like that one person from your course with a particular viewpoint is not the way to go. Is it so that future clients feel comfortable with you? Who is to say that a black woman would want a black therapist, especially if she wanted to discuss issues she felt within her family/community? In some cases finding therapists who are relatable is difficult, not least because therapy is awkward and vulnerable. On the other hand having someone who reminds you of your roots can be triggering, especially if you are seeking to address childhood/familial trauma. I think it totally depends on the client and their needs, which can’t be easily planned for in advanced in a couple lectures or seminars. If you as a trainee are willing to learn and critically analyse but not place yourself necessarily at the centre here, it could be a valuable learning experience.
I do think it’s sad that you don’t feel able to bring this up to your institution, but not surprising.
Hope your university manages it better than mine did !