"WE HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH THAT": AFRICAN STUDENTS' EXPERIENCES OF RACISM AT HIGHER EDUCATION IN PORTUGAL

Abstract

The study deals with racism and the female gender, with the main objective of understanding the experiences of racism lived by African students in higher education in Portugal. Biographical interviews were conducted with ten students from African Portuguese-Speaking Countries that attend a Higher Education Institution in Portugal. The results obtained reveal that African students are often confronted with several manifestations of racism in higher education, mainly associated with African culture and "skin colour". Furthermore, racism is a phenomenon that causes multiple negative consequences, such as barriers to the establishment of social networks with peers, the feeling of belonging and well-being, learning, and, consequently, academic success. The final considerations highlight that the existence of racism in higher education in the Portuguese context seriously compromises the academic and social adaptation and integration of African students. Thus, this article contributes to understanding African students' experiences of racism in higher education in Portugal.