125th Anniversary PhD Scholarship in Birmingham Law School - PhD Project: Construction of Narratives of Black Male Victimisation in Birmingham Magistrates' and Crown Courts.

About the project

Black people, particularly Black men, have long been erroneously stereotyped as having a propensity for criminality (Hall et al 1978; Gilroy 1982). Black men are habitually viewed as a 'problem' (Gilroy 1993) and as 'perpetual suspects' (Hall et al. 1978), but never seen in the first instance as crime victims (Long 2018, 2021). This was the case with Stephen Lawrence (Macpherson, 1999), and so too with Dea-John Reid, a 14-year old Black British teenager murdered in Birmingham in 2021 by a White mob after being racially abused and chased through the streets. This proposal stems from applicants' ongoing work with the Justice for Dea-John Reid Campaign (J4DJR) for fairer treatment of Black male crime victims in England and Wales courts.

At the 2022 trial of Dea-John's killers, his family hoped justice would be served. Instead it was insinuated Dea-John had contributed to or even caused his own death. The nearly all-White jury convicted the principal perpetrator and exonerated the others, which the family attributed to Dea-John being stereotyped as a menacing Black boy, and the White male perpetrators having excuses for their actions.

Indeed, courtrooms are well known sites of spoken, written and non-verbal narratives about victims and perpetrators. Researchers shows how presentation of evidence, including witnesses, documents and physical evidence, as well as opening and closing statements, create particular narratives in courtrooms, often laden with stereotypes, and implicit and explicit biases (Rock 1991; Rossner, 2019).

For Black men and boys, be they victims or perpetrators, research suggests they are often negatively stereotyped. Their behaviour (e.g. contributing to their victimisation (Long, 2019)), their associations (e.g. so-called gang membership (Williams and Clarke, 2016)), and even the music they listen to (e.g., rap or grime music (Art Not Evidence, 2023)) are used to portray Black men unfavourably in criminal cases - even where they are crime victims. But the evidence of this narrative creation process in courts, and its impacts, is lacking in England and Wales. The proposed project seeks to understand how narratives around Black male victims are created in Birmingham's Magistrates' and Crown Courts, and how this impacts them and their families.

Drawing on applicants' ongoing research, this project aims to develop new knowledge and understanding of how Black men and boys are depicted in Birmingham's Magistrates' and Crown Courts, and document impacts of these experiences on them and their families in Birmingham's Black communities. This research produces two new qualitative data sets comprised of: (1) collecting non-participant observation courtroom data about narratives about Black male victimisation in Birmingham Magistrates' and Crown Courts; and (2) interviews with Black male victims and/or their surviving families whose cases were prosecuted in Birmingham Magistrates' and Crown Court to learn their lived experiences of narratives about their victimisation used about in criminal prosecutions.

Find out more

Research Questions

• What are the spoken, written and non-verbal narratives about Black men and boys who have been crime victims in cases prosecuted in Birmingham Magistrates' and Crown Courts?
• What are the lived experiences of those narratives on Black male crime victims whose cases prosecuted in Birmingham Magistrates' and Crown Courts?

Who can apply?

These scholarships are designed to create opportunities and address the underrepresentation of talented Black or Black mixed heritage students in academia. Applicants who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to apply:

1. Students classified as 'Home' for tuition fee payments
2. Members of one of the following ethnic groups:

• Black African
• Black Caribbean
• Black Other
• Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
• Mixed – White and Black African
• Other mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other)

     3. Not already enrolled on a PhD programme at the University of Birmingham

What does the scholarship provide?

1. Financial Support: Recipients of these scholarships will receive substantial financial support, including a stipend at UKRI rates, which is set at £20,780 per year for the 2025/26 academic year, and will be paid to you in regular instalments. Successful awardees will also have their tuition fees covered at a minimum of £5,006 per year. This support is designed to alleviate the financial burden often associated with pursuing a doctoral degree, such as covering tuition fees, living expenses, and research-related costs.
2. Mentorship and Guidance: Scholarship recipients will benefit from mentorship opportunities and guidance from accomplished faculty members who are dedicated to helping them succeed in their academic and research endeavours.
3. Research Opportunities: We are committed to providing an exceptional research environment. Students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge resources, and a vibrant scholarly community.
4. Community Building: A key component of the scholarship programme is the creation of a supportive community of Black British researchers pursuing PhDs. This network will foster collaboration and peer support among scholars.
5. Research Training Support Grant: In addition to financial support, scholarship recipients will receive a research training support grant at £2,250 across the duration of the PhD. This grant is intended to support conference attendance, fieldwork, and other essential activities that enhance their research and academic growth.
6. Commitment to Inclusivity: We are dedicated to building an inclusive academic environment that values diversity and ensures equitable access to education.