With all that is going on in the world with the Black Lives Matter movement, I thought I'd continue to educate myself about race, racism, colonialism and its legacy and the idea that many current systems perpetuate the status quo.
The movement has been triggered in large part due to the death of George Floyd at the hand of a white policeman in America, but this is only part of the larger problem of police brutality and race relations across much of the world. I'd already read Akala's book ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ and found it candid and informative but when a friend recommended I read 'Why I No Longer Talk To White People About Race' by Reni Eddo- Lodge I thought I'd give it a whirl.
The book is short but essential reading.
The author starts by sharing the blog post that the she wrote several years ago which started the whole process, whereby she discusses that white people are often not aware or do not see the injustice, suffering and discrimination that black people often face.
The book is part autobiographical with personal events that have informed Eddo-Lodge about racism she has suffered alongside key historical facts and data to provide context. This was a key motivation behind the writing of this book Eddo- Lodge says, rather than just a polemic she sought to create a call to arms for everyone to get knowledgeable about key issues that the black community face.
Eddo- Lodge believes that due to the fact that white people come to discussions about race and legacies of colonialism from an unequal place they are unaware of many of the issues and discrimination that black people face daily in all walks of life. Many people are unaware of their history, and not simply the jingoistic idyll of the British Empire but the pains caused and the legacy of empire, there cannot be an open discussion of racism which still affects black people today through systemic and structural racism. These are all pretty valid points I think and are respectfully shared.
Eddo- Lodge asserts that the American Civil Rights Movement brought race and race-relations to the fore, but in the UK this has not happened and the only coverage and discussions we’ve had are based on the race riots, injustice, and activist movements which have not been given coverage or have been disingenuous covered or spun.
Of particular interest to me was feminism and specifically how black women are portrayed within this lens. Eddo- Lodge discusses how, even within this movement there are hierarchies. When she aired these views on ‘Women’s Hour’ she faced a backlash and was attacked on social media and faced an onslaught from people to say she was ‘playing the race card’ or ‘being the victim’.
I found the book to be very interesting as I'm of Pakistani heritage but was born in Barking, England in 1981 to second generation parents who came over in the 1970s. I cannot always comprehend what it would be like to live through segregation, race riots and various police investigations. I have been picked on on occasion, especially in my youth, but rarely have I felt as ostracised and demonized as Eddo- Lodge mentions. However, that's the whole point of this book. There are hierarchies of racism and unfortunately, historically black people have been at the nadir of this pyramid, no matter how much Home Secretary Priti Patel tries to gaslight it.
The book is incisive in its scrutiny of the history and evolution of racism and is essential reading for all who want to be armed with facts. I’ve read certain reviews where some people have criticised Eddo- Lodge of not being critical of the actions (or inactions) of the black community but I believe she discussed the structural and institutional inequalities that made it difficult for many black people and people of colour to move through life as simply as many of their white counterparts quite clearly and fairly. Many may disagree and that is their wont but this will open your eyes to many things we have become ‘normalised’ to. I do wish that the title was different though as I can see that it comes across as quite antagonistic and provocative, enough to get the back up of the audience you are purportedly trying to reach.
That said, Eddo- Lodge delivers a searing indictment of the state of play and I hope that by having this book gain prominence during this turbulent but interesting time, we can finally start to move the race conversation forward and see real change happen for the betterment of everyone, irrespective of race, colour or creed.
LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’