Natives: Race & Class In The Runis of Empire By Akala

Natives: Race & Class In The Runis of Empire By Akala Description

An ‘essential voice in Britain's debate on race, class and identity,' according to the New Humanist, musician, poet and political activist Akala has risen to prominence through his critically acclaimed rap albums and political speeches. Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire is his first book, and a powerful work of non fiction.

Benjamin Zephaniah's book of the year for 2018, Natives is one third political analysis, one third history book and one third autobiography. Akala uses his life as a mixed race child growing up in the 1980s to explore themes of racial prejudice, police violence and profiling, the paranoia at the heart of white supremiscist philosophy, and more.

Each chapter focuses on a single topic, with Akala weaving his experiences throughout the text. A moving account of his first exposure to racial prejudice flows into an analysis of the meaning of citizenship and how the history of the UK and its empire are taught in British schools. With this structure, Akala's gift as a writer is on full display in Natives. Searingly honest and peppered with dry wit, the Natives book is one of the most engaging and thought provoking works of non fiction released in several years on any topic.

Although the Natives book is centred around the UK, Akala also examines how racism affects ethnic minorities throughout the world. International topics include gang violence in Brazil, how differently people of mixed heritage are treated in Jamaica compared to England, and the Pan-African liberation movement.

Just as the Natives book is not limited to the UK, neither is it limited to the theme of racism; Akala also takes aim at economic disparities. From the transatlantic and arabic slave trades to the relationship between poverty and crime in Glasgow, Natives sees little difference between economic and racial oppression. An excellent introduction to core concepts of racial justice, this is a must read book for anyone interested in modern political discourse.

Specification:

• Dimensions: W12.8 x L2.4 x H19.6cm
• Binding: Paperback
• Page count: 352
• ISBN-10 : 1473661234
• ISBN-13 : 978-1473661233
• Language: English
• Publisher: Two Roads
• Publication date: 21 March 2019

Manufacturer's description:

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2019 JHALAK PRIZE 'My book of the year. It's personal, historical, political, and it speaks to where we are now. 'This is the book I've been waiting for - for years', Benjamin Zephaniah; 'Powerful ... The kind of disruptive, aggressive intellect that a new generation is closely watching' Afua Hirsch, Observer; 'Part biography, part polemic, this powerful, wide-ranging study picks apart the British myth of meritocracy' David Olusoga, Guardian; 'Inspiring' Madani Younis, Guardian; 'Lucid, wide-ranging' John Kerrigan, TLS; 'A potent combination of autobiography and political history which holds up a mirror to contemporary Britain' Independent. A searing modern polemic and Sunday Times bestseller from the BAFTA and MOBO award-winning musician and political commentator, Akala. From the first time he was stopped and searched as a child, to the day he realised his mum was white, to his first encounters with racist teachers - race and class have shaped Akala's life and outlook. In this unique book he takes his own experiences and widens them out to look at the social, historical and political factors that have left us where we are today. Covering everything from the police, education and identity to politics, sexual objectification and the far right, Natives will speak directly to British denial and squeamishness when it comes to confronting issues of race and class that are at the heart of the legacy of Britain's racialised empire. 'Trenchant and highly persuasive' Metro; 'A history lesson of the kind you should get in school but don't' Stylist.