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A review by stormwise
Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala
challenging
informative
reflective
4.5
Akala does a fantastic job of explaining how modern discrimination is rooted in imperialism, exploring how contemporary examples of racism are influenced by history.
I personally found the chapters revolving around Akala's experiences at school the most compelling; they address the long-lasting impact of racial bias on schoolchildren and recall the bullying and gaslighting of bigoted teachers. The autobiographic elements of this book really drive home Akala's points - he hasn't just researched this topic, he's lived it.
This book is an incredible tool that can be used when debating the uninformed, the ignorant and the prejudiced on matters of racial inequality - it even pauses for an interlude that addresses the most common arguments. Anyone who is interested in anti-racist reading, particularly with a focus on the UK, will benefit from reading this book - and I'm tempted to also recommend it to anyone who still doesn't think that racism is a problem in the UK.
I personally found the chapters revolving around Akala's experiences at school the most compelling; they address the long-lasting impact of racial bias on schoolchildren and recall the bullying and gaslighting of bigoted teachers. The autobiographic elements of this book really drive home Akala's points - he hasn't just researched this topic, he's lived it.
This book is an incredible tool that can be used when debating the uninformed, the ignorant and the prejudiced on matters of racial inequality - it even pauses for an interlude that addresses the most common arguments. Anyone who is interested in anti-racist reading, particularly with a focus on the UK, will benefit from reading this book - and I'm tempted to also recommend it to anyone who still doesn't think that racism is a problem in the UK.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Violence