Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire

Martinza reviewed Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala

Review of 'Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire' on 'Storygraph'

4 stars

The author starts most chapters with a childhood or teenage experience of himself and puts these in the wider historical, sociological and political context. This way he disects the racist, imperial history of the "west" and specifically of the UK and its implication on the present and its continuation into the present. This way, he manages to give a broad view on the topic. A good book if you are starting your education on these themes.

Trey Hunner reviewed Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala

Review of 'Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

My understanding of race and racism (and culture, politics, and the world in general) is US-centric. This book expanded my thinking a bit. I feel a bit more ignorant after reading it and I think that's a good thing (hoping a bit of that humility will be lasting...).

Ed Crompton reviewed Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala

Review of 'Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Opened my eyes to how the British history I have been taught is so white-biased. It opened questions for me about alternative narratives: That Cuba was so instrumental in fighting apartheid and that Britain's abolition of the slave trade was not a result of the white moral enlightenment I'd been led to believe.

This is also at least half auto biographical. It describes an upbringing and experiences of violence, racism and oppression that are easy to remain ignorant to as a white middle class person. For anyone who knows the posh coffee shops and gastro pubs of the London streets on which Akala witnesses stabbings and is subject to constant police harassment, this will make you aware of another world, very close to you.