Spotlight on the UK:
@buffsoldier_96 in @unherd:
"Political blackness was born in [an] era where 'coloureds were treated as part of a de facto underclass. Institutional racism meant they occupied menial jobs, were denied decent housing and education and were excluded...
1/10
@buffsoldier_96 in @unherd:
"Political blackness was born in [an] era where 'coloureds were treated as part of a de facto underclass. Institutional racism meant they occupied menial jobs, were denied decent housing and education and were excluded...
1/10
2/10
"...from many social spaces due to the 'colour bar'.
In this context, it made sense for descendants of Britain’s colonies to band together.
But political blackness is now a fossil. [I]t flattens out the diffs btw blacks & S. Asians into an abstract non-white identity.
"...from many social spaces due to the 'colour bar'.
In this context, it made sense for descendants of Britain’s colonies to band together.
But political blackness is now a fossil. [I]t flattens out the diffs btw blacks & S. Asians into an abstract non-white identity.
3/10
"At the same time, the emergence of identity politics has had the effect of breaking up what was once a unified 'black struggle' into ethnic & religious fragments.
The Tories are the political group best equipped to appeal to an increasingly diverse electorate.
"At the same time, the emergence of identity politics has had the effect of breaking up what was once a unified 'black struggle' into ethnic & religious fragments.
The Tories are the political group best equipped to appeal to an increasingly diverse electorate.
4/10
"In 1983, they ran an election poster featuring a besuited black man alongside the words: 'Labour say he’s black. Tories say he’s British'. The message is clear: we emphasise nationhood and want to include you in it, while the Left wants to keep you imprisoned by your race.
"In 1983, they ran an election poster featuring a besuited black man alongside the words: 'Labour say he’s black. Tories say he’s British'. The message is clear: we emphasise nationhood and want to include you in it, while the Left wants to keep you imprisoned by your race.
5/10
"The party is responsible for the most ethnically diverse cabinet in the history of British gov't.
What this shows is that there is no such thing as 'black politics' in any unitary sense. Black people, / various backgrounds, are acting politically across the spectrum.
"The party is responsible for the most ethnically diverse cabinet in the history of British gov't.
What this shows is that there is no such thing as 'black politics' in any unitary sense. Black people, / various backgrounds, are acting politically across the spectrum.
6/10
"Yet today’s understanding of 'political blackness' still implies that you need to have a particular kind of radical politics be 'authentically black' politically — and any deviation equates to 'selling out'.
"Yet today’s understanding of 'political blackness' still implies that you need to have a particular kind of radical politics be 'authentically black' politically — and any deviation equates to 'selling out'.
7/10
"So don’t underestimate the power of a Tory government that can synthesise patriotism and multi-ethnicity, practise 'colour blindness' and rebut the Left’s accusations of tokenism by pointing out that they operate on talent and aspiration and beliefs, not skin colour.
"So don’t underestimate the power of a Tory government that can synthesise patriotism and multi-ethnicity, practise 'colour blindness' and rebut the Left’s accusations of tokenism by pointing out that they operate on talent and aspiration and beliefs, not skin colour.
8/10
"The Tories’ message of equality of opportunity and meritocracy strikes a chord with many, whatever their hue.
On the identitarian Left, instead of 'political blackness', ethnic minorities are currently stuck w/ 'people of colour’ or the soulless bureaucratic acronym BAME.
"The Tories’ message of equality of opportunity and meritocracy strikes a chord with many, whatever their hue.
On the identitarian Left, instead of 'political blackness', ethnic minorities are currently stuck w/ 'people of colour’ or the soulless bureaucratic acronym BAME.
9/10
"Political blackness may have been flawed, but at least it was a radical attempt to encourage solidarity between different communities for a politics dedicated towards social transformation. Any attempt to revive it now would only degrade into kitsch.
"Political blackness may have been flawed, but at least it was a radical attempt to encourage solidarity between different communities for a politics dedicated towards social transformation. Any attempt to revive it now would only degrade into kitsch.
10/10
"Despite the Left’s best efforts, political blackness cannot be the basis for any politics of solidarity any longer."
Read all of @buffsoldier_96 's essay at @unherd here:
unherd.com/2021/03/the-de…
"Despite the Left’s best efforts, political blackness cannot be the basis for any politics of solidarity any longer."
Read all of @buffsoldier_96 's essay at @unherd here:
unherd.com/2021/03/the-de…
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