Publisher's Synopsis
Black people in Britain claim not only the same humanity as white Britons but also, in most cases, claim the language and history of Britain as their own: they claim to be black Britons or to be black English. In making their claims they delineate black cultures which are the results of political counter-assertions to colonial and racist impositions of British and other European norms of humanity. This book investigates the forms of national belonging and cultural identification which these assertions take on the part of black people. The authors argue that, in order to organize themselves and construct their communities, black people use the very language of humanity in which they are disavowed ? the discourse of civil society, cultural differentiation, sovereignty, community and human rights, as well as the practice of political violence ? to win racial equality, an honourable belonging and the enjoyment of peaceful security and democracy. The book discusses concrete policies for reducing and eliminating racism and its effects and thus makes an invaluable tool for policy-makers and activists, and students of cultural studies, politics and social policy.
