Race to the bottom reclaiming antiracism Bookclub
We are so excited to say that for this years Bookclub we will be reading ‘Race to the Bottom reclaiming antiracism’ by Azfar Shafi and Ilyas Nagee. A necessary and timely read for anyone interested in antiracist organising and movement building.
The authors call for recovering radical histories of antiracist struggle, championing modern activism and infusing them with the urgency of our times: replacing anxieties over 'unconscious bias' and rival claims for 'representation' with the struggle for a new, socialist, multi-racial organising from below.
Mon 17th Oct 22 7pm - 8:30pm Session One Intro – Ch 3 (51 pages)
Priority Readings:
Chapter 1 - Defining & governing race (pp 8-11) and Policing & Racism (14-18)
Chapter 2 - The rise of Black Power (23-27) & Policing the crisis (34-36).
Chapter 3 -The road to 1981 (41-45) & Riots, repression and reorientation (46-52)
Mon 21st Nov 22 7pm - 8:30pm Session Two Chapter 4 – 7 (69 pages)
Priority Readings:
Chapter 4 Scarman, Thatcherism & the Labour Party pp. 54-56; Mechanics of multiculturalism pp. 56-60; The politics of recognition pp. 66-68; The subsidised revolution pp. 75-80
Chapter 5 Communities of resistance pp. 83-86; The revenge of representative politics pp. 90-94; Fated for defeat? 95-97
Chapter 6 The fate of antiracism from above pp. 99-101; The BAME blame game pp. 101-105
Chapter 7 Indigenising antiracism pp. 112-115; Internationalism against imperialism pp. 115-118; In the name of human rights pp. 118-121
Mon 12th Dec 22 7pm - 8:30pm Session Three Chap 8– Concl (54 pages)
Priority Readings:
Chapter 8 -Law and Order Britain pp. 127-130; 2011 pp. 130-134; A growing chasm pp. 141-144
Chapter 9 - Hate Crime pp. 146-149; Kill the Bill pp. 149-152
Chapter 10 -Shifting role of NGOs pp. 153-155; Legalism and rights pp. 155-158l Self-organisation pp. 161-163
Call for facilitators! Most of our time in these sessions will take place in small breakout discussion groups. Particularly given the focus of the book, we want to ensure that all participants who wish to are able to join breakout groups facilitated by Black, brown and other racialised people. Register your interest to facilitate here!