Writing about class and performing respectability

Why honest conversations about race, class and power make us defensive - and why should we face them anyway.

Author, teacher and broadcaster Jeffrey Boakye joins Elizabeth Oldfield to talk about truth, joy, race and power and why he believes we can’t fix what we’re too scared to face.

We speak about:

👊🏾 Jeffrey's fusion of Black British identities from growing up in Brixton

✏️ The role of a teacher and finding his voice in a mostly white education system

⚡ Learning how to challenge dominant power structures like whiteness, class and Britishness

This is a conversation about courage, fear, and how we can talk about race, class and identity without tearing each other apart.

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🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast

📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/

💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

👉 Follow Jeffrey Boakye: https://x.com/jeffreykboakye

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

01:06 - What is Sacred to you? Jeffrey Boakye answers

06:23 - Growing up in Brixton as a Ghanaian Catholic

15:30 - Cultural Identities: Black Britishness and Jamaican youth culture

26:00 - “I became a white woman” teaching while Black

33:00 - Why conversations about race make us defensive and what to do about it

42:00 - Power, fear, and the culture wars

50:00 - Why it’s race and class - not race or class

55:47 - Class and it's connection to the slave trade

56:27 - Anti-immigrant propaganda targeted at the working class

57:54 - Reflection by Elizabeth

Keywords:

Jeffrey Boakye delves into the complexities of power dynamics and the importance of challenging power through truth and joy. He explores cultural identity, drawing from his experiences growing up in Brixton, and discusses the intersectionality of race and class within the education system. The conversation touches on societal structures, the role of religion and community, and the need for empathy in public discourse. Boakye highlights the influence of Caribbean culture and the significance of language in shaping identity. As a teacher, he emphasises the importance of education as a tool for social change, advocating for educational reform and equity. The discussion also covers themes of privilege, patriarchy, white supremacy, colonialism, homophobia, and misogyny, while celebrating the richness of Black British culture and multiculturalism. Through storytelling and narrative, Boakye shares his personal values and life philosophy, encouraging social justice, diversity, and inclusion. The episode invites listeners to reflect on social norms, personal growth, and the power of dialogue, understanding, and compassion in fostering human connection and systemic change. With a focus on critical thinking, reflective practice, and educational equity, Boakye inspires empowerment, creativity, and collaboration, urging us to embrace curiosity, exploration, and authenticity in our pursuit of knowledge and wisdom