This chapter explores the similarities and differences between the histories of Britain and America in relation to race, highlighting the connections through slavery and the shared experiences of Black Caribbean and African American populations. It discusses the increase in Black African population in the UK, the differences between Black Caribbean and Black African people, and the legacy of racism in the education system. The role of class and race in determining socioeconomic outcomes in the UK and America is also examined.
Tomiwa Owolade is a rising star of literary and cultural criticism in the UK. His first book is This Is Not America: Why Black Lives in Britain Matter. In this discussion, Owolade joins commentator Inaya Folarin Iman to argue that too much of the debate around race in Britain today is viewed through the prism of American ideas and history – models that don’t reflect the challenges and achievements of the increasingly diverse Black British population.
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