Downstream: The Left Is Traumatised w/ Gary Younge
Oct 16, 2023
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Gary Younge, a thoughtful and compassionate voice on the British left, talks about his eventful career in journalism, reporting in Soviet Russia, the crisis facing the Labour Party, and spending 13 hours getting drunk with Maya Angelou. They also discuss the power of self-doubt, purposeful writing, and the influence of black America on black British society. Additionally, they explore their experiences covering Nelson Mandela's campaign trail and the racial dynamics between black communities in the UK and US.
Racial dynamics differ between the UK and the US, with a stronger sense of identity and affinity among African Americans in the US, while black people in the UK are more connected to their African or Caribbean heritage.
Both black communities in the UK and the US face unique challenges, with black Americans experiencing a higher proportion, wealth gap, and specific issues like lower life expectancy and inadequate housing, while black Britons face challenges related to racism, inequality, and social integration.
Black British culture has been influenced by African American culture, but it's important to recognize that black British experiences and identities are distinct and shaped by unique cultural expressions, diverse origins, and a different racial landscape.
Deep dives
Differences in Black Culture: UK vs. US
There are several significant differences in racial dynamics between the UK and the US. One key difference is the longer history and larger population of African Americans in the US, leading to a stronger sense of identity and affinity. In the UK, black people are more connected to their African or Caribbean heritage. Additionally, there is a greater class stratification within the black community in the US, with a prominent black middle class. This is less pronounced in the UK. The US also experienced segregation and a civil rights movement on its own soil, resulting in a stronger awareness of racial issues. Another difference is the absence of historically black colleges and universities in the UK. Lastly, the US has a more developed system of black-specific institutions and organizations, such as fraternities, sororities, and historically black ski associations.
Sociopolitical Challenges Faced by Black Communities
Black communities in both the UK and the US face unique challenges. In the US, there is a higher proportion of African Americans and a more pronounced wealth gap. Issues such as lower life expectancy rates, high rates of poverty, and inadequate housing disproportionately affect black Americans. In the UK, while class stratification within the black community is less apparent, there are still challenges related to racism, inequality, and social integration. In both countries, overcoming these challenges requires recognizing the structural nature of these issues and addressing them through political mobilization and social change.
The Influence of America on Black British Culture
Black British culture has been influenced by African American culture, especially through media and popular culture. The history and struggles of African Americans have resonated with black communities in the UK. However, it is important to note that black British experiences and identities are distinct from those of African Americans. Black Britons often have diverse origins and face a different racial landscape, which shapes their own unique cultural expressions and identity formation. While there are efforts to recreate certain middle-class social spaces for black and brown people in the UK, the experience of being black in Britain is still evolving and requires ongoing reflection and engagement to address the complexities and intersectionalities within the community.
Lessons from the Corbyn Era
The Blair era does not offer lessons for how leftists should relate to Keir Starmer. The way the Labour leadership is dealing with Corbyn's legacy suggests that it must be relegated to history, with no engagement with why it happened. The party's focus is on preventing it from happening again. However, there needs to be a reckoning within the left about whether the energy put into Corbyn's leadership was worthwhile. While Corbyn attracted large numbers of people with a social democratic agenda, the current state of the party may not be what was desired.
The Trauma of Political Defeat
The left, including those who joined because they cared about inequality, is traumatized by the experience of the Corbyn era. Many have been expelled or branded as 'Stalinist'. There is a sense of self-harm and rage, with people questioning whether they can recover and become useful political actors again. Taking a break, self-reflection, and understanding one's own goals and gains are necessary to navigate the political trauma. Despite the trauma, there are glimpses of solidarity and collective struggle, particularly among younger generations, that give hope for future change.
From his early career following Nelson Mandela on the campaign trail to his stint as US correspondent for the Guardian, Gary Younge has long been one of the most thoughtful and compassionate voices on the British left. He joins Ash Sarkar to discuss his eventful career in journalism, his experiences of reporting in Soviet Russia, […]
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