Kehinde Andrews & Afua Hirsch: The Psychosis of Whiteness
Nov 29, 2023
auto_awesome
Kehinde Andrews & Afua Hirsch discuss critical whiteness studies, the impact of black storytellers in mainstream narratives, navigating white spaces and the struggle for black identity, pleasure activism, the radical argument for black revolution, expectations on black people, the legacy of Mandela, and addressing discrimination within the NHS.
Black people should not bear the burden of constantly justifying or tolerating racism.
A black revolution is necessary to combat racism, rejecting assimilation and building new institutions.
Critical whiteness studies and current approaches to anti-racism work need to be completely rethought and rejected.
Deep dives
The Expectation on Black People to Educate and Tolerate Racism
The speaker discusses the ongoing expectation placed on black people to explain racism and educate others about it. They highlight that this expectation is also coupled with the pressure to tolerate racism. The speaker questions whether this expectation will ever change, emphasizing that black people should not have to constantly justify or tolerate racism and pointing out the dismissive nature of justifying racist behavior by attributing it to old age or lack of exposure. They challenge the notion that black people should bear the burden of educating others about racism.
The Need for Black Revolution in the Face of Racism
The speaker asserts the need for a black revolution as the solution to combating racism. They reference historical figures like Malcolm X and highlight the importance of rejecting assimilation and challenging the current system. The speaker emphasizes the need to build new institutions and create a global organization that focuses on black liberation. They present the idea of a Congress of African people in 2025 as part of this revolutionary vision.
The Problematic Nature of Critical Whiteness Studies
The speaker critiques critical whiteness studies and argues that it is not effective in addressing racism and promoting black liberation. They question the effectiveness of diversity and inclusivity initiatives, as well as the concept of allyship. The speaker points out the commodification and exploitation of anti-racism work through examples like Robin DiAngelo's book 'White Fragility'. They advocate for a complete rethinking and rejection of current approaches to anti-racism work.
Critique of Introductory Books on Racism and Black Liberation
The speaker critiques the trend of introductory books on racism, particularly those targeted at individuals with little racial intelligence. While acknowledging that these books can be helpful in developing racial awareness and understanding, he argues that they fall short in creating true social change and black liberation. The speaker believes that focusing on individualized allyship and racial intelligence detracts from the larger systemic struggles and the need for revolutionary action. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing that racism is deeply ingrained in society and that individualized efforts alone are insufficient to dismantle it.
Pleasure Activism and Critiques of Capitalism
The conversation delves into the concept of pleasure activism, which advocates for embracing personal pleasure and self-care as a means to reject the conditioning of white supremacist capitalism. While acknowledging the value of critiquing capitalism and rejecting the grind mentality, the speaker expresses skepticism about pleasure activism. He sees it as an indulgent distraction from the harsh realities of racism and systemic oppression. The speaker argues that comfort and pleasure within the current system hinder the urgency for radical change and addressing the structural inequalities inherent in society.
Kehinde Andrews continues the work he began in The New Age of Empire with The Psychosis of Whiteness (Allen Lane), a wry and piercing guide to retaining sanity in a racist world, which Ron Ramdin has described as ‘a remarkable and enriching work which shines a light on many dark places’. He discussed the book with journalist and writer Afua Hirsch, whose own Decolonising My Body is forthcoming from Square Peg in October.