Kehinde Andrews, a Professor of Black Studies and author of "The New Age of Empire," argues that systemic racism is deeply entrenched in Western capitalism, rooted in colonialism. In contrast, historian Jeremy Black challenges this view, insisting that the historical context of Western civilization is more complex. Their debate tackles the legacies of slavery, the racial wealth gap, and the intersection of race with class and gender. They explore how historical injustices shape modern inequalities, calling for a nuanced understanding of these pressing issues.
The West's economic development and global dominance were built upon the oppression and devaluation of black and brown lives, highlighting the need for comprehensive understanding and systemic change.
The debate emphasized the complexity of assessing the West's role, involving class, religion, and ethnicity alongside race, and urged listeners to engage in respectful dialogue and consider diverse perspectives to address racial challenges and create a more equitable future.
Deep dives
The West's Legacy of Racism: A Comprehensive Analysis
This podcast episode delves into the deep-rooted legacy of racism in the West, specifically focusing on the role of the Atlantic system, slavery, and colonialism in shaping the modern world. It highlights the immense impact of European expansion and the exploitation of African and indigenous populations in the Americas. The West's economic development and global dominance were built upon the oppression and devaluation of black and brown lives. The episode argues that white supremacy and racist ideologies were not only prevalent during the era of European empires but continue to shape global inequality and power dynamics today. It emphasizes the need for a comprehensive understanding of history and calls for widespread systemic change to overcome centuries of racial injustice.
Complexity and Perspectives in Assessing the West's Role
The debate featured contrasting viewpoints on the West's fundamental racism, with the speaker Kehinde Andrews emphasizing the historical and ongoing dominance of white supremacy, while Jeremy Black argued for a more nuanced assessment. Black highlighted the importance of contextualizing historical developments and challenged the idea of inherent racism in the West. He advocated for a tolerant approach, defending enlightenment values and avoiding the trap of one-sidedness. The debate underscored the complexity of assessing the West's role, involving class, religion, and ethnicity, alongside race. It urged listeners to engage in respectful dialogue and consider diverse perspectives in addressing racial challenges and creating a more equitable future.
Revolutionary Thinking: Challenging the Status Quo
The podcast episode delved into the need for profound change and overturning existing systems to combat deep-rooted racism. Kehinde Andrews put forth a revolutionary argument, highlighting the entanglement of white supremacy and capitalism that underpins global inequality. He questioned the effectiveness of liberal institutions and argued that dismantling the system is essential to eradicate racism. Jeremy Black challenged this perspective, arguing for a nuanced understanding that avoids overgeneralizations and promotes tolerance of differing viewpoints. The debate highlighted the urgency for change in the face of persistent racial inequalities and climate crisis, calling for fresh approaches to overcome the destructive legacies of the past.
Understanding Racial Dynamics: Class, Prejudice, and Racism
The discussion emphasized the importance of disentangling prejudice and racism, recognizing that racism operates on systemic and institutional levels, shaping economic disparities and power structures. While acknowledging the complexities, the speakers tackled questions about poverty, education, and ethnic disparities in the UK. Kehinde Andrews stressed that racial inequality plays a significant role in educational attainment, income gaps, and social mobility. Jeremy Black underscored the need to consider multiple factors like class, culture, and religion when assessing societal challenges. The conversation spotlighted the necessity of a nuanced understanding of racial dynamics and the pursuit of a fair and inclusive future.
The West is rich because the rest is poor. Capitalism is racism. So argues Kehinde Andrews, academic and self-described Black radical, who came to Intelligence Squared on March 29 to set out the ideas in his latest book, The New Age of Empire: How Racism and Colonialism Still Rule the World.
Wrong, says historian Jeremy Black. All that is a complete misrepresentation of the historical and present-day facts, Black counter argues. Who's right and who's wrong? Listen to the debate chaired by Anne McElvoy senior editor at The Economist and make up your own mind.
To buy Kehinde's new book click here: https://bit.ly/3sHl7sZ
To buy Jeremy Black's latest book click here: https://amzn.to/3cEWUhy
