Our politicians often highlight the virtues of Britain being a tolerant, open and multicultural society, comfortable in its own skin. Despite this, race and racism still feature strongly in public discourse. Many have argued that Britain has become a post-racial society and racism is no longer a major issue; however, Kurt Barling objects to this view. Barling has been a leading broadcaster for the BBC for 25 years. His new book, The R Word, draws on his own personal experience as a mixed-race man growing up in Britain during the 1960s and 1970s to deconstruct the arguments of anti-racism and tackle the question of whether Britain can truly become a colourblind society.
Barling takes us on a three-part journey, first of all dissecting the thorny issue of race and identity. He examines the history of race and how we have come to the modern understanding of the term. From the conquering of the new world to the brutal institution of the transatlantic slave trade, Barling analyses how the myths around race, which were formed from pseudoscience and prejudice, became intertwined with the dominant theories in science and philosophical thought during the 18th and 19th centuries. He makes his argument clear that race is a cultural construct devoid of any grounding in biology, and uses this as a base to reveal his thoughts on what race means today and how our views of race in Britain affect the social relations between people of different backgrounds
In part two Barling reflects on the black and ethnic minority experience in Britain. From the 1976 Race Relations Act to education and policing, he analyses the relationship between ethnic minorities and various institutions, often drawing on his own personal experience of working in the BBC. Sowing his own narrative into his arguments allows Barling to emphasise particular points and helps the reader to better understand some of the most complex issues. In the third and final part, Barling casts his gaze forward, challenging the reader to consider whether Britain could move beyond race. He does not appear idealistic, but his desire to see the public discourse move away from racial tones and language runs throughout the final part.
Barling challenges the reader to widen their own perspective on race and to view the issue as integral to our understanding of social interactions of people of different skin colours. The R Word makes a strong attempt to clear the fog and shine a light on a very sensitive area. It reminds the reader that race still plays a prominent role in Britain, highlighting the great leaps we have made to address past injustice, but revealing how far we still have to travel to truly become a post-racial society. An insightful read, this book is a must for anyone wanting to better understand the arguments that underpin the current debate on race relations in Britain.
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Martin Edobor is chair of the Young Fabians
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The ‘R’ Word
Kurt Barling
BiteBack Publishing | 224pp | £10