Natives Summary

“What does it mean to be Black and British in a country that continues to distort and deny its own history of imperialism, slavery, and racism?”

1. The "Windrush Generation" Faced Hostility, Not Welcome

After World War II, Britain needed workers to rebuild the nation, leading to the arrival of Caribbean migrants known as the "Windrush generation." Despite carrying British passports and coming as equal citizens of the empire, they were met with racism and labeled as outsiders.

The Caribbean arrivals were not prepared for the poverty they witnessed in Britain. In the colonies, whiteness was associated with wealth and power, but in Britain, poor white citizens shattered this stereotype. They were also shocked by the racist hostility that negated any pretense of welcome.

The British public’s prejudice stemmed partly from ignorance of how colonial wealth had sustained Britain’s welfare state. Caribbeans were seen as intruders rather than contributors, a belief bolstered by the government’s failure to educate citizens about the colonies' role in the economy.

Examples

• Akala’s grandparents were called slurs within days of arriving.
• British welfare was partly funded by revenues from colonies like Jamaica.
• White Britons falsely felt their jobs and resources were being "stolen."

2. Racism Defined Childhoods for Many Black Britons

Akala grew up in a Britain marked by racial violence and prejudice. His father's scars were physical reminders of confrontations with both police and skinheads. Akala himself encountered racism as early as five years old.

The racism Akala faced wasn’t limited to society but extended to intimate spaces. When he told his mother about being called a racial slur, she reassured him while tactfully allowing him to speak freely about the experience without alienating her as a white parent.

Society reinforced such racism. Akala recalls the infamous incident of soccer player John Barnes, who endured racist chants and had a banana thrown at him. These moments taught young Akala about the deep-seated hostility Black Britons faced in public life.

Examples

• Akala’s father endured police violence and skinhead attacks.
• A schoolmate racially abused Akala at five years old.
• John Barnes' soccer match incident showcased racism in sports.

3. Policing Targeted Black Boys Under the Guise of Crime Prevention

In London’s impoverished boroughs, racialized policing was a reality Akala encountered as a teenager. Black boys like him became routine targets of stop-and-search operations while their white peers were ignored.

Statistics showed no link between race and knife crime, debunking the justification for targeting Black youth. The higher crime rates in certain areas correlated with poverty, not skin color, but this inconvenient truth was ignored.

Racialized policing reinforced inequality and distrust. For young Black Britons, being racially profiled proved that societal systems were inherently unfair, teaching them from an early age that the law wasn’t applied equally.

Examples

• Akala was stopped and searched multiple times a month by age 13.
• London ranked only the eighth most violent city in the UK, debunking myths of rampant crime.
• Areas with high knife crime, like Glasgow, were predominantly white but faced less-targeted policing.

4. Black Excellence in Sports Was Often Dismissed or Misunderstood

Black success in sports has faced scrutiny, often attributed to pseudoscientific theories rather than skill or organization. This occurred even in the face of clear evidence that coaching and investment mattered more than genetics.

The BBC once aired a theory that linked the athletic achievements of Black sprinters like Usain Bolt to the horrors of slavery, claiming enslaved ancestors’ "fitness" played a role—a claim unsupported by science.

This attitude starkly contrasted with how white success in sports was perceived. Dominance by countries like Germany and Italy in European soccer was explained through dedication and coaching, not biology or racial traits.

Examples

• A BBC panel in 2012 attributed Black runners’ success to genetics.
• Usain Bolt’s achievements were simplistically linked to slavery.
• No such theories were suggested for white dominance in postwar European soccer.

5. Britain’s Narrative of Abolishing Slavery Omits Key Details

Celebrating the 1807 Slave Trade Act, modern Britain positioned itself as a moral leader. However, its historical role was far more complex and troubling.

Britain initially fought to preserve slavery in colonies like Haiti and continued profiting from the global slave trade even after abolition. The act itself included financial compensation for slave owners, which wasn’t fully repaid until 2015.

This selective memory, emphasizing Britain’s “heroic” abolitionist role while erasing its complicity in perpetuating slavery, distorts public understanding of history and Britain’s global influence.

Examples

• Britain sent troops to Haiti to restore slavery in the late 1790s.
• Slave owners received large payouts, marking the biggest public bailout until 2008.
• The British Empire’s trade with Cuba and the southern US continued after abolition.

6. Black Britons Remember Their Past Differently Than Official Narratives

The official histories of 20th-century leaders like Mandela and Castro emphasize Britain’s supposed moral high ground while ignoring its complicity in global racism.

Margaret Thatcher publicly called Mandela a “terrorist,” and Britain aligned with apartheid-era South Africa. Meanwhile, Castro’s Cuban troops, who helped African countries resist apartheid forces, rarely feature in the official narrative.

For Black Britons, these omissions highlight a larger pattern: the systematic whitewashing of Britain’s colonial and racial history, which doesn’t align with their lived experiences.

Examples

• As Mandela was labeled a hero in 2013, Britons forgot Thatcher’s 1980s dismissal of him.
• Cuba’s role in defeating apartheid was sidelined in British media.
• The Guardian reductively dismissed Castro as merely a “dictator.”

7. Racism Appears in Different Forms Around the World

Blackness carries different social meanings depending on where you are. For Akala, this meant being labeled differently in Britain, South Africa, and North Africa.

These variations reflect historical forces. In the Caribbean, lighter skin historically signified privilege among Black communities. In the US, the “one-drop rule” categorized anyone with Black ancestry as Black, regardless of appearance.

Things are even more complex in Australia. Descendants of the “stolen generation” – Aboriginal children taken by the government – still grapple with the fallout of systemic racism, highlighting how race interacts with local histories.

Examples

• Akala was "Black" in Britain but "colored" in South Africa.
• Aboriginal people in Australia referred to themselves as “blackfellas,” irrespective of skin tone.
• Generational trauma from policies like the forced removal of children shaped identity in Australia.

8. Britain’s Empire Was Built on Exploitation and Racism

British wealth and global dominance didn’t emerge in a fair or inclusive way. Exploiting colonies and enslaving millions of people formed the backbone of its prosperity.

This exploitation ensured that Britain’s working-class citizens benefited from resources extracted from overseas. Meanwhile, people in the colonies often lived in abject poverty despite their labor sustaining the empire.

Recognizing this darker past challenges the sanitized version of history many Britons are taught, making it impossible to ignore Britain’s direct role in global inequality.

Examples

• Colonial revenues supported Britain’s welfare state.
• Exploited colonies like Jamaica produced wealth for British elites while staying impoverished.
• Caribbean laborers were seen as imperial servants, not contributors.

9. Changing Demographics and Representation Shape History Today

Britain’s population is becoming more racially diverse; with this shift, the narrative around its history will also change. Black Britons are stepping into roles of power, ensuring their voices are heard in public debates.

Statue removals and re-evaluations of colonial figures reflect this ongoing process. These actions challenge traditional accounts and make room for stories that were ignored or silenced before.

In the future, Britain’s self-perception will likely include perspectives that recognize the contributions and struggles of its Black and colonial communities.

Examples

• Campaigns have targeted statues of pro-slavery figures.
• By 2050, 30% of Britain’s population will likely have roots in Africa or Asia.
• Black politicians and leaders are becoming prominent in public life.

Takeaways

1. Acknowledge how colonial histories influence modern inequalities and institutions.
2. Challenge biased narratives and educate yourself on untold aspects of history.
3. Advocate for equal treatment in social systems, particularly in law enforcement.