Akala is such a dynamic speaker and listening to him read this on audio was a fantastic way to take in this important piece of work.

In Natives, the personal is absolutely political and Akala draws upon his lived experiences as a 'mixed race, Carribbean - Scottish working class man from London' (not a verbatim quote!) to illustrate the ways in which young black individuals live their lives at the cross section of a racist and classist British society. 

While I have read a bit on the subject of racism, it has almost always focused on the US, and is generally explored from a fairly academic, objective standpoint. This is not to say that Akala does not have academic clout - this is a thoughtful and carefully constructed piece of work. But it is threaded through with that big angle of personal history which means that the text can be sarcastic, acerbic, angry and righteous in ways that other works are not. It's refreshing to read, even while the subject is challenging and, in the main, not hugely optimistic.

Akala draws out the ways in which racism, class and capitalism conspire to keep the current social status quo for individuals racialised as black, bringing in history of colonialism, our relationship with the US, and Brexit, among other contemporary concerns.

Much of what is contained in here is subject matter and viewpoints that I was already aware of but this text brings together some themes that are often considered separately and linked up some ideas that I had not previously considered.

I think this text is essential groundwork for understanding the identity politics of race in the UK and is presented in such a way as to be highly consumable for all.