Natives Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire:įrom the first time he was stopped and searched as a child, to the day he realised his mum was white, to his first encounters with racist teachers - race and class have shaped Akala's life and outlook. I was also in a bookshop and I remembered that he published the book, so I asked when it would be available to buy, and when the date arrived I went out and purchased the book.Women Don't Owe You Pretty is the ultimate book for anyone who wants to challenge the out-dated narratives supplied to us by the patriarchy.Through Florence's story you will learn how to protect your energy, discover that you are the love of your own life, and realise that today is a wonderful day to dump them.Florence Given is here to remind you that you owe men nothing, least of all pretty. It was quite humbling to think about how as a young Asian woman in Britain today I’ve faced some adversities related to my race, and it was so much worse 30 years ago, and it institutionalised racism in Britain. I always thought that black history had its roots in the civil rights movement in America, and I didn’t realise how close to home the violence to black people was.

I think its highlighting how much we have in common, and trying to improve social cohesion. This is really reflective on the state of how our communities interact in Britain, and black history in Britain is something that’s been washed over.

I think it’s because as students, and the new generation, we’re growing up in a very heavy globalised world. Why do you think this book will appeal to students in college? So I thought it was really thought provoking. It’s so relevant, and I was watching a TV show and Akala was a guest on it, and he was so well spoken, and seemed well educated on the issue of race relations and politics in Britain today.

What inspired you to choose this book to review? This Q&A style review is of the book ‘Natives’ by Akala and was written by A2 student Zahrah. As part of the enrichment programme ‘Hooked on Books’, students from Greenhead College review various books throughout the year and would love to share their reviews with you.

Akala natives review