In an engrossing event at Christchurch Art Gallery, Reni Eddo-Lodge was in conversation with playwright Victor Rodger. She talked us through her thought-provoking debut book Why I'm no longer talking to white people about race. This collection of essays seeks to unpick and challenge white dominant ideology.
The idea for the book grew out of a 2014 blog post in which Reni, a young British journalist of Nigerian heritage, wrote of her "frustration that discussions of race and racism were being led by those not affected by it," and that when she tried to talk about these issues was told that there wasn't actually a problem or accused her of being angry. The irony of marking this line in the sand was that suddenly lots of people wanted to listen to Reni's point of view - including a full (mostly white) art gallery auditorium.
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race
There are a number of themes in the book. One is history, and Reni is keen for black Britons to write themselves back into history. The British connection to slavery and to Africa is deep. I studied economic and social history 1750-1875 at A-level and slavery and colonialism was barely mentioned. I find this appalling because:
- a) hello - where was the cotton for the cotton mills coming from?
- and b) it has taken me until the last week or two to realise this.
It is this kind of oversight that Reni is trying to point out.
Whiteness isn't the default. Whiteness isn't neutral. There are other ways of doing things; there are other points of view. Which is actually quite liberating if you think about.
Reni was assured and matter of fact, and very easy to listen to. Another topic she highlights is feminism. What is the point of feminism that is only for white women and doesn't have a space for black women and others? Issues don't happen in isolation, and overlap and intersect all the time.
This truly was a session to make you think about and observe how you experience the world, to make you want to explore further by reading her book, and to shift your point of view.
Well @renireni and @VictorRodger69 played to a full house tonight and they were magnificent. pic.twitter.com/58ohJR2PlR
— Rachael King (@rachaelking70) September 5, 2017
"I was always on the menu, never at the table" - @renireni on tokenism @WORDChCh #spov ^DR pic.twitter.com/8sBOfN6Ucz
— ChChCityLibraries (@ChristchurchLib) September 5, 2017
More
- Listen to the session broadcast by PlainsFM
- See more photos from WORD Christchurch Shifting Points of View 2017
- Find out about the WORD Christchurch Shifting Points of View sessions
- Reni Eddo-Lodge has been talking to white people about race quite a lot, actually Adam Dudding, Sunday Magazine, 3 September 2017
Add a comment to: Talking about race – Reni Eddo-Lodge and Victor Rodger: WORD Christchurch Shifting Points of View