The Future of Black Community Organisations in 21st Century Britain: An Engaged Ethnography
CLACS Caribbean Studies Seminar Series
The Future of Black Community Organisations in 21st Century Britain: An Engaged Ethnography
Speaker: Shey Fyffe (Birmingham City)
Chair: Jake Gandy (Manchester)
In the context of collective community responses to racially unjust societal conditions and treatment predominantly by the Afro-Caribbean community, and upon reflection of the surge of international attention and engagement with Black radical political thought and social action since the 2010s, this research explores the challenges facing Black community organisations with Black radical objectives in the political, economic and socio-cultural conditions of contemporary Britain. The key findings of an engaged ethnography conducted in a present-day ‘Bricks and mortar’ Black radical community organisation are presented, exploring the facets of disunity within the space. The obstacles that arise inform theorisation of the conflictions existing between the neo-liberal capitalist ideals that govern present Britain, and Black radical, anti-capitalist, revolutionary political ideals upon which the organisation was founded. In explicating the obstacles faced, this research seeks to highlight the necessity for the establishment, and preservation of Black community organisations as counter-publican institutions of Black radical unity, integral to the dismantling of oppressive systems at a grassroots level, and the bringing of Black radical visions of liberation to fruition.
Event date: 1 November 2022