Because they’re black (A Penguin special)
Because They’re Black by Gus John, published by Penguin Books in 1971, is a thought-provoking exploration of race relations in England. This first edition, comprising 204 pages, presents insights from the authors, one of whom is a black social worker known for the Handsworth report. The book captures the experiences of black individuals facing discrimination, highlighting the societal barriers that contribute to mutual incomprehension and the perception of black people as “freaks.”
Readers will find a detailed examination of the emotional impact of discrimination, alongside discussions on integration and the concept of black power. The authors argue that true integration often seeks to assimilate black individuals into a white framework, rather than fostering genuine understanding. The final section emphasizes the necessity of political conflict and struggle for both black and white individuals to achieve a more humane society. Additionally, an appendix by Dr. Hashmi delves into the psychology of racial prejudice, revealing how those who perpetuate discrimination ultimately diminish their own humanity.
Official synopsis Publisher
The two authors of this book (one of them is a black social worker and the author of the Handsworth report) have managed to get black people to talk, to ‘tell it like it is’. The major part of this book is devoted to careful description of what it feels like to be on the receiving end of the kind of discrimination nearly every one of us exercises. We even look at black people differently, as if they were freaks. In this description is laid bare the way in which the barriers of mutual incomprehension have come to be.
The last section of the book is devoted to the way out. Integration is discussed and shown for what it is: the desire to convert black men into white men. Black power, different in mind but as strong as it’s U.S. counterpart, is seen as a humanizing necessity, not only for blacks but for whites too. Political conflict and struggle are essential if we are to change ourselves and our society sufficiently to see not only black men as human but to make ourselves human too.
The appendix by Dr Hashmi on the psychology of racial prejudice shows how those who are finally less than human are those infected by the disease.
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