Fractured
Race, Class, Gender and the Hatred of Identity Politics
Michael Richmond author Alex Charnley author
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Pluto Press
Published:20th Sep '22
Should be back in stock very soon
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£85.00(9780745346571)
This insightful book, Fractured, critiques identity politics by linking it to historical class struggles, offering a fresh perspective on social solidarity.
In Fractured, the authors provide a thoughtful examination of identity politics and its implications in contemporary society. They argue that the ongoing debates surrounding identity often overlook the historical context of class struggle, particularly in the British and US landscapes. Instead of viewing race, gender, and sexuality as fixed categories, the authors suggest that these identities are deeply intertwined with the socio-economic struggles that have shaped our world. This perspective challenges the conventional narratives that have emerged from both the right and left, which often simplify complex issues into polarizing arguments.
The book delves into significant historical events and movements, including the contributions of Black feminists and anticolonial activists. By highlighting these pivotal moments, Fractured encourages readers to reconsider the assumptions that fuel the culture wars. The authors present a nuanced understanding of how identity politics can be both a tool for empowerment and a source of division, depending on the context in which it is applied. This exploration reveals the potential for new forms of solidarity that transcend traditional divisions within society.
Ultimately, Fractured serves as a critical antidote to the political infighting and cultural conflicts that dominate public discourse today. By advocating for a more historically informed approach to identity, the authors inspire readers to rethink their roles in the ongoing struggle for justice and equality. This book is a call for unity in the face of division, urging a re-examination of how we understand our identities in relation to broader social movements.
‘A searing materialist critique of the historical origins of attacks on Identity Politics from the right, a clarifying text that analyses the strategic purpose of the imagined ‘culture war’ that continues to engulf mainstream politics’
-- Lola Olufemi, author of ‘Feminism, Interrupted’‘Class reductionism sheds little light on our crisis-ridden times. Instead, ’Fractured’ uncovers both the historical entanglements of class and race and the multitude of solidarities that continually rise to oppose oppression. Richmond and Charnley gift us with the analysis, and hope, we need to fight on’
-- Alana Lentin, author of ‘Why Race Still Matters’'Issues a powerfully argued appeal to the left to finally understand that “Prioritising solidarity for those most marginalised or under attack is not about guilt or charity or ‘virtue-signalling’. It is part of what can get everyone free"'
-- Sophie Lewis, author of 'Full Surrogacy Now: Feminism Against Family' and 'Abolish The Family: A Manifesto For Care and Liberation'‘A sharp and lucid rejoinder to all the political trends that in recent years have imbued "identity politics” with magically divisive powers. ‘Fractured’ is essential to understanding anti-racist politics today’
-- Arun Kundnani, author of 'The Muslims are Coming!''An important and timely analysis rich in historical detail. It challenges crude denunciations of 'identity politics' on both right and left, and reiterates that intersectionality is indeed political economy'
-- Alison Phipps, Professor of Sociology at Newcastle University, author of ‘Me, Not You’'This sharp, thoughtful, generous little book helps us see the many roads that lead to better worlds, arguing that to get there we need to abandon those noisy, nasty, noxious debates on “identity politics”. It clears ground, carefully tracing histories of resistance and reaction, reminding us that the working class is and always has been manifold - and therein lies our strength'
-- Luke de Noronha, academic and writer at the Sarah Parker Remond Centre, University College London and author of 'Deporting Black Britons: Portraits of Deportation to Jamaica' and co-author, with Gracie Mae Bradley, of 'Against Borders: The Case For Abolition'‘This is a stirring book, full of inspiration, insight, provocation. ‘Fractured’ insists that if we are to grasp the radical possibilities of connection, we must first understand the political legacy of division. Expect to be educated, made to think, or better still, urged to reconsider’
-- Vron Ware, author of ‘Beyond the PalISBN: 9780745346564
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 290g
272 pages