Black Middle-Class Britannia

This insightful examination of identity explores how racism shapes cultural consumption in the Black British middle class, as detailed in Black Middle-Class Britannia.

In Black Middle-Class Britannia, the author delves into the intricate dynamics of racism and anti-racism as they influence the cultural consumption patterns of the Black British middle class. By employing critical race theory and cultural sociology, the text challenges the prevailing notion that British middle-class identity exists independently of race. It seeks to unravel the complexities of how cultural capital interacts with identity, reshaping our understanding of cultural practices within this demographic.

The book identifies three distinct modes of black middle-class identity: strategic assimilation, ethnoracial autonomous, and class-minded. Each mode utilizes specific cultural repertoires to navigate their cultural consumption. For instance, those who practice strategic assimilation often engage in code-switching and cultural equity, consuming traditional middle-class culture to align themselves with their white counterparts. In contrast, ethnoracial autonomous individuals embrace Afro-centrism and reinterpret traditional cultural pursuits through a lens that celebrates black diasporic histories.

Lastly, class-minded individuals oscillate between 'Black' and middle-class cultural forms, often critiquing those who reject middle-class culture as lacking cultural depth. Black Middle-Class Britannia provides a nuanced exploration of these identity modes and their implications, revealing how cultural consumption is not merely a matter of personal choice but is deeply intertwined with race and class dynamics within British society.