A Way With Words3 min read

“Now, here to discuss whether Britain is racist to the core, please welcome rapper, poet and journalist Akala.” (please refer to video below)
Akala, who has gracefully climbed into my list of noteworthy personalities – topped by Noam Chomsky, Dr. Mads Gilbert, handsome ex – Al Jazeera correspondent, Ayman Mohyeldin, and now, Jeremy Corbyn, is indeed a gem of a find. He serves a refreshingly unconventional break from many of the mainstream media’s carefully chosen conformists either serving an overtly diplomatic and allegedly neutral (not to be confused with unbiased) rhetoric, a propagandist agenda, or in other words, in pursuance of broadcasting or publishing opportunism.
Whether in jest or in their lack of ‘political-correctness,’ these public personalities vocalise their views on fundamental issues that the mass majority of people seem to constantly (or are led to) overlook, and in doing so, neglect. Thus, there is certainly something we can all take away and appreciate from Akala’s feat on Frankie Boyle’s show. We relate. Notably, our relatability is in his acknowledgement and sympathy towards the strife of those other than people of his own race or identity. This enables people both from and outside his own cultural affiliations to understand and empathise with the controversial points he so eloquently addresses. In all but 7 minutes he manages to touch upon issues ranging from Christian fundamentalist influenced homophobia in Jamaica, racial disparity in the U.S. and UK, anti-immigrant/immigration attitudes in the UK and Europe, failed Western intervention in Iraq and Libya, to just general structural and institutionalised discrimination and racism led by self- perceived White Supremacists.
Akala’s words – now more than a year on – are of a great significance especially when considering the present global condition. The global refugee crisis for example, where vast numbers of ‘migrants’ – many of which are from the Middle-East and North Africa region – are taking to the seas, we owe *inserts sarcasm* a standing ovation to the infamous western interventionists of our time. Western intervention in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya are just a few examples which, in Akala’s words, we tried to ‘bomb democracy’ into. Recklessly and aggressively attempting to impose democracy onto these countries has undeniably failed. Western intervention has failed and in its stead, has left entire states ruined and destroyed to the point of no foreseeable return. We euphemistically call these states ‘political-vacuums.’ There will be no return or recovery of these states as long they serve to provide the Colonial West with opportunities to gain or further ‘national interests’ (see US/Russia involvement in Iraq and Syria). Take heed, intervention will never just be about peace but rather, some strategic, economic or geo-political interest that had led the interventionist state to get involved.
Lamentably, there’s far more to the world’s problems than what is mentioned above and there is more to Akala’s brilliantly perceptive-analysis in the below video. However, as a final note, I must add that once we allow ourselves to believe that an escalation of ‘bad’ or ‘worse’ is only inevitable, we also then allow this to demotivate and deter us in our fight for what is right. We nurture a kind of despair and torment that is not only destructive to ourselves but also to those around us. Having developed a somewhat cynical personality, I recently learnt (and I must thank my friend for this), as all who value and respect peace, justice and equality should learn and wholeheartedly believe that, “I have a kind of courage you do not understand. I am far from blind, far from indifferent, but I will not indulge in impotent passive despair. I will not add to the despair of the world” – Anais Nin
We must fight.