Colonized by Humanity: Caribbean London and the Politics of Integration at the End of Empire

Colonization through affection was the worst form of colonization, according to Barbadian novelist George Lamming. This was seen in the violent currents of racism in London, which exceeded expressions of violence and hatred. Colonized by Humanity explores racial liberalism in the two decades between the arrival of the Empire Windrush and the passage of the first Race Relations Act. It reveals the projects to cultivate racial integration developed in Caribbean London, which was the multicultural capital that provided integrationism's imaginative geographies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 05 October 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

In his groundbreaking work "Colonized by Humanity," the London-based Barbadian novelist George Lamming delves into the profound and complex phenomenon of colonization, offering a unique perspective on its devastating effects. According to Lamming, colonization was not merely a physical occupation but a profound process of affection that permeated every aspect of society. He argues that this form of colonization was the worst because it went beyond mere expressions of violence and hatred to encompass the operations of race itself, the establishment of its hierarchies, and the destruction of individual and collective identities.

Lamming's London was a city marked by the violent currents of racism, both visible and hidden. While some forms of racism were openly expressed, others were deeply embedded in the social fabric, often veiled by liberal ideologies. However, the effects of race went beyond mere expressions of violence and hatred, extending to the very fabric of society. The colonizers sought to impose their racial visions on the colonized, not only among the illiberals but also among the liberals. This was a process that continued to hold sway over metropolitan culture, perpetuating the dominance of the colonizers over the indigenous populations.

Colonized by Humanity is a groundbreaking study that explores the projects to cultivate racial integration developed in the two decades between the arrival of the Empire Windrush and the passage of the first Race Relations Act. During this period, integrationism took hold as a social phenomenon, its reflexes deeply ingrained in an English culture that championed tolerance as its guiding principle. This culture, while ostensibly seeking to overcome racial discrimination, paradoxically re-inscribed race in its pursuit of tolerance. It was a complex and contradictory landscape, where the desire for integration coexisted with the persistence of racial hierarchies and biases.

Caribbean London plays a central role in this story. It was in the capital that integration projects multiplied fastest, and it was the multicultural capital that provided the imaginative geographies of integrationism. Through the eyes of Caribbean Londoners, Colonized by Humanity offers a unique perspective on integrationism, allowing us to see it as they did, with its colonial and racial dynamics up close. The book sheds light on the struggles and triumphs of Caribbean Londoners as they navigated the complex web of race, class, and culture in a city that was both a source of oppression and a site of resistance.

Lamming's analysis of colonization through the lens of affection is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of a complex historical phenomenon. His work challenges us to confront the enduring legacies of colonialism and to work towards a more inclusive and equitable world. By examining the projects to cultivate racial integration developed in the years between the Empire Windrush and the Race Relations Act, Colonized by Humanity provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the complexities of race and identity in the post-colonial era.

Weight: 664g
Dimension: 161 x 242 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198879831