Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race

For the majority of Britain’s white population, the racist rhetoric of the Empire is rooted firmly in the past. The truth is somewhat different. While Britain’s society today is more progressive and diverse, its past continues to inform its present. 

If the racist influence of Britain’s colonial past is to be put to rest, then effective measures need to be implemented. This means white people need to be prepared to acknowledge their own white privilege and be open to a discussion about it. 

Culturally, people of color need to be given the opportunity to become positive role models. The continued prioritization of whites leads to perpetuating negative stereotypes that contribute to society’s structural racism. 

For Britain to become a truly progressive nation with equal opportunities for all, white Britons need to make serious changes. Recognizing privilege is a start but being engaged in rectifying many other aspects of society is also essential. If Britain as a nation can address its racism, then it can take the necessary steps to erase it.

Reni Eddo-Lodge is a British journalist, author, and podcaster. She has earned critical acclaim for her work and is a Sunday Times bestselling author. 

Eddo-Lodge is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2018 British Book Award for Narrative Nonfiction, Orwell Prize for Political Writing, Baillie Gifford Prize for Nonfiction, and the 2018 Jhalak Prize. 

As a journalist, Eddo-Lodge has written for The Guardian, The Independent, and The New York Times. Her podcast, About Race With Renni Eddo-Lodge, was named one of the best podcasts of 2018 by British GQ magazine. In 2020, Eddo-Lodge was in the Powerlist top 100 most influential people in the UK. She lives in London.