We Need New Stories carefully, thoroughly and systematically unpicks the myths that are propagated, to the detriment of progress, in order to preserve the status quo. Malik’s text would be obligatory reading on a fantasy critical literacy curriculum – equipping people of all ages with the tools to discern red herrings, attempts to paper over the gory details of history and finger-pointing at marginalised groups as a distraction from structural and economic inequality.
The author provides readers who are grappling with these topics with clear and effective rebuttals to be levelled against the use of ‘free speech’ arguments as a plinth for oppression. Nobody who is actually invested in social justice or liberation really deals in these currencies, but this is the exact contradiction that Nesrine Malik’s brilliant new book lays bare. In 2019, these are phrases I typically associate with the screaming headlines of tabloid rags, or the frothing chops of bigoted soundbite-chasers like Piers Morgan, who spews barely-chewed garbage on breakfast TV. Consequently, it was not without a little hesitation that I approached a new book exploring, among other issues, ‘political correctness’, ‘free speech’ and ‘identity politics’.
As a writer and editor on race, gender and state violence, I am no stranger to infestations of right-wing trolls in my social media mentions.
0 kommentar(er)
