THERE is an African radical tradition of resistance to racism that stretches from beyond the continent of Africa to include the entire African diaspora. The very notion of a radical African tradition of resistance — as distinct from any general forms of radicalism — raises two fundamental objections from its critics. 

Firstly, there is the (arguably racist) contention that Africans are simply incapable of creating distinct philosophical or theoretical works comparable to anything derived from a European tradition. And secondly, there is the very sophisticated argument that engaging in a distinct tradition based on “blackness” only serves to legitimise false theories of race.

The problem is that the mere ending of the British empire did not end the racist ideology that had been manufactured over many years. Racism in Britain, by the state and in the workplace must be seen as a legacy of colonialism where centuries of white supremacist beliefs and actions have left a network of stereotypes and prejudices.