Natives cover art

Natives

Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Natives

By: Akala
Narrated by: Akala
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

About this listen

A searing modern polemic and Sunday Times best seller from the BAFTA- and MOBO-award-winning musician and political commentator, Akala.

From the first time he was stopped and searched as a child, to the day he realised his mum was white, to his first encounters with racist teachers - race and class have shaped Akala's life and outlook. In this unique audiobook he takes his own experiences and widens them out to look at the social, historical and political factors that have left us where we are today.

Covering everything from the police, education and identity to politics, sexual objectification and the far right, Natives will speak directly to British denial and squeamishness when it comes to confronting issues of race and class that are at the heart of the legacy of Britain's racialised empire.

©2018 Akala (P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Europe Great Britain Political Science Politics & Government Racism & Discrimination Social Sciences Discrimination England Inspiring Social justice Thought-Provoking Africa

Critic Reviews

"My book of the year. It's personal, historical, political, and it speaks to where we are now. This is the book I've been waiting for - for years." (Benjamin Zephaniah)

"A history lesson of the kind you should get in school, but don't...This is a searing, thought-provoking book." (Stylist)

"A potent combination of autobiography and political history which holds up a mirror to contemporary Britain." (Independent)
All stars
Most relevant  
A very personal and well written insight into historical and modern rascism throughout Britain, the colonies and the western world. At points extremely devastating but always honest and human.

A book of horrifying truths that many do not wish to acknowledge, yet there is still a message of hope too. Highly recommend to people who are looking to understand the rise of the right thats occuring around the world right now.

Akala Nails It

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book should be required reading for anyone living in the “west”. Akala brilliantly traces the threads of race and class in British and broader society, and shows how they underpin our modern institutions. Interweaving personal narrative and political analysis, this was a joy to listen to and would make edifying reading for both young black activists and old white uncles. Do yourself a favour and listen.

An Outstanding Wake-up Call

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved listening to this. What a great book, brilliantly researched and colloquially delivered by the great Akala. He is a truely great thinker and philosopher of my generation.

Fascinating listen by one of the brightest minds we have

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Equal parts informative and challenging. An outstanding critique through an honest and balanced lens. This text deserves to be read far and wide

Outstanding

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I absolutely loved this. So informative, I'll definitely need to listen again for a more in depth understanding. The world needs more books like this, and more people like Akala

Akala is incredible!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Great audiobook

Well read and great info throughout.

wish white people will read/listen to this

Amazing book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I can't recommend this highly enough. Perfectly blends autobiography and history. A very enlightening and captivating look into race, class, and ideologies of white supremacy.

Brilliant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
expect nothing less than amazing from this book. would highly recommend to everyone looking for an insight to racism and class within history

amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
At look at how the empire and the class system reflects in the racism that the author sees all around him

Honest and in depth look at racism and class

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book is an instant classic and should be mandatory reading for all. Akala is just brilliant in highlighting the systematic racism, injustice, inequality and class that is so prevalent around the Anglo empire but particularly in England.

Insanely powerful and profoundly accurate

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.