From Bobby To Babylon

by Darcus Howe

From Bobby to Babylon , originally published in 1988, brings together a series of articles and interviews which provide the background and context to the urban rebellions which exploded across Britain in the wake of the Brixton riots of 1981, from the point of view of black people in Britain. Darcus Howe was born in Moruga, Trinidad in 1943. He came to England in 1962. For over 50 years he was a political activist and a journalist. His activism, had, as its major focus, police oppression in the black community. He took part in a Black Power rebellion in Trinidad in 1970 and became a member of the British Black Panther Movement when he returned to Britain. He came to prominence as one of the Mangrove Nine , after being arrested on a march outside Notting Hill police station to protest against police raids of the Mangrove restaurant. He defended himself during the subsequent trial and famously argued that the defendants should have an allblack jury of their peers. His journalism covered a wide range; from sport, through literary criticism to political commentary. His articles appeared in The Sunday Times , The Times , The Guardian , The Yorkshire Post , Time Out , West Indian World , the New Statesman and The Voice . He was the editor of Race Today from 1974-1985 and was a chairman of the Notting Hill Carnival. This new edition includes an additional article by Darcus Howe on the Notting Hill riots of 1977 and an article by the campaigning solicitor Gareth Pierce on the on-going significance of Darcus political activism.

Genres: Nonfiction

100 pages, Paperback

Published November 26, 2020

Reviews

[Sian · Rating 4 out of 5]

So interesting and led me to many deep dives about the UK and racism in the 70s and 80s.

[Andrew Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Howe was a key anti-racist and anti-capitalist activist and theorist during the late 20th century, during which he edited Race Today and successfully defended himself at the Old Bailey against police persecution. These collected essays provide strong analysis and polemics against police racism, though at times you find yourself wishing he would expand on some points with more detailed evidence (e.g. a couple of times he asserts a point about the police constraining royal power which is far from self-evident). In general though there is lot to be gained here for a new generation of abolitionist/defunding campaigners.

[gaverne Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read