Between Camps: Nations, Cultures And the Allure of Race

by Paul Gilroy

In this lucid and challenging work, Paul Gilroy's incisive understanding of history and refreshingly accurate grasp of the power and influence of technology, global commercialism and contemporary urban culture points to a revolutionary new way of thinking about what used to be called anti-racism. 'This fierce kick at complacency will give everyone a bruise to rub' - The Times 'In the process of trying to shrug off the idea of race, we have to analyse it all over again. There is huge scope for confusion. Paul Gilroy has risen to this confusion. He is inspired and energetic.' - The Evening Standard 'It is refreshing to read a book which brings together so many different cultural histories' - The Independent

Genres: Race, Cultural Studies

416 pages, Paperback

First published March 19, 2001

About the author

Paul Gilroy is an English sociologist and cultural studies scholar who is Professor of the Humanities and the founding Director of the Sarah Parker Remond Centre for the Study of Race and Racism at University College, London.

Reviews

[Malcolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

We so often today accept that race isn't real, that it has no basis in biology – yet it remains a powerful way of organising our understandings of the world. Gilroy argues that both race and nation are alluring ideas that we have not left behind us, and that their tendency to purity is a major part of the problem, along with the commodification of blackness. He has given us a politically charged, culturally engaged analysis of what the world could look like.