Book Recommendation & Review: The Lonely Londoners by Sam Selvon
Written by: Ama Antwi-Saki (Sociology and Human Rights)
“He don’t have the right word but, he have the right feeling in his heart. As if the boys laughing, but they only laughing cause they fraid to cry” [Selvon, Lonely Londoners, 1956: page 180]. This is Selvon’s perception of Black Men during the ‘Wind-Rush Generation’ – it’s also not too far away from how some Black men, women, boys and girls must feel in a post-Brexit England. Stop and searches infamously and disproportionately affect young black men, those same young black men who are often socialised to conceal their emotions, laughing because they are afraid to cry - from the systemic racism they face daily. ]. In addition to this, Selvon's unique novella is interesting as it shows the stagnation in
the racial prejudice from the 1950s, to post-modernity and reveals that not much truly changed. “When he was able to look Galahad see a policeman near him. Again he panic, though he ain’t do anything against the law. Still is so people does feel in Trinidad when police near them, as if, even though they ain’t commit a crime, the policeman would find something wrong that they do and want to lock them up” [Selvon, 1956: 75]. It is curious, that in the 66 years since Selvon's ‘Lonely Londoners’ not much has changed in the relationship, prejudice and presumption of guilt between Black Britons and British police.
To explore this subject more, ‘Lonely Londoners’ is a must-read, as it shows the social progression, stagnation, mobility, differences and similarities of Black Britons experience in Britannia.