GAMWRITERS

Working with Black Young People

Edited by Momodou Sallah and Carlton Howson
£24.95 paperback Russell House Publishing Ltd (2007)

Bringing together different dimensions and perspectives on such work, this book seeks to challenge both the accepted status quo of Black young people’s negative overrepresentation in most aspects of life - including education, criminal justice, housing and health - and their under-representation in empiric literature. It seeks to help find ways forward.

Herman Ouseley, writing in this book, sets the tone. "What is most heart warming today, is how many Black young people survive and thrive, in spite of the struggles and obstacles – The insights in this book about working with Black young people are based on real life experiences. There are many people, working at a local level with young people from all backgrounds with a view to helping them realise their aspirations, hopes and dreams."

Offering insights into issues that confront Black young people – and presenting strategies for change – the chapters in this book chart the shifts in British social policy - recruitment, restriction, repatriation, multiculturalism, and mainly now integration. It shows how, before meaningful work around integration and cohesion can begin, there must be greater understanding of the "realities" Black young people face, and of the various contexts for work with them. It characterises effective work as that which:

* takes into account a range of perspectives on these "realities": the geography, the politics, the economics, the faith, the desire, the determination, the racism and the triumphs, as well as perspectives from Black youth subculture.
* has at its core a strategy that seeks to emancipate Black young people both at a physical and mental level.

Contributions from a wide range of practitioners, academics, and students all draw on personal experiences and explore a wide range of important issues. Offering opportunities to gain a deeper insight into issues that confront Black young people – and consider strategies for change – the chapters in this book are sometimes about specific sections of the community but often, and collectively, about the lives of many different people with shared experiences of oppression, immigration history and discrimination.

ISBN 13: 9781905541140 | ISBN 10: 1905541147

(Source: News From Nowhere)

Our review of this excellent book by our Gambian Brother Momodou Sallah, would be online soon.