Uprising - by Matt Clement (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A powerful, engaged account of a pivotal moment in Black British history and antiracist struggle.

This book presents a radical, in-depth survey of the Brixton uprising of 1981 and the social inequalities and institutional racism of British politics and policing that led to it. Matt Clement situates the events of April 1981 within the long history of urban oppression and revolt in London, as well as the contemporary Caribbean struggles that shaped the consciousness of the local community. He examines how policing practices, economic marginalization, and the enduring legacy of empire produced the alienation that fueled resistance, and how Rastafarian thought articulated a powerful cultural challenge to Babylon, the name given for the evil values of society that must be resisted for justice to prevail. Bringing together historical analysis and social critique, Uprising reveals how and why Brixton fought back--and how its defiant energy helped reshape British culture, politics, and antiracist activism.

Review Quotes

"This brings to life the uprisings of Black communities, placing them in the wider history of working-class resistance without diminishing their impact. For activists like me who were involved at the time, it helps us revisit and understand our own history in a new way. Detailed, accessible, and free of academic jargon, Uprising is a valuable resource for activists, social historians, and anyone wanting to understand this important part of Britain's history and its impact."

"Uprising is a gripping account that places Brixton at the center of Britain's long history of crowd politics and resistance to racist state violence. Clement shows how this South London neighborhood illuminates the conditions that produced urban rebellions across late twentieth-century England. The result is a powerful, historically grounded narrative that connects local struggle to wider traditions of popular protest and Black-led, multiracial grassroots radical politics."

About the Author

Matt Clement is a senior lecturer in criminology at Royal Holloway, University of London. His books include A People's History of Riots, Protest and the Law and No Justice, No Police? The Politics of Protest and Social Change.