DR SHOLA Mos-Shogbamimu’s first book was born out of anger.

A searing and striking read, the women’s rights activist and lawyer tells me that her work has been a couple of years in the making.

This Is Why I Resist: Don’t Define My Black Identity details the intricacies and nuances of the “race, racism and race inclusion” conversations.

Its author, Dr Shola has spent her life in anti-racism circles, studying how race affects people’s lives. She tells me, however, that the stars aligned in 2020 – so she could finally speak through her first book.

“We’re still dealing with the with the denial of our lived experiences,” she tells me.

“It’s incredibly exhausting and almost like a vicious cycle that we have to keep explaining, trying to educate and trying to respond.”

Who can forget 2020 and the way George Floyd’s death shocked the world? In response, we witnessed Black Lives Matter protests across the globe.

Of course, George Floyd was not the only Black person in America who died following police contact that year. On the Dublin-Meath border, George Nkencho was shot to death by the Garda Armed Support Unit.

A book born in a specific time

Closer to home, we saw Meghan’s poor treatment by members of the mainstream press.

All of these incidents touched social media and our headlines, and they are reflected in Dr. Shola’s unapologetic prose.

Her frustration isn’t just about racism, she explains, but rather how racism manifests itself in the very fabric of our society.

We live in a place that is still grappling with the realities of a fallen empire, a place built on a colonial foundation and centuries of white supremacist indoctrination, she tells me.

British racism, as we all know, also carries its own special brand of subtlety. Dr Shola’s book, in contrast is anything but subtle.

“I’ve dedicated a chapter in my book to deconstructing what racism is, deconstructing what white privilege is and what they mean in everyday life.

“What I do is try to connect the dots. Slavery happened. Slavery is what started the dehumanisation, commodification, misrepresentation and marginalisation of Black people. We are still dealing with that legacy today.”

The latest wave of anti-racist writing

In her book, Dr Shola also explains ‘reverse racism’ and how whiteness can be weaponised – highlighting the case of Amy Cooper.

The newly dubbed ‘anti-racism’ genre has become very popular as of late. However, there are still questions about how Black authors must bear the emotional weight of teaching others about white supremacy.

Dr. Shola doesn’t believe that it’s her role to educate white people. Instead, she writes for Black people and their allies.

“My book is speaking to those who are ready to be challenged, who are ready to have thought-provoking solutions to an ongoing structural issue. If people want to feel comfortable, I can tell you this book will disabuse you of that.”

This Is Why I Resist is notable for its striking honesty. It is both refreshing and brutal. Incredibly uncomfortable but undeniably needed.

It is about more than police brutality or protests on the street. It documents the “erosion of Black British contributions” over time, and explores how our very identity is often undermined.

“I call it a conscious revolution,” says Dr. Shola speaking of her book.

“I say to people, don’t shy away from the discomfort of speaking on these issues. If you don’t feel uncomfortable, then you’re not having the right conversation.”

This Is Why I Resist: Don’t Define My Black Identity is available at all good bookstores.