Dr. Kehinde Andrews: Championing Radical Thought & Black Unity

Author: Stacey Bernard • Last updated: May 20, 2025

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Professor Kehinde Andrews, leading Black Studies academic and author in the UK – Credit: Bernie Grant Trust – YouTube

Black Radical Thought and Black Unity

In an era when the voices of Black intellectuals are more vital than ever, Dr. Kehinde Andrews stands out as a fearless truth-teller, radical thinker, and unapologetic advocate for Black unity. Known widely for his uncompromising stance on racism, colonialism and the need to dismantle Eurocentric systems. Andrews has emerged as one of the UK’s most important Black academic and cultural figures. His writing, teaching, and public speaking have sparked critical conversations about power, identity, and liberation, not just in Britain, but globally.

From Academia to Activism

Professor Kehinde Andrews holds the distinction of being the first UK professor of Black Studies. Based at Birmingham City University, he founded the Centre for Critical Social Research and played a key role in establishing the UK’s first Black Studies degree programme. But for Andrews, academia is not a retreat from activism, it’s a platform.

He frequently speaks about the importance of connecting the classroom to the community. “The university is not neutral. We are either reproducing the system or challenging it,” he states in his book Back to Black: Retelling Black Radicalism for the 21st Century. With that philosophy in mind, Andrews uses his position to build intellectual bridges between the academy and grassroots Black political movements.

A Voice Rooted in Black Radical Tradition

Andrews doesn’t shy away from making bold claims. In Back to Black, he calls for a return to the Black radical tradition—a global, centuries-old resistance to white supremacy rooted in thinkers like Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, and Claudia Jones. He argues that modern liberal approaches to racial inequality are insufficient, and that true liberation demands a radical rethinking of Western systems of power.

His critique of tokenism and “Black excellence” narratives is particularly striking. Andrews challenges the idea that representation within broken systems equates to progress: “Black faces in high places do not equal Black power.”

By confronting uncomfortable truths, he inspires both outrage and admiration. But whether speaking on a mainstream news programme or a university panel, his commitment remains constant: to truth, justice, and the global Black liberation struggle.

Books That Demand Reflection and Action – Written by Kehinde Andrews

Andrews books are not for the faint-hearted. But that’s exactly the point. His books invite readers to question what they’ve been taught and to challenge the structures they live within.

Back to Black: Retelling Black Radicalism for the 21st Century (2018)

This manifesto for modern Black radicalism connects the historical movements of the past to today’s global inequalities. With surgical precision, Andrews critiques the failures of multiculturalism, integration, and diversity initiatives. He urges readers to embrace the boldness of Black radical politics to create meaningful, long-term change.

“Revolution is not a moment. It is a process, a movement of thought and action that never stops,” he writes.

The New Age of Empire: How Racism and Colonialism Still Rule the World (2021)

In this explosive and widely acclaimed book, Andrews argues that the world we live in is still shaped by the economic and cultural legacies of colonialism. From multinational corporations to humanitarian aid, he exposes how modern systems continue to exploit the Global South while enriching Western powers.

It’s a sharp critique of capitalism, white supremacy, and liberal hypocrisy, delivered with scholarly insight and moral clarity. For readers seeking to understand how deeply racism is woven into global structures, The New Age of Empire is essential reading.

The Psychosis of Whiteness (2023)

Perhaps his most provocative work yet, The Psychosis of Whiteness delves into how white society continues to project itself as morally superior while refusing to acknowledge the violence of its past and present. Drawing from psychology, history, and politics, Andrews makes the case that denial of racial reality amounts to a collective mental disorder.

Controversial? Yes. Necessary? Absolutely.

“White supremacy isn’t a relic of the past. It’s the foundation of the present, disguised by delusions of equality,” he warns.

Nobody Can Give You Freedom – The Real Mission of Malcolm X (2024)

Andrews’ newest release is a bold, timely reappraisal of Malcolm X’s true political mission. In Nobody Can Give You Freedom, he pushes back against the sanitized version of Malcolm often presented in mainstream education. Instead, Andrews returns to Malcolm’s radical vision: a global call for Black self-determination, anti-imperialism, and liberation by any means necessary.
This book is not just a tribute; it’s a continuation of Malcolm’s mission. “Freedom is never given. It is taken. That was Malcolm’s message, and it still echoes today,” Andrews writes.

Beyond the Page: Media, Podcasting, and Public Engagement

While Andrews books form the core of his intellectual mission, Andrews also engages the public through media appearances and his podcast, Make It Plain. Named after a famous phrase used by Malcolm X, the podcast amplifies Black radical voices and unpacks topics like anti-Blackness, capitalism, and resistance movements.

As a frequent guest on platforms like BBC News, Sky News, and Channel 4, he brings Black radical thought to audiences often unaccustomed to hearing it.

This multi-platform approach reflects his belief in education as a tool for liberation—not just in universities, but in everyday life.

Building Toward Black Unity

More than an academic or author, Dr. Kehinde Andrews is a cultural force, mobilising thought and action across continents. He is the lead for the organisation Harambee Organisation of Black Unity running 6 weeks courses in Black Studies, and a founder of the Nicole Andrews Community Library, named after his late wife, Dr. Nicole Andrews also a pioneer and scholar in Black Studies.

For students, activists and anyone seeking to decolonise their mind, his work offers both historical grounding and a roadmap for the future. He doesn’t just critique the system, he provides language, strategies, and solidarity for those ready to build something better.

Andrews reminds us that Black unity is not a slogan, it’s a commitment. A commitment to truth, to each other, and to the world we want to create.

Final Thoughts

In a world full of distractions, Kehinde Andrews asks us to focus, not just on what is, but on what could be. His work is a powerful reminder that Black radical thought is not a relic of the past, it is the heartbeat of the future.

If you’re ready to deepen your understanding of Black radicalism, decolonise your thinking and join a global conversation on liberation, Kehinde Andrews is a voice you can’t afford to ignore.

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