Performing Race: A Full Time Job
Dr Karamat Iqbal, in his thought-provoking book, “Performing Race: A Fulltime Job,” embarks on a deeply personal journey to explore the intricacies of performativity within the context of race. Through a combination of personal reflections and a comprehensive analysis of historical and contemporary narratives, Dr Iqbal introduces a novel perspective on “mixed race” identity, challenging conventional notions of racial categorisation.
In this illuminating work, the author delves into the idea that individuals who have been born and then identified as “others,” whether they are black, exclusively of Pakistani descent or other immigrant background, often find themselves in situations that serve as opportunities for the performance of racialised identities. Drawing on a rich tapestry of experiences, Dr Iqbal weaves together narratives from his own life, historical events, such as the legacy of Winston Churchill, and more recent incidents, including the infamous exchange between Dr Kehinde Andrews and Piers Morgan. These stories collectively illustrate the ways in which non-white individuals engage in racialised performances as a means of subverting imposed hierarchical and dualistic racial orders.
By examining his own life journey alongside the experiences of individuals who have faced the extreme consequences of racial othering, including loss of life or the constant fear thereof, Dr Iqbal highlights the concept of “racial battle fatigue.” This exhaustion and mental health toll, rooted in navigating a society fraught with racial prejudices, is a stark reminder of the toll that racialised performances take on marginalised individuals. The author’s exploration of these stories effectively grounds the notion of performativity through the lens of race.
“Performing Race: A Fulltime Job” is an insightful and compelling exploration of the complexities of racial identity and the performative aspects inherent in it. Dr Karamat Iqbal’s unique perspective sheds light on the dynamic and ambiguous nature of racialised spaces and perspectives, ultimately revealing how individuals, against the backdrop of adversity, strive to construct new meanings and narratives within a society that perpetuates racial division.
This book is a powerful and timely contribution to the ongoing discourse on race, offering readers a fresh and deeply personal perspective on the subject.
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