Police have ceased their investigation into a prominent UK Black Studies professor who used controversial language to describe a former GB News presenter, The Independent has reported. Professor Kehinde Andrews was visited by West Midlands Police officers at his residence in Birmingham on 4th September and was subsequently called in for a voluntary interview, with the threat of arrest looming.
The probe stemmed from a series of instances where individuals from Black and Asian backgrounds faced legal action for hate speech after critiquing others within ethnic minority communities for perceived compliance with oppressive ideologies. In a video shared online in June, Prof Andrews defended terms like “house n*gro”, “Uncle Tom”, “coconut”, and “c**n” as essential facets of Black political discourse that should be embraced rather than censored.
However, it was his use of the term “house n*gro” in reference to Calvin Robinson that prompted a complaint from the conservative commentator to West Midlands Police. Following the interview with Prof Andrews, authorities announced that no further action would be taken in the case.
In response to the conclusion of the investigation, Prof Andrews expressed dissatisfaction, labelling the entire ordeal as a “circus” and highlighting the chilling effect it may have on free speech. He remarked that the threat of arrest and the need to justify his academic work to law enforcement officials were punishments in themselves.
Moreover, the professor stressed that while his specific situation may have been resolved, the broader issue of policing Black political expression remains pertinent. He underscored the importance of supporting individuals who may face similar challenges in the future and criticised the apparent waste of public resources entailed in his case.
Prof Andrews asserted during his police interview that the concept of ‘House Negro’ should not be equated with a racial slur warranting criminal prosecution. He further called upon the criminal justice system to reevaluate its approach to such cases, highlighting the need to safeguard political expression from unwarranted criminalisation.
Notably, the professor had previously been consulted by the Metropolitan Police as an expert in anti-racism for guidance in a contentious legal matter involving a British Asian woman. Reflecting on this experience, he underscored the irony of being subject to a criminal investigation by West Midlands Police despite his credentials in the field.
As of now, West Midlands Police has not issued any comments on the matter, while Calvin Robinson has been approached for his perspective. The conclusion of this investigation coincides with the recent exoneration of Marieha Hussain, who was cleared of a racially aggravated public order offence for her actions during a pro-Palestine protest.
Hussain’s case has sparked further scrutiny of law enforcement practices, with criticism levelled against the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for what is perceived as a failure to uphold free speech rights and a disproportionate response to dissenting voices. These developments underscore the complexities surrounding issues of race, speech, and law enforcement in contemporary society.