During a panel discussion on the U.K. show Good Morning Britain, a Black studies professor gave a quick history lesson about the problematic use of the word "empire."

Dr. Kehinde Andrews snatched the edges of the show's hosts, Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid, when he carefully broke down why the incorporation of the word "empire" in reference to Britain's territories was a symptom of the "psychosis of whiteness."

Andrews was joined by Jonzi D, a British artist, who explained why he refused to accept an invitation to become a member of the British Empire as an award for his contributions to dance.

“I think it’s gonna be really hard to sleep at night to wear something that says ‘member of the British Empire’ on my chest as a result of what happened in the empire. Slavery, for example, partition in India. There are many examples of this really horrible activity that happened. Kenya, for example, lots of abuse, sexual abuse. I just wouldn’t want to put my name to that.” Jonzi said.

Morgan asked Jonzi if he accepts any of the “good things” done by the empire naming “education, infrastructure, language and so on.” In response, Jonzi referred to the list as “incidental.”

Another panelist, Toby Young, interjected: “I think of course the legacy of empire is a mixed one but let’s not pretend it’s an unbroken litany of exploitation and shame.”

“Over a million Europeans were bought and sold in the slave markets of North Africa between the 16^th century and mid-18th century. The British Empire abolished slavery in 1807 with the Abolition of Slavery Act making slavery illegal across the British Empire and over 1,600 British servicemen died,” Young continued.

“That’s not true” Andrews interrupted. “The British Empire abolished the slave trade in 1807. It did not abolish slavery on its own until 1838. It carried on buying slave-produced cotton until 1888.”

"The way we remember this history is so bad that we think we can find some comfort in a system that killed tens of millions probably hundreds of millions of people. Rape, murder, torture famine,” the Birmingham City University professor added.

Andrews set the conversation off when he decided to go in on the subject deeper, startling the other white panelist and white hosts.

“The idea that in the 21st century we’re even having this discussion, this, whiteness is a psychosis. You can’t have an actual reasonable discussion because this the kind of thing you’ll hear,” Andrews said.

As Morgan became outraged, Reid stepped in to ask for clarification while the men continued to assert that Andrews' position was racist.

"The discourse around whiteness which underpins all of this and all these conversations we're having is totally irrational it's diluted. It has no basis in fact or reality and the whole purpose of it is to perpetuate this confused idea,” the professor said, clarifying his point.

Perplexed by his rationale, Morgan ensured a rant of calling Andrews out for his claims.

"You're basically calling all white people nuts," Morgan said. "Toby, you're a psychotic because you're white."

"That sounds racist," Young said in agreement with Morgan and Reid.

"But can you just explain, because that does seem racist—whiteness is a psychosis," Reid added.

Andrews stopped the hosts on their tirade by saying his words were being taken out of context.

“Whiteness is not just for white people. There are Black people, Asian people, who also purport the psychosis of whiteness. It's about the idea,” he said. "This is like saying the Nazis built motorways so we should celebrate them."

Morgan, still searching for control amidst his utter confusion and rapidly reducing edges, asked Andrews to double down on his comparison of the British Empire to Nazi Germany.

"You're right. There is no comparison. The British Empire did far more harm to the world for a far more sustained period," Andrews said.

Of course, Twitter had to give its stamp of approval.

WE LOVE FACTS!

I find it annoying when Black people are constantly asked into Good Morning Britain in a bid to defend our humanity, but Kehinde you did very well here. https://t.co/r6tc2JfIv8

— Stephy (@StephanieYeboah) February 5, 2020

Correct. The British Empire was WORSE than the Nazis. 30 MILLION Irish and Indians deliberately starved to death in state engineered famines. Imperialism sucks. https://t.co/d52VTcCFxe

— ???????????????? Partizan ☭ ???????????????? (@partizanOTFM) February 5, 2020

The [French Colonial] empire lasted far longer, did more damage and in many ways paved the way the Nazi's and their genocidal ideology. We do no favours to the victims of the Holocaust by pretending otherwise. If we forget the past we are likely to repeat it#RendezTout
https://t.co/dOTt6Ai6cU

— DouDou Thiam (@WilliamDoudou) February 3, 2020

The Holocaust death Toll was tiny in comparison to the numbers of Africans/descendents killed due to slavery and Colonialism. Yet it is given lip service! https://t.co/ML0ZkQnJyo

— Godfrey Islington North – JC yes – Brexit/Lexit???? (@knightrgb) February 4, 2020

And just in case anyone had his points confused, Andrews reiterated his thoughts in a Twitter post.

The British empire lasted far longer, did more damage and in many ways paved the way the Nazi's and their genocidal ideology. We do no favours to the victims of the Holocaust by pretending otherwise. If we forget the past we are likely to repeat ithttps://t.co/QWphGiYWyc

— Kehinde Andrews (@kehinde_andrews) February 3, 2020

Dr. Andrews was not here for any revisions of his thoughts and made sure Twitter understood such.

Kehinde-Andrews

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