Immigration – Part 3 – Apartheid

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Immigration – Part 3 – Apartheid

Finally, we see a pattern that is all too common: immigrants set up their own separate communities. They make no effort to integrate, learn the language or local customs. They maintain their customs, religion, language and dress. In effect they bring the culture they grew up with into the mainstream culture of the host country.

They feel safe, secure and unchallenged. The presence of others the same as them is reassuring and reinforcing. There is no need to assimilate, indeed, that might be seen as dangerous, as undermining their own culture and values.

We end up with a self-perpetuating apartheid. All the enmities and prejudices are imported and maintained. The entire ethos of an area is changed. The endemic population flees, claiming that it is no longer the place they grew up in. This breeds resentment and anger. The endemic population feel threatened and driven out of their own homes.

Should this lack of integration be allowed and tolerated?

Should efforts be made to assimilate foreign cultures into British values?

Should immigrants be ‘made’ to feel British?

Or is this separation of cultures perfectly acceptable?

My views: Immigration – the three options.

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Immigration – the three options:

There is a great deal of controversy around how immigrants should behave and how they should relate to their host community. It is one that arouses great emotions on all sides. It would seem that the host community becomes extremely alarmed when their culture and way of life is displaced by large numbers of immigrants. Areas of the North of England seem to have been completely taken over by large numbers of Asians. The churches replaced by mosques, Western clothes displaced by Middle-Eastern/Indian costume. Many white people feel threatened and afraid to go into these Asian enclaves.

The same thing happened in other areas where large numbers of Eastern Europeans came in to take up field work resulting in a language problem and the opening of Easter European shops.

The endemic population felt threatened and forced out.

This tendency for immigrants to group together is a natural one. Being in a strange culture can feel threatening. Foreigners are often subjected to racism and threats. They group together for security and to have the familiarity of culture.

Ironically, the white population who appear to be most outspoken and outraged, are the same ones who are happy to go to Spain (and elsewhere) with their English flags and set up their fish and chip shops and English pubs, refuse to speak the native language and adopt the mores of the local community. There is a superiority and arrogance about it that is even more repulsive.

So how should immigrants behave? Presumably they came to the country because something attracted them? Should they then attempt to recreate the place they migrated from?

It appears to me that there are three options:

  1. Assimilation
  2. Partial Assimilation
  3. Retention of own culture and Apartheid.

In future posts I will address each of these options in turn.

Roy Harper – South Africa

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Another off the fabulous Lifemask album. A fabulous track that Roy used to give a great intro to when performed live – abhorring apartheid.

Photography – Martin Luther King – assassination in Memphis

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On April 4th 1968 a sniper shot Martin Luther King while he was standing on the balcony outside his room in the Motel he was staying in.

He had gone to Memphis to support striking sanitation workers. White workers received pay if conditions were poor but black workers did not. Consequently black workers were forced to labour in blizzards and other terrible conditions which had resulted in deaths.

Martin Luther King stood for equality in the face of hostility and death threats. He suffered abuse, physical attacks and lies from the media. It did not deter him. He was a brave man.

The white supremacists had assassinated many civil rights leaders and supporters. They still, in 1968, wanted segregation and viewed black people as inferior.

It takes a determined man to stand up in the face of death threats that you know have a foundation.

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This is the building that the sniper was in. The shot that killed Martin Luther King came from here.

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Behind the wreath if the balcony on which he was shot. His room can be seen behind that.

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The Lorraine Motel has been turned into a museum/shrine for Martin Luther King. The room has been left as it was. Even the ashtrays. The cars are parked outside as they were on that night.

We have come a long way in our quest for equality. We still have a long way to go.

It is a journey best taken in love and friendship.

Heroes – Steven Biko – Freedom Fighter – Anti-Apartheid activist – Black Consciousness Movement.

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tortured cover

Steven Biko was a charismatic speaker who gained prominence as a student leader in the 1960s. He wanted equality for the black people of South Africa and spoke against the Apartheid regime that made blacks second-class citizens and severely restricted their rights.

Steven set up the Black Consciousness Movement in the 1970s and continued to speak out against the regime despite threats on his life.

That is bravery!

Because of the strength of his words and personality he was banned. No one was permitted to reproduce his speeches.

In 1977 he was apprehended at a roadblock and arrested. He was then taken to a police cell and tortured and beaten for 22 hours by five police officers until he passed into a coma. No medical attention was forthcoming and he died of a brain haemorrhage caused by the severity of the beatings.

The government released an absurd statement claiming that he had died of a hunger strike. None of the five police thugs who murdered him were brought to justice.

Steven Biko is a hero of mine because of his bravery at speaking out against injustice in the face of death threats. He knew what was likely to be the consequences and still he spoke out. He did not use violence or urge others. He sought equality and freedom.

I wish I had his strength and qualities.

A number of great songs were written to commemorate his life and highlight his murder. One of these was Biko by Peter Gabriel and another was the Biko Drums by Christie Moore. They both send chills through me!