Caucasian Immigrants vs Immigrants of colour?

Question

My parents migrated here in the 1950's/60's from Jamaica.

When they came to Britain they experienced racism, along with their fellow migrants, when trying to find accommodation and work.

I was born in the 70's and grew up making friends of all races, there didn't seem to be a problem amongst us, although I knew there was an element who would rather the "immigrants" were not here.

Now the EU is being opened up wider, I am begining to notice the landscape of the British workforce changing and it seems the new wave of Caucasian migrants are being embraced a lot easier, although the contempt shown towards the migrants of colour, and their offspring, still exists in the work place.

Does anyone else see this discrepency?

Are people of colour being tarnished by the London/New York Terror attacks?

What will it take for the "White" Britain to become more accepting of people of colour or is it the racism being imported from Europe that is setting us back 50 years?

Answer 1

I hear you!

I have friends who are husband and wife. The Husband is is of asian origin, but his grandfather fought for the british in the second world war and emmigrated here to help with the workforce crisis after the way. He speaks perfect english and is as british as fish & chips.

His wife was an international student from eastern russia and has an eastern european accent.

The husband still gets discriminated against (beucase of his obvious skin tone) while the wife is accepted more becuase she is white (caucasian), despite not knowing much about british culture, the educating system etc and having an accent.

Most immigrant over the last 5 years or so are not Black or Asian, but european caucasian (Kosovo, Albania, Poland etc). But when people think of immigrants Black & Asian always comes to mind.

It's a bit like the whole benefits and housing system. People blame the immigrants becuase they see immigrant collecting benefits or being giving housing.

They don't think of the millions of british people who are long-term unemployed becuase they can't be bothered working. Or millions of teen mums who get housing and never work.

The whole chav-culture of benefits and wearing jewelery, having hte latest phone of suped up car is mentioned less in society and the media. But if anyone see's someone of colour with anything nice the attitude is that they must be on benefits or must b an immigrant even though they may have lived there all their life.

Answer 2

Firstly may I say that it has been a long time since a question of this nature was posed in such a reasonable and intelligent manner.

Racism, sadly, will never totally go away, and as long as you have stupid people, or politicians pandering to their low level opinions in return for votes, the stupid view that black or Asian people are inferior will continue.

Far from exploding the threat with an added influx of white migrants from Europe, though there is a small chance of that, the majority of these migrants are young, thus open minded, and far less frail in their ill opinions of other races.

Generally speaking, this influx is a good thing, and as the influx increases, and where there is less tolerance of racism, then the situation will indeed ease.

However, good as this is, the idiot, and the racist newspapers, fuelling the dumb rage, are encouraging people to vent their misplaced anger on the Muslim, the new Jew on the block, taking the place of the Jamaican, black and Irish before them, in the deluded illusion that somehow these people, one or the other, is totally responsible for the ills of our society.

Lack of education, at school and at home, especially at home, where Dayy John and Uncle Ted fuel the racial tendancies f the young in their care, thus continuing the myth that someone else is always to blame. Hitler has his Jews, and the modern politican has his Muslim, and stuoid as both of these ideas are, popular culture in Europe, especially in the UK, is mob lead.

In addition to speaking out against racism, wherever it arises, act the part too, in thought and deed, educating all around you to follow the right path, down the road that says, rightly, that we are all created equal, and die equally, and therefore equal in between.

Answer 3

Hi, I'm a white immigrant and I just have to say that I have experienced a lot of 'racial' discrimination. The thing is I am a white South African; things may be improving but I have at some point been accused of almost every attrocity ever commited in SA by the (now extinct) right wing government. I was flatly told at an interview here that "we don't employ south africans". I have worked really hard to get my life together here in the UK without taking a penny from the govt and it hasn't been easy. I must say though that I can understand exactly why the Brits get mad when immigrants come here and claim all sorts of benefits etc that they are having to pay for through taxes. I would feel the same way, I personally don't think skin colour is what it's all about. I hear a lot of anger directed at the Polish immigrants who are generally white-skinned. Then again, I haven't had the experiences you have had. I dunno for sure?

Answer 4

Hate to say it but a lot of people are just so narrow minded and basically just twats! In this aspect my dad is the same. He moans day in day out about coloured immigrants but never ever mentions white ones and trust me it drives me mad!
Personally i think its the way your brought up to how you accept people, i couldn't care what colour anybody was (immigrant or not), if they aren't causing any trouble then whats the problem. Nobody in the UK is fully British anyway, we come from all over the place.
Hopefully if the future generations are brought up with less racist views things will improve
Also some people stereotype a whole religion with a few bad guys. I hate it when people talk about Muslims like they are terrible people, you can be a bad person no matter what your skin colour or religion

Answer 5

I don't think the UK is more accepting of Caucasion Eastern Europeans - there may be an element that some of their cultures are more similar to ours than, for instance, someone from a third world country and that can make some barriers easier to break and for them to integrate.

You are talking about racism to the colour of a persons skin and that being predominantly Black - but don't forget the racism that was experienced by the Irish in the UK - they truly suffered for many centuries and their names were alongside the carribeans from the Windrush in the windows of lodging houses saying 'not welcome'!

And I would like to say the same as the other postee on here about the issue of people always being singled out for something - there are a 1001 discriminations available - whatever your class, background, race, skin colour - job hunting is the perfect example - discrimination against education quality, your class and background is rife - and is not limited to the black community at all. We all suffer from discrimination - maybe most of us are too blind to see it or just don't want to as essentially we live in a very classist society.

Answer 6

I don't agree with what you put in your question. Being a white immigrant, I've been treated just as bad as black immigrants were. I think things don't change and many people in the UK, who are also uneducated, have the attitude that they are holier than thou and that everybody else is just coming here to steal jobs. If people are coming to steal jobs that just means that many of these loudmouths are not willing to work that's why there are jobs that can easily be 'stolen'. Sometimes, especially when you are more educated and/or speak another language the less clever will feel under threat because you are better than them, therefore more successful, so they won't like it. Remember, it is the US not the UK where they had silly laws like blacks to travel separately etc. Muslims: well, I think in this case people have some good excuse why they are hostile towards them but I think that's just a different matter. Anybody can be a muslim, whatever colour you are.

Answer 7

I wouldn't say that at all. I see so many messages about eastern europeans, alot of people don't like them being over here at all. Difference is in the 50's people were invited over here from Jamaica to build up the work force. We really needed them after the war. I don't have a problem with any migrants to be honest. Just want a better life x You said you didn't have much of a problem growing up too, I think the UK is pretty accepting and tolerant. Racism exsists here, just like everywhere. I have lots of friends that are different races and they honestly didn't get any problems while they were growing up. It may be different in Cities though.

Answer 8

Its not just colour that makes immigrants targets for anger.

Many Brits are furious at the huge numbers of extremely WHITE Polish and East Europeans who are currently flooding into the UK demanding jobs and housing when there isn't enough to go round for those already here! These people are NOT being "embraced" in fact the majority of British don't want them here!!! I'd like to see them all go home and free up some jobs for British people - of all races.

Their colour isn't an issue.

Answer 9

Black immigrants will always experience more racism than any other race because contrary to what they think, they are still considered inferior. The point in this is that instead if looking to "integrate" they should adopt the style of Orthodox Jews and Hindus and Muslims and form their own pocket communities. Multiculturalism,

Answer 10

at the time of your parents migration england must of been a cold inhospitible place with the no blacks, irish and dogs signs outside of shops and accomodation..
things have vastly changed in britain but unfortunatly yes contempt is still shown towards coloured migrants..
i used to work in a factory where 90% of the shop floor workers were immigrants and the one's who bore the brunt of peoples racism not just from the british but polish, czech, portugese were the asian immigrants... it's a crying shame that this still continues in british society and is down solely to ignorance.. let's just hope that it can be stamped out but as for a solution i'm afraid i have no answers...