Give credit to what immigrants do for Britain

This comment article is written by Roger Griffith, chair of Bristol’s Ujima Radio. Catch his show as The G-Man every Monday 4-7pm

David Cameron is at it. Ed Miliband is at it. And of course we know Nigel Farage is at. Immigration is the issue that seems to be on many minds ahead of the 2015 general election.

After the Rochester by-election and the Scottish Referendum, identity seems to be something politicians and local government officials campaigning for more mayoral powers appear to have stumbled upon. Yet as someone born in England of parents from a foreign land, it is something I have had to examine throughout my adult life.

I am the proud son of second-generation immigrants from Guyana and even my parents’ country splits my identity. Guyana is in South America but until independence in 1966 it was part of the British Empire and is more part of the West Indies than its Latin American neighbours, due to its shared ties with the region such as the English language, post-colonial politics, sport, culture and history.  I recently saw this at first hand having travelled between the two worlds over the summer, visiting family with my mum in the Caribbean and touring around Brazil during the FIFA World Cup.

Black-British and proud

I grew up in Britain during the 1980s being told to go back home by white racists. London where I was born wasn’t far enough for them. Africa from where my ancestors were taken as slaves for centuries was too far for me. Whenever I visited the West Indies meanwhile, they called me English! So rather than the Afro-Caribbean label I was given by the authorities, I feel most comfortable with the term Black-British.

I was reminded of this by recent visitors to Bristol, Soul II Soul. Jazzie B and his crew combined music, politics, fashion, identity and even hairstyles through the funky dreads and sang with a British twang, latterly picked up the likes of Tinie Tempah and Dizzie Rascal and numerous garage and grime artists.   

Last week, as a former adult student, I was honoured to give the keynote speech at the City of Bristol Higher Education Graduation and Awards ceremony at Bristol Cathedral. I reminded the audience of the journey of migrants to the UK and perhaps among such negative stories these voices are not often heard.

Toil and dedication

This is a story of the newcomers’ sacrifice for their children; toil, dedication and hard work. Stories like my mum tending to patients in the NHS as a nurse or dad collecting tickets on the London Underground before becoming a station manager at Green Park and greeting Prince Charles when he came to open the Jubilee Line in 1979.

This mirrors many stories of those from immigrant backgrounds from Asia, Africa and the Caribbean who came as invited guests to help rebuild the country after World War II. Before them, Britain has needed other foreigners to help improve its economic power.

Looking at this through a cultural and artistic lens, think of how the famed British music scene would be like without reggae, ska, hip-hop, gospel, drum and bass, dupstep, blues or jazz? Many of you will have seen two of the biggest films of the year, 12 Years a Slave and Gravity, and their directors Steve McQueen (parents from Grenada) and Alfonso Cuaron (Mexico) who are based in Britain.  

And when was the last time you went a week without an Indian, Thai or Chinese meal? While the banana is the top UK fruit and Apple is only top of the IT charts. Bristol is about to champion this as launched last month by Kalpna Wolfe and Lorna Knapman at next May’s Bristol Food Connections.

Latest scapegoats

All this is just the tip of many stories of the unsaid benefits of immigration and its positive influences on the UK. We need an agreement and shared consensus around values, contribution and how we integrate newcomers, but can we please do this without demonising the latest scapegoats from Eastern Europe or Africa?

For every so-called benefit cheat there are more stories of hard work and endeavour. Of people eager to learn, gaining qualifications, starting businesses and contributing to British society. This means they don’t have benefits to claim, instead they are paying back to the UK in taxes.

So the next time you hear someone hear complain about “bloody foreigners”, you might want to check to see how much you are already benefiting and have a friendly word or two.

Picture: St Paul’s Carnival / Shutterstock