Success may also be a problem!

It is not often realised that stories of success of East African Asians may also have negative outcomes. While some of the following assertions may sound academic or unrealistic, a number of questions do arise, such as:

• Is there a danger that the East African Asian could become a target for hatred or jealousy? Success does not appeal to everyone.
• Asian wealth is not uniformly shared amongst all sections of the community. Asian affluence exists alongside Asian poverty, but this fact does not appear to attract attention.
• Questions relating to distribution of wealth do not seem to be challenged.
• East African Asians have a unique propensity to make vast fortunes- this may also create the impression for some people that they are making the fortunes that they do not deserve.
• The Asian community is fully self-sufficient and may not need external support in terms of welfare. Are the Asians deserving of various sources of external support such as programmes funded by the National Lottery, projects run by mainstream charities and indeed, ongoing support from government agencies?

There is a need to examine what may be called the “The East African Asian Dilemma”. More about this later.