Living with the new "host" communities
What's in a name?
The other day I was in a community gathering which was attended by people from many backgrounds. There were East African Asians, people from India and Pakistan and also, people from the English community. I know they were English because I heard them talking to each other.
Then halfway through the proceedings, the secretary said," I must say a few words in English because there are a few people from the host community among us today". I noted the use of the term "host" community with amusement. It was a clear indication that the announcer's understanding of migration was different from many Asians who feel that they are as much the host community in the UK as anyone else. Most British Asians have discarded the notion of migration as that of going off to distant lands to live in someone else's country. They feel that they are at home. The UK is their home and they are as much the hosts.
However, there are many areas of confusion, some of which can be interesting. Many Asians in the UK continue to harbour the feeling of "us" and "them" but much depends on the issues that are under consideration. When there is talk about the rising incidence of teenage pregnancy or carjacking, the most common Asian reaction is that this is a problem in "their" community, meaning the English, or the "white" community and that such matters should not concern them. However, when the discussion turns to issues such as unemployment or high interest rates, they see those areas as a common problem which affects all sections of the communities.
This form of selective owning of the issues has not received the consideration that it deserves.
The other day I was in a community gathering which was attended by people from many backgrounds. There were East African Asians, people from India and Pakistan and also, people from the English community. I know they were English because I heard them talking to each other.
Then halfway through the proceedings, the secretary said," I must say a few words in English because there are a few people from the host community among us today". I noted the use of the term "host" community with amusement. It was a clear indication that the announcer's understanding of migration was different from many Asians who feel that they are as much the host community in the UK as anyone else. Most British Asians have discarded the notion of migration as that of going off to distant lands to live in someone else's country. They feel that they are at home. The UK is their home and they are as much the hosts.
However, there are many areas of confusion, some of which can be interesting. Many Asians in the UK continue to harbour the feeling of "us" and "them" but much depends on the issues that are under consideration. When there is talk about the rising incidence of teenage pregnancy or carjacking, the most common Asian reaction is that this is a problem in "their" community, meaning the English, or the "white" community and that such matters should not concern them. However, when the discussion turns to issues such as unemployment or high interest rates, they see those areas as a common problem which affects all sections of the communities.
This form of selective owning of the issues has not received the consideration that it deserves.
posted by K Singh Ajimal at
11:22 pm
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