Welcome to the UK!

This morning Kelis with her son, touched down in London Town, unfortunately unlike the good feel tune by Estelle, the experience was one of disbelief, anger and so much more. I read what happened via  Parlour Magazine  who displayed her twitter feed see below...

“We just landed and I had the midget with me. We get in the passport control line and apparently pissed this one man off cause he thought I cut the line. Which wouldn’t be far fetched of me but this time I actually didn’t (not entirely anyway) well the point is from 0 to 60 this fat red faced sweaty “man” (I use the word man loosely here) started calling me a slave and told me to call him sir and how I was probably a disgusting nigerian. He called me kunta kinte and ranted and raved some more. The man behind the passport desk laughed, shook his head in agreement I guess, and said “kunta kinte”. All the while the entire line full of people I just sat on a plane with for almost 3hours, over 50 people said nothing. I mean literally nothing. Didn’t flinch. We all no I’m no saint, so I retaliated. Not the way I wanted to or how that pig deserved. But #1 my gorgeous baby boy was literally sitting on my hip and #2 I’m a believer. And we are better. Sposed to be anyway, it made me think. This person was aprox a 50 year old english man. I didn’t say anything at the time of the riots in London for a lot of reasons. But I am in london all the time and today I’m gonna say that the racial issues in the uk are disgusting. Its racially decades behind progression because everything is swept under the rug. People don’t talk about it. People don’t fight about it. Not mentioning a problem doesn’t make it go away. I bring it up now because as an american it is abundantly clear that my country has a smorgas board (spelling?) Of disgusting racial problems. We are the poster child for racial inequality even still with a black president. But its NO SECRET! And that I can fight against. I can try to prepare and teach my son. Because its out there. But you can’t fight for or against something no one is willing to talk about or even admit exist. Everyone wants to be politically correct. But who really cares? And what does that help. I could go on and on. I won’t. But maybe someone will start to talk about it from here.”

Next year, due to the Olympics, this country will open its doors to a wealth of diverse people, is this going to be their treatment? What a great welcome that will be eh?This is disgusting on every level and I hope the two people in question get sacked of immediate effect.

He called her a “slave” told her to call him “sir” whilst also revealing how he feels about Nigerians in particular. This is racism, discrimination and prejudice in all its ugly glory. He is in a position of power and clearly takes pleasure in abusing it, who else has been made to feel inadequate, less than and inferior due to this man and his colleagues (some) of whom share his beliefs?

The Kunta Kinte reference was shocking and rather than giving explanations as I usually do, I will leave it for you the readers to do your own research. Why? Because those who are intrigued will search and the experience you gain through this will resonate in what ever way it is meant to.

I was not born in the era of slavery but trust me when I say this scenario gave me a glimpse of the past, whilst showing me a contemporary present. Although progress has been slow, I refuse to accept that this way of being will also be in our future. The present, as Kelis has revealed and which I have expressed in previous articles, is one cloaked in the illusion that everything is fine… when clearly it isn’t.

For those that are avid readers to my blog you will know I can go deep into this, however today I choose not to, because it is not necessary. The racism is there for all to see in black and white.

Over the weekend I saw pictures of extremists and The English Defence League protesters-clash-at-911-memorial-services in London and for the first time in ages, came the realisation that these people could be teachers, doctors, paramedics and even custom controllers. People can hide their thoughts and beliefs behind uniforms and titles because we are conditioned (and rightfully so) that these people in the public sector and in helping positions are there to provide a friendly service. The reality is that a uniform does not make you, you make the uniform.

I will end with a couple of questions for everyone to ask themselves

What is racism to you?

Would you say you were a racist?

What views do you have of people that are of a different race or culture to you?

Step outside of yourself and view Kelis’s situation, what feelings come up for you?

You may not like what surfaces, but it is important to look at it otherwise you are part of the present problem, which is the denial that racism exists through the further potential denial that you hold racist views. To deny without further enquiry is still denial probably triggered by fear.

I personally think questions like the ones I have presented above should be part of the interview process, as I said, the uniform does not make the person because no matter what job you have or position you have acquired, who you are is central to everything.

So who are you? What are your views?

Related Posts:

1. Welcome to the UK: Update

2.Ying and Yang

3.Slave Earrings