Amidst the horror of the events of the past week, a concerning trend has arisen. Coming from well-meaning self-declared liberals, it only serves to harm Muslims and people of colour further.
How can we begin to describe what has been going on? Violent riots masquerading as anti-immigration ‘protests’ erupted across the country, claiming to be in the name of three infant girls, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, Alice Dasilva Anguiar, 9, and Bebe King, 6, who were killed at a Taylor Swift-dance class on Monday 29 July. Far-right thuggery in response to misinformation that the girls’ attacker was an illegal Muslim immigrant.
The riots have seen the business and homes of people of colour and the Muslim community attacked. A mosque in Southport was targeted. Two hotels granting homes for asylum seekers, one in Rotherham and another in Tamworth, were set fire to while people were inside. A number of Black-, brown-, and Muslim-owned businesses — a number that is still to be counted — were smashed into, stolen from and vandalised. People of colour have been pulled out of cars and assaulted. A Black man in Manchester was beaten up by a mob in broad daylight by several white men. Filipino nurses were pelted by rocks at the entrance of an NHS hospital. Taxi drivers have encountered customers with large weapons who have threatened to kill them. Disgusting displays of terror.
And yet, much of the ‘liberal’ discourse I have seen online has denounced these accounts by reeling off a list of how excellent these marginalised communities in the UK are. In their attempts to show support, we have seen people post on their social media how immigrants from outside of Europe give 5.2 billion into the economy, 3% more than they take out. How nearly 20% of NHS staff are from an immigrant background. Look at our Olympic team! they say, look at our football team! Look at chicken tikka masala, our ‘national dish’! We would be nothing without the influence of immigrants.
It may be that the United Kingdom would not have any diversity in its food, music, arts, language, beauty, fashion, healthcare and practically every sector without immigrants but I do not remember being taught that to be granted humanity, a person must be considered productive and valuable in the eyes of others in the first place. Are we suggesting that those who do not work in the NHS, who are not athletes, are less worthy of protection from abuse?
This rhetoric is not just coming from our white neighbours and allies. I see it time and time again, even among Black, brown and Muslim communities. When you’re raised in a marginalised community, shame is deep-rooted therefore many of us heard growing up that as long as we are ‘civilised’ and ‘give back to society’, we may not experience the vicious violence that racism is. That smiling at and appeasing anyone who may not look like us may mean we leave unharmed. It is heartbreaking to see such internalised shame borne from systemic discrimination.
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We shouldn’t have to list our achievements to validate our existence. We shouldn’t have to justify our presence as Muslims. The EDL and other far-right rioters claim that all people of colour are ‘sealing jobs’ or ‘being lazy on benefits.’ Even if this were the case, are violent assaults, arson, vandalism and spitting insults in the street warranted? Humans, no matter their race, class or sex, no matter their contribution deserve respect. It’s absurd that even has to be said.
The well-meaning validation of Black and brown lives by those who value them by ‘worthy’ jobs or actions reminds me of how women, in the face of sexual assault, are often defended and protected as being ‘mothers’, ‘wives’, ‘daughters’ and ‘sisters.’ Such comparisons are irrelevant.
Toni Morrison once wrote, “The function, the very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being. None of this is necessary. There will always be one more thing.
It was heartening to see communities from Walthamstow to Brighton show up at counter-protests this week. To condemn the burning down of restaurants, the attack of brown children and the throwing of acid at Muslim women. Because this is not the time for silence or believing this isn’t your issue. If I and all my loved ones cannot leave our houses without being in fear, it is everyone’s issue.
So instead of circulating posts about how brilliant those who have suffered this past week are and how much they contribute to society, instead of feeling the need to justify yourself to avoid being the receiving end of hatred, consider the simple fact that you do not have to be excellent to be worthy of humanity – nobody does.
