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The recent events at Manchester Airport* have prompted me to reflect on the attitudes of some in the South Asian community towards individuals of Black African origin. It’s ironic that while Britain’s first non-white Prime Minister was born in Africa, he is consistently referred to as Britain’s first Asian Prime Minister.
Some people with ethnic ties to South Asia were the most outspoken critics of the acronym BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic). The use of BAME was itself problematic. Author Hamilton (2020) argues that BAME failed to address the complexities of a multicultural society. On the same subject of BAME, Modood (1994) states that ‘black’, being evocative of people of African origins, understates the size, needs and distinctive concerns of Asian communities. In response to Modood, one can argue that the use of the term Asian is problematic in itself. He further adds while Africans can use the concept of black for ethnic pride, for Asians, it can be no more than a political colour’ leading to a too-politicised identity. Indeed, it cannot but smother Asian ethnic pride, which is a precondition of group mobilisation and assertiveness.
In response to Modood’s criticism, one can argue that one should address the distinct characteristics of South Asian cultures, including the Caste system and Colorism that operate in some of these countries…
