I live in the UK. My parents came over as economic migrants. Was born here. Have had a great quality of life and appreciate everything god has blessed me and my family with.
We are a pretty liberal family and have been successful in becoming upstanding members of the community.
One thing i have always experienced is an underlining institutionalized racism.
As a kid one would pretend not to here or sweep it under the carpet but lately (perhaps due to recession) i have encountered situations where i see society in the UK as it being the norm.
My accountant is a friend and close to me. He is from Kolkata. Sophisticated guy, intelligent. Has been in the UK for 8 years. Told me he went out last week and met a few business associates at a trade show. Started talking to a company director. After about half an hour he called his partner over and proceeded to introduce my accountant friend. After a minute or two my friend heard them say to each other "he isn't like the other Indians. This ones ok." My friend told me they were attempting to pay me a compliment - instead he said it hurt like hell! What is a normal Indian like? Do they think i should be honored not to be associated with "the other Indians" they had met?
He then told me on Saturday he went to the local pharmacy to pick up a prescription. Waited a few minutes to be served. Lady middle aged turned up was served immediately. Made my friend feel really small.
My remarks were simple.One cant judge a whole nation by a few isolated incidents and told him to just right it off but afterwards thought there are undeniable undertones of racism still rife.
On the flip side there is people who will go out of their way to accommodate you. The problem is when it exists in the background and people feel they have to fall into the groove to be the norm in society.
If you know its their then you can accommodate it and handle it far better. It is an experience that makes you work harder and get your head down to achieve goals in society to prove to the world my skin is brown and im really proud of it. If you don't like it - move on!
I also remembered an incident that highlighted racism a few years ago when Shilpa Shetty appeared in a program called Big Brother (in India the equivalent being Big Boss) -please view and you will see how some Brits perceive the sub continent.
Celebrity Big Brother - Shilpa Shetty Bullying Compilation - YouTube
We are a pretty liberal family and have been successful in becoming upstanding members of the community.
One thing i have always experienced is an underlining institutionalized racism.
As a kid one would pretend not to here or sweep it under the carpet but lately (perhaps due to recession) i have encountered situations where i see society in the UK as it being the norm.
My accountant is a friend and close to me. He is from Kolkata. Sophisticated guy, intelligent. Has been in the UK for 8 years. Told me he went out last week and met a few business associates at a trade show. Started talking to a company director. After about half an hour he called his partner over and proceeded to introduce my accountant friend. After a minute or two my friend heard them say to each other "he isn't like the other Indians. This ones ok." My friend told me they were attempting to pay me a compliment - instead he said it hurt like hell! What is a normal Indian like? Do they think i should be honored not to be associated with "the other Indians" they had met?
He then told me on Saturday he went to the local pharmacy to pick up a prescription. Waited a few minutes to be served. Lady middle aged turned up was served immediately. Made my friend feel really small.
My remarks were simple.One cant judge a whole nation by a few isolated incidents and told him to just right it off but afterwards thought there are undeniable undertones of racism still rife.
On the flip side there is people who will go out of their way to accommodate you. The problem is when it exists in the background and people feel they have to fall into the groove to be the norm in society.
If you know its their then you can accommodate it and handle it far better. It is an experience that makes you work harder and get your head down to achieve goals in society to prove to the world my skin is brown and im really proud of it. If you don't like it - move on!
I also remembered an incident that highlighted racism a few years ago when Shilpa Shetty appeared in a program called Big Brother (in India the equivalent being Big Boss) -please view and you will see how some Brits perceive the sub continent.
Celebrity Big Brother - Shilpa Shetty Bullying Compilation - YouTube
. The worst I've ever gotten is "foreigner", a word reserved for Poles and Lithuanians like you said.
) are known for their craic and banters... 
