The story of a student born in London highlights tensions between integration and cultural heritage. From racial remarks to debates surrounding immigration and Brexit, her experiences reflect the complexities of an increasingly diverse Britain.
Michelle Gooden-Jones
Her paternal grandfather, although born in Zanzibar, was originally from India with roots going back to the Dawoodi Bohras, a small sect mainly residing in the west.
He moved to Mumbai for his studies and became a doctor before moving to England and settling in Bath, where he met Amber D.’s British grandmother. On her maternal side, her grandmother is Italian, and her grandfather is Spanish. Both were brought up in French-speaking environments, one in Tunisia, and one in France, where they met and had her mother, who considers herself French. Amber lived in London for a year after being born, before moving to Tunbridge Wells in Kent, where she grew up.
On returning to London four years ago to study Spanish and Italian, she has met people from a variety of different backgrounds, making her feel at home in the city.
Amber has visited France and has become familiar with Italy following a trip to Rome for six months. She has not seen much of Spain and feels the furthest from India due to the fact her paternal grandfather died just before her dad was born – cutting off any links to that side of her family.
Amber spoke to The Prisma.
Do you feel connected to your grandparents’ countries?
I feel close to France, as that is where all my mother’s side of the family lives. I grew up bilingual, so I have a connection to France.
Even though I have never been brought up with Indian relatives, the Indian side stands out. I am a quarter Indian, but my skin is quite dark. I do feel that I have Indian in my blood.
So, simply the way you look gives you a connection to India. Is that because of the way you feel, or is it because of the way other people react to you?
It is more other people. I feel completely English, but whenever somebody asks where I am from, they look for the Indian background. People look for that darker side.
Do people frequently ask where you are from?
Yes.
How does that make you feel?
I find it funny saying that I have an Indian background even though I know nothing about India. When I was in Italy people would ask: “Where are you from?”. I would say England, but they would then ask: “No, where are you actually from?”.
I met a Lithuanian girl there who insisted on telling me I was not English, but instead Indian, because I am brown. She was not accepting that I am English.
I was with my flatmate who was white. The Lithuanian girl was pointing at her saying, “No, she is white, she is English. You are brown, you are Indian”.
That was the only time I have felt uncomfortable in the way someone was negating where I come from.
What region did your grandfather come from?
I have learned something recently about them. My uncle went through the family tree and learned that we come from quite a small and specific group.
There are now only about a million people in the world who are from that sector.
Have you completely lost connection with the culture of your grandfather?
Yes, definitely. I had no connection to the culture growing up.
Do you feel that England is your home?
Yes. I was brought up in very normal English town. I went to school here and feel as though I have been brought up completely English. I do not have a strong link to any other cultures.
When I was young, I did consider myself half French, half English, my father being English and my mother being French. But now, I consider myself English.
Have any experiences in England made you feel different to the people around you?
None that were too bad. At school we would joke about me having Indian blood, and getting curries, and my friends would call me “the little Indian one”. But it was never in a derogative way.
How does it make you feel that some people do not view you as being British?
It is not that bad. People do not question it that often. When the Lithuanian girl was asking, she was asking in a different tone. I found it irritating because she had put an identity on me that I did not agree with.
I think it is different being in London where people are quite accepting of migrants. But there is a growing culture of fear around other communities, which has definitely been exacerbated by the media. With fears of terrorism, it would be quite difficult being, for example, an Arabic immigrant, or a Muslim.
Are there any parts of British culture your background has stopped you from being a part of?
I feel fully accepted into British society.
Has your name ‘Amber’ and your lighter skin tone made it easier for you to blend into British society?
If I were darker or had a different name, maybe it would be more of an effort to integrate.
Do you think your experiences would be different if you had a more British sounding surname?
It would just make things a lot easier in terms of any bureaucracy that I have to go through.
Have you achieved higher levels of education and integration than your grandparents?
My Indian grandfather came over after having qualified as a doctor so he already had an advantage.
He arrived in Bath, found a job, and was able to integrate well, especially for that time. In the 50’s, when he arrived, there were not many Indian people in Bath.
My dad went into dentistry. He probably experienced more discrimination. He told me stories of back in school when people were a lot less sensitive and a lot less politically correct. He has told me stories of his sports coaches shouting at all the brown people and calling them all “Pakis”.
Things are a lot more politically correct now.
Are you interested in any aspects of your grandfather’s culture?
I enjoy Indian food, but it was my trip to India that made me interested in the culture. I stayed with a girl who showed me all of the cultural dances, henna tattoos, and clothes. Traditionally in India, when you are sixteen-years-old, you receive your first sari, so, I got myself a sari. I felt like it was my rite of passage.
Is there anything about you that you believe is ‘quintessentially British’?
I love my full English breakfast. I get one of those almost every week, and a roast on Sundays.
Are you involved in British politics?
I am interested in equality. I know how important equality is to fight for. I know how important multiculturalism is and what a big part of our community immigrants are. This Brexit is also important for me. I have family in Europe, so for me, it is essential that we keep ourselves integrated in Europe.
How do your goals differ to those of your grandparents?
My grandparents wanted to find new lives in countries where they could really make themselves successful. I am graduating from university this year, and feel like I am lucky to be able to choose where I want to go now.
I have been brought up aware that I have different cultures within me, which has made me want to learn more about others. (The Prisma memories)
(Photos: Pixabay)
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