Ok I need more experience. So I went out to try and draw on other people's.
This was the most memorable with a catalogue of abuse:
Ethnicity: INDIAN
Age: 48
1. What is your political view/ standpoint?
Don’t have one.
2. Has fascism/ racism ever directly affected your life? If YES please explain.
Born in the UK.
Grew up in Tufnal Park/ Musewell hill/ Brixton/ West Norwood/ Barnet.
Beaten up. Jumped many times (UK).
The first time I can remember, was in 1967 (aged 5), and my Dad was taking my brother and me to an amusement park. As my Dad was paying the bus driver for three tickets he gave £5. This was a lot of money in those days. The female bus conductor took the money and badly short-changed him. He demanded his money but she said: “You never gave me £5.” Then she over looked at the all white queue and said: “Did he?”
“No love.” They replied.
So we had almost no money for the rides. This was very traumatising for me.
In the 1960s there weren’t a lot of Asians in the UK. We got a lot of abuse.
Once was by about 10 skinheads (aged 14 or 15).
Another time (aged 17) was in Brighton. On bumper cars. My friend and I were
Mobbed by skinheads. They were all spitting at us. It was like a shower of rain.
Another time (aged 18) was by two skinheads.
Another time (aged 18) I was jumped in Watford. I was with my friend and we
Were with two white girls. Two skinheads again.
Another occasion was in college (aged 25). A gang of about 15 people jumped me. The police, who were watching, just left. I ended up in hospital.
Another time (aged 26) two posh racists wanted to fight me for my white
Girlfriend! I was in this posh pub with my girlfriend and this bloke comes over.
He says:
“My friend just said to me that this girl you’re with is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen.”
“Thank you” I reply.
“It wasn’t a compliment. We’ve got a bit of a problem here haven’t we?” He replies.
He then says “My friend is going to fight you for her.”
I am a calm person so despite how ridiculous the situation is, I say OK just to gage the situation. His friend comes over and at this point I was sizing him up, trying to gain an insight as to my chances. My body can take a lot of punishment thanks to the abuse I’ve grown up with.
He says: “I don’t really fight much but I will do what I can.”
I say: “That’s OK. Lets step outside. You do what you can do… and I’ll do my kick-boxing.”
They didn’t follow us out of the pub.
Once, a black gang jumped me on my doorstep. They eventually robbed my house.
Another time (aged 28) I was walking with my girlfriend and a group of lads shouted “Paki!”
I walked up to them and very calmly said: “What did you say?”
They didn’t have anything else to say.
A lot of the time, the abuse is motivated/ sparked off by me being with a white girl.
3. If you have experienced fascism/ racial abuse first hand, how did it make you
feel? If you have not how does it make you feel to know about it?
Doesn’t make me feel angry at all.
At the time I saw it as part of growing up as an Asian in this country. The older you get the more you can cope. Younger is more stressful.
Education is the key – the reason for the hate. People assume things and want to believe what they hear and what they’re told without finding out themselves. Not educated enough to ask questions. Ignorance. Poverty. Lack of education.
It hasn’t made me bitter. You can’t live with hate.
4. Have you ever taken action against fascism/ racism?
YES.
5. If YES please explain. If NO what would you do?
Confront them verbally.
Make eye contact. If it’s a gang, make eye contact with all of them. Gives them nowhere to hide.
Meeting violence with violence hasn’t really worked.
Kids never used to see colour, just the person.
