Racism? Assimilation? Integration? Multi Culturalism?

 If you are a white person, do you know why? Homo Sapiens pushed deep into the northern European cold steppes around 45,000 years ago, as proven by DNA and tools discovered at the Ranis Cave in Germany. Light skin pigmentation is a relatively recent evolutionary trait. Major depigmentation genes, like \(SLC24A5\) and \(SLC45A2\), originated in West Asian populations roughly 22,000 to 28,000 years ago. However, widespread light skin became ubiquitous in European populations much later, between 8,000 and 5,000 years ago, driven by adaptations to northern climates and diet. Blue eyes first emerged between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago due to a single genetic mutation. Because all blue-eyed individuals share this same exact mutation, scientists believe everyone with blue eyes today can trace their lineage back to one single common ancestor who likely lived in the Black Sea region.

I was fascinated to learn that for the majority of human inhabitation of Northern Europe, we were black. Specific DNA mutations made our skin lighten and evolutionary factors made that the prevalent gene pool. But the bottom line is that white skin and blue eyes are not only relatively new, they are not how we all originally looked. There are two ways that populations evolve. The first is a cell mutates and the second is that natural selection favours the mutation and over a period of time, the non mutated population dies out. So why did the white gene pool become the predominant one in Northern Europe? A science teacher at St Vincents explained that polar bears can see black people more easily in the snow, but white people are easier for tigers to spot in the jungle. I believed that for years, When I was in Scandinavia, I was told a differnt story. The Vikings preferred women with Blue eyes and pale skin and would murder their old wives if they got what they thought was a prettier specimen. Whatever the truth was, the Nortehrn European population became predomenantly white. Around 16% of the global population is white. 60% is Asian, 18% is black. Of the white Northern European population, about 6% have red hair. As we live in the UK, the figures are completely different in our communities.

I just wanted to lay this out before we discuss my chosen topic, Racism. I was at the 11.30 mass on Sunday at the Sacred Heart. Our Parish Priest Fr Chinedu is Nigerian. Until he came along, every Parish Priest had been of Irish descent. I would be surprised if we ever saw another Irish one in my lifetime. When I was a kid, the parishioners were largely of Irish descent, with a few Poles and Italians thrown in. The congregation is now probably 60% African. The ladies generally dress in their Sunday finest. Bright clothes are the order of the day. The Parish is thriving as a result of the large scale immigration London has seen. Africans, Eastern Europeans, Brazilians. There are still a few of us of Irish descent as well. Catholic means Universal and if you look at the congregation, you may well conclude that this is a suitable word for the congregation. I find the changes fascinating. Ten years ago, there were far more Eastern Europeans. I've no idea if they stopped going to mass or just gave up on the UK after Brexit. I know many members of all of the communities represented. I've been on various committees in the Parish and have worked with many members of these communities. One of the most popular events are the multi cultural nights. I often used to DJ and play a selection of world music. Many of the Nigerian Community were delighted when Fela Kuti and KinG Sunny Ade were played. The Congolese community were equally delighted to hear Mose Fan Fan, a studio customer. For me, such artist and their connections with London are a matter of pride. 

As regular readers will know, I play in Ska band. Ska music emerged in Jamaica in the 1960's and was a music form which many white people from the UK love. On Friday night, at Nambucca, I was absolutely delighted, when I went outside for a chat with the band, whilst they had a ciggie, when the bouncers (lads of African Heritage), told me that they loved our music and it was great to hear proper bass, rather than the heavy rock that is normally played at the venue. The first date I took my now wife on was in 1985 at Dingwalls, in Camden, to see Desmond Dekker. Without music of black origin, Jazz, Blues, Ska, Reggae, I have no idea what London's music scene would sound like. I know my life would be unmeasurably worse.

All of which makes me ask the question, that in all of our family trees, we have brown people with brown eyes, how can we even begin to entertain racism. If you are a racist, then you are someone who despises the majority of your ancestors. Of course, most racists in London know people from all sorts of communities. Even Tommy Robinson went for a curry after his "Unite the Nation" march last Saturday. They say, as a figleaf, it is not the colour, it is the lack of assimilation into the local community that they claim to be bothered about. I am never quite sure what this means. Is it that people feel more comfortable in the clothes they have always worn? Is it that they prefer the food that they were raised on (just like British Ex Pats in Torremolinos)? I had a blood test today. The Nurse who did it was not white and it is clear that she would dress in clothes more associated with her background outside of work. But she was charming and friendly and if she wasn't there I couldn't have a blood test. She works and contributes. It's her business what she does when she isn't working, as far as I am concerned. She has a vital job, working for the NHS. As far as I am concerned, anyone doing that has done more than enough to prove that they are integrated.

What the likes of Tommy Robinson and his mates were doubtless discussing was the failure of "Multi Cultural Britain".  Again this is a myth. Britain has a miniscule murder rate compared to countries such as the USA, where the rate is 5-6 times higher. We have universal health care that is free. We have the choice of cuisines that is unrivalled. There are problems, it would be foolish to pretend we don't, but much of the crime in the UK is linked to drug usage. The US has even worse problems. 

There is the old "they come over here, take our jobs, take our homes mantra" that gets reeled out. The likes of Farage have built a career on the back of this, but Farage has never said how he will address the UK's skills shortage. The economy is already creeking because we don't have the right mix of skills in our workforce. Deporting half a million immigrants will not solve this. It could destroy the economy and Farage knows it. Clearly a scenario where people are crossing the channel in boats, paying thousands of pounds to criminal gangs is completely wrong. But blaming them for a housing crisis that had its roots in Thatchers policy of selling off the council housing stock is completely irrational. It is the job of National governments to ensure that ordinary working people can afford decent housing. Not building enough housing stock for the population is divisive. Politicians know that. You have to ask why they allow such divisive situations to persist. 

So to sum up. I believe that corrupt politicians use the stick of racism to take our minds off the fact that they are taking us for a ride. How many politicians are homeless? How many use foodbanks? How many are struggling to pay bills? These are the people who decide what the UK spends its money on. Whilst we blame everyone else for our woes, they are safe and comfortable. The reason that Sir Keir Starmer is going to be booted out, is not because he's failed to address the housing crisis, or the UK skills crisis. It is because Labour MP's are worried that they will fall off the gravy train. And perhaps even worse, the reason Farage peddles all of his nonsense is because he wants himself and as many of his mates as possible to jump on the gravy train and fill their pockets with your cash. 

My advice to all of those who marched at the weekend. Some advice my Dad gave me when I was small "Make sure you know who your enemies are, but even more importantly, know what your friends are, because they are the people you put your trust in".