Wow. Double wow. Wow squared. Wow with knobs on. Witness the Labour MP Khalid Mahmood commenting on the resignation of the Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Paul Sabapathy CBE. Sabapathy tendered his resignation to the boss, ie Her Majesty the Queen, after a chiding email he wrote on Brits of Pakistani origin and their allegedly poor standards of civic behaviour became public. Mahmood, himself born in Pakistan, intervened – somewhat controversially – on behalf of the former royal aide, claiming that British Pakistanis do indeed have progress to make in terms of social engagement and integration. And then this: learn from the Afro-Caribbean community, he said. “The Afro-Caribbean community has moved on a lot. They got involved in the churches, so they have a different angle. They moved out of the inner cities, most of them, and are in more outer-ring areas where there is more integration.”
Given that it’s always dodgy characterising the behaviour of diverse groups of people, Mahmood may be obliged to explain endorsement of Sabapathy’s criticisms. But, wow.
A far more familiar sensation is looking at the newspapers and seeing social sages pointing to the Afro-Caribbean community as an exemplar of how not to do it. Funny, that journey from zero to hero. In the course of this column, we have seen how black Britons of Afro-Caribbean heritage have been first in line for police stop and search, way back in line when it comes to employment, securing bank loans and in terms of persuading landlords that they are suitable tenant material.
But there have also been signs of a paradigm shift, largely triggered by the move to the suburbs of a nascent middle class and a realisation by tradespeople and advertisers that there is a “black pound” worth chasing. Make money and, capitalism being what it is, others will follow it.
The idea of holding up entire communities as role models for others has a long and, in some cases, justifiable tradition: the integration of Jewish people from eastern Europe; the dynamism and acumen of the Ugandan Asians who arrived after expulsion by Idi Amin. The relative wealth and stability of British Hindus is another phenomenon oft cited as best practice. Soon it will be the Poles; their children learning fast in schools, their businesses providing services, their shops brightening up high streets.
For once, it’s us. The glow won’t last, and it doesn’t change our challenging realities. But we’ll bask in it while we can.
