Ethnic diversity

Table of contents
1. Multiculturalism in Britain vs in the USA
2. Prejudice
3. Racism
4. Migration: push & pull factors
5. British immigration vs American immigration
6. Easter Europeans in the UK vs Hispanics in America
7. USA: melting pot or salad bowl?
8. Acculturation vs Assimilation
9. Example: Acculturation in "My Son the Fanatic"
10. My Son the Fanatic by Hanif Kureishi

Multiculturalism in Britain vs in the USA

Britain USA
"Britishness" the pride in the British values Motivations to emigrate
• actually a mixture of different cultures → American Spirit
• has nothing to do with race but aspirations and • individualism
shared values • self-made man
→ values = to unify the nation • honest and hard work
• openness, mutual respect, tolerance, generosity • restlessness
of spirit, pluralism and diversity • bravery
• equal rights for all people
Opinion • with a lot of work you can achieve anything
• Britain's Muslims want to be a part of Britain • have a better life than their parents generation
• some of them do not accept the values and • fulfilment of their dreams
behaviour that make Britain what it is • escaping from bad living conditions in their home
→ Then the Multiculturalism has failed country

Pro The dark sides of the American Dream

• GB has always been a country of immigration • often no residence permit
→ there's nothing like the British race • it is difficult to find work without a work permit
(WASP → white, anglo, saxons, protestant) • immigrants often have to do the hard work that
• Immigrant societies are more successful (Canada the better-educated are "too good for"
and USA) • social/economic gap
• multiculturalism attracts international business • exclusion of minorities
→ good for the economy • low salaries

Contra Examples of Cultures in the US

• not all Muslims are integrated in the British Chinese Americans, Amish people, Muslims,
society (because of racism & choose not too) Japanese Americans, Native Americans,
• radical muslims want to enforce their ideals Africans Americans, Mexicans
→ no whole complete society
→ they think the Islam offers a better future than
Britain
• rare cultures and minorities will not survive in a
multiculturalism world → get lost

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 Prejudice
“Britishness" the pride in the British values
• immigrants are a danger for the UK
• change society and traditions
→ Britain becomes less and less british
• steal the jobs
• only want to take advantage of the social
security and health system
• are criminal
Second generation immigrants
• live in two different cultures
→ problem of identity
• at home → culture of family
→ distance
→ not speaking the native language
→ never visited the country
• school & free time → British culture
One-track mind & Stereotypes
A one-track mind refers to someone who is excessively
focused on one particular thing, idea, or perspective to the
exclusion of others.
Stereotypes are generalisations or assumptions made
about a group of people based on their race, gender,
ethnicity, religion, or other characteristics. They are often
based on limited or incomplete information & can be
inaccurate and harmful.
➯ Stereotypes often arise from a one-track mind
perspective: When individuals rely on a narrow set of
assumptions/experiences to inform their views of a
particular group, they may overlook the diversity and
complexity of that group, and may be more likely to rely on
simplistic or harmful stereotypes.
➯ Stereotypes can reinforce a one-track mind, as
individuals who hold stereotypes may be less likely to seek
out diverse perspectives or challenge their existing beliefs.

Racism
Definition: “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a
person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that
is a minority or marginalised.” (Oxford Languages)

Racism as a topic in “The Embassy Of Cambodia”

• Fatou, an immigrant from Ivory Coast works as a maid for the Derawal family in North West London who
are immigrants as well
• They exploit her as they refuse to pay her wages because they provide her with food and pay the rent for
her room. They also keep her passport to themselves.
• All in all her living conditions can be regarded as modern slavery: she is powerless towards the Derawals
and totally dependent on them
• They show discriminating, disrespectful and racist behaviour:
• Physical abuse: “Mrs Derawal had twice slapped her in the face.” (p. 41, ll. 5f.)
• Mental abuse: the children speak of her disrespectfully and thank her for nothing, her name is
equivalent to a term of insult → “You’re as black as Fatou.” (p. 41, l. 9)
• As she saves their daughter’s life after choking on a marble, they downplay the situation and fire her
without any reason → “My goodness, it was just a little marble. (...) What a fuss everybody is making.”
(p. 55, ll. 24 ff.)
• Imperialism, powerlessness of specific marginalised groups: “Are we born to suffer? Sometimes I think
we were born to suffer more than all the rest.” (p. 45, ll. 5 ff.)
• Lack of solidarity towards those groups, their pain is made invisible: “But more people died in Rwanda,
(...)nobody speaks about that! Nobody!” (p. 44, ll. 21 f.)

Racism as a topic in “My Son the Fanatic”

• Ali has the feeling that the Western society wants him to feel “inferior” (p. 29, l. 9) and that the “West
always thought it was best” (p. 29, l. 10) → other regions, cultures or values are portrayed as less important
by the so-called Western world
• “All over the world our people are oppressed.” (p. 30, l. 12)
→ Muslims suffer from persecution because of their religion
• “The Western materialists hate us.” (p. 26, l. 25)
→ Ali as a Pakistani immigrant and Muslim feels excluded and not accepted by Western society
(discrimination, racism)

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Racism as a topic in “Shooting an Elephant”
• Colonialism: the protagonist works as a sub-divisional police officer of Moulmein, a town of the British
colony Burma
• He is harassed by the Burmese and they treat him and all other Europeans with disrespect although not
openly rebelling against them → he describes this as an “anti-European feeling” (p. 7, ll. 4f.)
• He gets to see the “dirty work of Empire” (p. 8, l.1): prisoners in cages & men who got struck with bamboos
→ “intolerable sense of guilt” (l. 6)
• the protagonist feels stuck between his “hatred of the empire” (p. 8, l. 13), his sense against the
“oppressors, the British” (p. 7, l. 23) and his “rage” (p. 8, l. 13) against the Burmese constantly insulting him
• All in all: highly racist treatment of the native inhabitants of Burma, their rage against their oppressors
(“discrimination” of European people) results out of a feeling of powerlessness towards them

Migration
Push factors Pull factors

unemployment/poverty jobs and education

→ low wages → higher wages

lack of educational opportunities new opportunities (e.g. studying)

persecution, discrimination (gender, religion) more freedom

war and bad infrastructure higher living standards

natural disasters, famine and drought new culture and language

lack of human rights safety and stability

poor medical facilities better medical care

politics: dictatorship, bad government politics: democracy, political stability

British immigration
1. The Windrush generation in the late 40's:
• 1948: the generation was named after the ship (West Indies (Jamaica))
• They had no jobs, wanted better opportunities
• Jamaica was too small
• They helped to rebuild Britain after the Second World War, where prior in the service in the armed
forces
• Expected a better life
• Had no friends, had to deal with racism, they refused to exit, the race relation act in 1965 helped them
out
• They joined the armed forces because it dealt as an equal opportunity for them in front of their
employers
2. Asian immigration in the late 60's
3. Gast European workers after 2000
Pro Contra
• Immigrants helped to restore the original order in • Immigrants steal the jobs of the real British
Britain after the 2nd world war people → now low skilled jobs
• more successful because of many immigrants, • EU migrants push down wages & make it more
many different mindsets difficult for low-skilled UK workers to get jobs
• EU migrants are more productive & have little • Immigration from the EU is a threat to security,
negative impact on jobs and wages making it easier for terrorists & criminals to
• Immigration is not a threat to security: the UK has enter the UK
the powers to block terrorists & criminals from • Multiculturalism → doesn't need more culture
entering the UK

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American immigration
• 19th century = immigration of European immigrants
• 20th century:
• first half → people escaping the communism (Russian/Asian)
• then → massive Chinese immigration, Hispanics, Koreans, Japanese mixed century
(marked by both world wars and mass killing on Jews)
• 1965: main influx of Asians after 2nd world war & Quatas Act

Legal immigration Illegal immigration

• they have a citizenship, a green card & a social • 60% illegal immigrants in America
security number • America depends on them due to economic
reasons
• They do the low-skilled jobs no one else does

Recent concept Traditional concept

• The personal identity stays same, they simply
have to respect the American values → „Salad
bowl"
• Everyone stays on their own
• Simply stick to the American values
• Everyone keeps their own culture
➯Completely divided country (political
lines/ethnicity)
• Nationalities evolve to Americans
→ ,,Melting pot"
• Patriotism is still there
• Europeans have it easier than Africans
• They accept the American culture
• First-generation immigrants are native

Pro Contra
• Needed for economic reasons • Could be terrorists
(agricultural, construction jobs = low-skilled jobs) • Take away jobs
• Do jobs nobody else wants to do (menial jobs) • Live on the taxpayers' money
• Work hard to make a living, to make ends meet • Commit crimes
• Pay taxes • They change the neighbourhood it becomes less
• Boost the economy because they increase demand valuable
• They are needed in many areas like agriculture • Foreigners don't want to integrate themselves
(fruit pickers, cleaning services, nannies) • Immigrants don't want to learn the language
• Integrate quickly because they (still) believe in the
American Dream
• America has always been a country of immigrants
• Learn the language

Eastern Europeans in the UK vs Hispanics in America

Topic Polish immigrant Hispanic immigrant

Reason for immigrating • UK as a promised land • more opportunities

• luxury: expensive cars & suitcases full • successful life
of money

Occupation • jobs in low paying sectors • agricultural jobs

• had high degrees but could not find • minimum wage
good jobs

Thoughts on the UK/US • life in the UK is not better • thankful for current situation
• miserable living conditions • would not recommend coming to the US
• many immigrants went back to • Americans are always in a rush and
Poland working too much

Thoughts on home country • life in Poland is better • people were happier and less stressed in
• after 2007 migration decreased Mexico
because of economic growth and less • even if you were poor you would give to
unemployment in Poland those who had less

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USA — Melting Pot or Salad Bowl?
Melting Pot
• People of many different cultures come together and assimilate into one cultural group
(adoption or acception of a new culture)
• Idea of the USA as a nation of nations: people of different cultures and religions “melt” together
→ they lose their own identities and take on an American one
• Refers to the groups of immigrants moving to the US from 1820 to 1960: mostly European immigrants
adopting English as their first language and changing their lifestyle completely

Salad Bowl
• Each ethnic group keeps its own culture
→ many different cultures living together but their differences remain visible and people are not “melting”
into one group
• Like in a salad, all ingredients come together but you can clearly see the differences
• Refers to immigrants of the second half of the 20th century and today: immigrants keep their own culture
and assimilation has not necessarily been their goal
• People from diverse backgrounds form a whole one on the basis of equality and mutual acceptance
→ cultural pluralism and multiculturalism

Should one use those concepts to describe the society of the USA?

Pro Contra

Melting Pot • very patriotic
• emphasises uniformity
• based on stereotypes of people with a different origin
• there is a dominant culture and other cultures should be
subordinate
• original identities should be given up to create something
new

Salad bowl • focus on multiculturalism • based on stereotypes of people with a different origin
• keeping of the “original” • historically incorrect → Native Americans as the original
identity population of the USA are neglected
• not mentioning the engraving differences within societies

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Acculturation vs Assimilation
Acculturation
• A minority group adopts the cultural patterns of a dominant group
• Reciprocal acculturation → the dominant group adopts patterns from the minority group as well
(change of diet, clothing, language and/or behaviour)
Assimilation
• Focuses on different aspects from acculturation
• Process of a person or group resembling another group step by step
• Dominant group absorbs the minority group → individual culture is no longer visible
• Full assimilation → all members of different groups are similar to each other and cannot be separated into
their former groups anymore
Example: The process of acculturation in My Son the Fanatic
Character and concept Reasons
Parvez: deculturation • Becomes part of the Western world,
urge to fit in
• Refusal of his old cultural habits/his
religious beliefs
(he eats pork & drinks alcohol)
• Happy about his life in England
“old Ali”: • Shares common interests with
integration/assimilation other British teenagers (music, British
girlfriend, Western clothes)
• Ties between him & his parent’s
cultural background are not very strong
“new Ali”: rejection • Developed hatred towards the
Western world
• Doesn’t see himself as a part of the
Western world anymore
• Radical religious beliefs
• Supports the idea of jihad
(intolerance towards other beliefs/
opinions)
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Text references
• Ali criticises Parvez: “You are too implicated
in Western civilization.” (p. 26, l. 21 f.)
• “Surely it wasn’t a crime to have a drink when
he wanted one ?” (p. 25, ll. 15 f.)
• Parvez orders his wife to cook pork sausages:
“You're Not in the village now. This is
England. We have to fit in.” (p. 26, ll. 16 f.)
• “But I love England” (p. 27, l. 23)
• His room sambled a “tangle of clothes, books,
cricket bats and videogames” (p. 19, ll. 3 f.)
• “computer disks, videotapes,new books,
and fashionable clothes” (p. 19, l. 10 f.) were
part of his life
• He rejects pleasures such as playing the
guitar (p. 19, ll. 19 ff.)
• His idea of the West: “a sink of hypocrites,
adulterers, homosexuals, drugusers and
prostitutes'' (p. 27, ll. 1f.)
• Ali explained “he himself was not
“inferior”; there was more to the world
than the West” (p. 29, ll. 8 ff.)
• “I, and millions of others, will gladly give
our lives for the cause. “ (p. 27, ll. 6f.)
My Son the Fanatic — Hanif Kureishi
Summary
• Parvez notices that his son has changed and suspects that he is selling drugs
• Bettina advises Parvez to look after this son and search for clues
• Parvez goes through Ali’s room but does not find anything
• Ali has become religious
• Parvez and Ali go to a restaurant for dinner
• Ali criticises Parvez’s western lifestyle
• Parvez thinks about kicking his son out
• Bettina tries to start a conversation with Ali
• she feels offended by Ali and leaves
• Parvez is angry because of Ali’s behaviour, so he starts drinking
• finally Parvez beats up Ali while he is praying
• “Who is the fanatic now?”

“My Son the Fanatic” explores the ways in which the father-son relationship is further complicated by the
internal and external pressures of immigration and the desire to assimilate. Parvez is a first-generation
immigrant whose opportunities have been limited, so he wants his son, Ali, to have a better life in England.

Characters
Parvez Ali
• immigrated from Pakistan to England • second generation immigrant
• Punjabi; grew up in Lahore • good student; supposed to become an
• taxi driver; works with other Punjabi taxi drivers accountant
• dreams of doing well in England • has given up his relationship and hobbies
• married, but does not see his wife much due to his job to follow the way of Islam
• no interest in religion due to bad memories in Pakistan • turns into a religious fanatic following
• reading the Quran was mandatory fundamental beliefs
• works a lot to provide for his son • isolates himself and gives his belongings
• assimilated to Western culture: drinks alcohol, eats away
pork etc. • from a social young student to a cold
fundamentalist
Bettina • despises Western culture
• prostitute • criticises his father’s behaviour
• friends with Parvez
• wants to help Parvez
• understanding and patient
• represents Western lifestyle

Important quotes
“Was it asking too much for Ali to get a good job, marry the right girl, and start a family? Once this
happened, Parvez would be happy.” (p. 20 l. 26-29)

Parvez knew he was getting drunk, but he couldn’t stop himself. Ali had a horrible look, full of disgust and
censure. It was as if he hated his father. (p. 25 l. 24ff)

“You’re not in the village now: This is England. We have to fit in.” (p. 26 l. 16f)

“But I love England” [...] “They let you do almost anything here.”
“That is the problem,” Ali said. (p. 27 l. 24f)

“He hoped Ali would compliment him on the beard he was growing, but Ali didn’t appear to notice it.”
(p. 29 l. 16f)

“All over the world our people are oppressed”, was the boy’s reply. “I know,” Parvez
answered not entirely sure who “our people” were. (p. 30 l. 12-15)

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The message of the short story
Hanif Kureishi wrote his story as early as 1994, and a couple of years later Britain and the world experienced
the eruption of Islamic extremism into violence.
The most horrific of these attacks against Western capitalism carried out in the name of religion occurred
on September 11, 2001 (9/11) with the destruction of the World Trade Centre in New York which caused the
death of 3,000 people.
London became a target on July 7, 2005, when fundamentalist young men with an Islamic background
carried out suicide bombings in London's Underground, killing 52 people and mutilating dozens.
In videotaped statements they explained their religious motivation, saying their action was a
protest against military intervention of the West in Afghanistan.
The actions of "homegrown terrorists" shocked people in England, and led to second thoughts about the
blessings of a multicultural society. Extremists like the "7/7" bombers represent only a tiny fraction of
Britain's Muslim community, but in his story Kureishi issued a warning of the consequences of failed
integration in an increasingly ethnically and racially diverse society.

Topics
Father-son relationship
• different views and opinions
Immigration
• Parvez came from Pakistan to Great
Britain to provide a good life for Ali
Fitting in: identity crisis
• Ali does not feel British nor Pakistani
(second generation immigrant)
• does not know where he belongs
• religion gives Ali a sense of belonging
somewhere
• Parvez adopts Western culture while Ali
declines it
Religion
• main conflict: Ali becoming religious and
Parvez disliking religion
• Ali criticises his father for not living like a
good Muslim
• Parvez has negative connections with
religion
Clash of cultures
• British vs. Pakistani culture
• religion vs. culture
Rebellion
• Ali opposes his father
• Ali’s behaviour is seen as rebellious; no
longer follows his father’s orders
Generation gap
• conflict between father and son; two
different generations
• different generations = different views
• Ali does not live up to Parvez’s
expectations (successful, married and
a family)
• Parvez does not understand Ali’s
perspective
• two people with a stubborn mindset
who do not want to accept each
other’s lifestyle

Clash of cultures: Pakistani vs British culture

Pakistani culture British culture

traditions modernism

various ethnic languages English

bringing honour to the family & culture freedom, independence

shame-based guilt-based

hierarchy equality

role of women: patriarchal role of women: have a better place in society (“equalised”)

traditional clothing clothing: fashion trends

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Different attitudes towards Western society

Parvez — secular West Ali — fundamentalist Islam

• loves England; enjoys life in England • does not feel accepted

• thinks one has to adapt to Western culture • anti-religious attitude in England
• does not feel like an outsider as he has → feels excluded and hated as a Muslim by
assimilated to the British lifestyle and its values Western society
= freedom, modernism

• works hard to succeed & climb the social ladder;
his main aim is to help his son get a good
education
= opportunity, materialism, competition
• gets rid of everything that symbolises the
decadent Western lifestyle and materialism
• beliefs that British culture brings harm such as
drugs, alcohol, prostitution etc.
• society with no rules
• climbing socially & achieving success has become
irrelevant to him
→ does not want to follow the path his father has
laid out for him

• no interest in religion → “Living is for living” • believes in the teachings of fundamentalist

= enjoyment & pleasure Muslims → “The reward is the hereafter”
= guidance

• English culture > Pakistani culture Religion > everything else

Second-generation immigrants
Ali represents a new generation of young muslims:
• Second-generation immigrants are born and raised in Britain → lack of cultural identity; does not feel
accepted in Britain
• in contrast to their parents they do not want to adopt the culture anymore
• uncompromising adherence to the Koran is their way to establish an identity
• influenced and led by extremely conservative Muslim leaders
• repudiate capitalist ideas & the striving for material success
• condemn Western immoral and decadent behaviour
• distance themselves from the rest of society

Living between two cultures

• Some second-generation immigrants feel as though they are living between two cultures: the one of their
parents home country and the one of the country they live in
• Often feel pressured by their parents or communities expectations (to choose one culture)
• Some consider themselves being „hybrid“ (half of each culture; belong to both cultures)
→ e.g. Miriam of “A Pair of Jeans”

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Comparison
Ali (My Son the Fanatic) Miriam (A Pair of Jeans)

second-generation immigrants

• is a good student and sportsman, goes to college to • goes to college

study accountancy
→ changed his life drastically under the influence of
fundamentalist Muslim leaders; wants to give up his
studies to work in prisons supporting incarcerated
Muslims
• adapted to Western society & the modern lifestyle
→ there is a “Western version of Miriam” & a “Pakistani
version of Miriam”

• gets rid of everything that symbolises the decadent • embraces a new set of values while wearing traditional
Western lifestyle and materialism to him clothing: wants to impress; acts out a role of a demure
→ cleared his room of all electronic gadgets and and elegant bride & daughter-in-law
fashionable clothes • feels independent while wearing Western clothing

• goes to the mosque regularly & prays five times a day • dresses modestly at social events
• preaches about the law of Islam, necessity of jihad (the • respects her parents culture
struggle of religious Muslims against infidels or holy
war) & the merciless punishment of anybody who does
not live life in accordance with the Koran

• criticises his father for adhering to Western principles
& lectures him on immoral behaviour
→ rebels against his family’s adopted culture
• gets judged by other Muslims since most girls that wear
revealing clothes are known as rebellious and wild
• is influenced by Western culture
→ Her fiance's parents (Begum & Ayub) question her
truthfulness & if she is right for their son;
see her behaviour as disrespectful & shameful;
do not support the Western society & think that you can
only choose one culture

• breaks up with his English girlfriend • engaged to Farook

• has a one-track mind: is only interested in Islam • is interested in both British and Pakistani culture;
does not want to decide → “hybrid”

Who is the fanatic?

Ali Parvez Both

fanatic about religion fanatic about Western lifestyle unable to see life from another
perspective

gives up his old life to follow obsessed with his son’s lack of trust and compromises
Islam changed behaviour

would give his life for jihad asserts his beliefs with violence trying to change each other

waiting for reward in paradise goes through Ali’s personal items

In conclusion, although Parvez and Ali can both be considered fanatics using a very loose definition of the
word, it is more likely that the author is using the term ironically to point out how people embracing
different cultures clash when they adopt viewpoints that are too narrow and uncompromising.

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