I have a techie coming to fix my computer. These are much harder to get into political conversation than plumbers/builders/electricians etc, but I shall give it a go. As you know, interrogating my countrymen and women on their political thoughts is a hobby of mine.
No. Much much older. Predates our racial diversity by centuries. We didn't really have black Brits until the 50s and South Asian Brits until the 80s. They kind of slot in to pre-existing categories depending on their British accent.
-
-
eg, I have exactly the same accent as Maajid Nawaz. This places us both in middle, middle class families in Essex. We would be expected to come from professional parents but not linked to the aristocracy.
-
Whereas someone like Richard Dawkins, Stephen Fry etc, you know come from families that have land, went to public (boarding) schools, have at least a 'right honourable' in their recent history/extended family.
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
I meant in the American context, as in a reluctance to self-gentrify by adopting the language and dress of a group previously above yours, even though such social mobility is readily available.
-
No, that context doesn't work here. Your history is very specific with blacks & whites living alongside each other with blacks as a lower class for centuries. Our racial issues align more with American attitudes to Asians - east and south.
-
Although, we have the colonial history which necessarily assumes superior status, it was assumed from afar & is less entrenched in daily interactions with fellow Brits seen as a subclass.
-
Only 3% of Brits are black while 7.5% are South Asian. Assumptions about South Asians range from 'Doctor' to 'Cornershop owner' to 'terrorist' which has certain class connotations but they are not primary. South Asians are more likely to be successful & professional than whites.
-
Black Brits are more likely to be working class as many came to do menial jobs after the fall of the empire. South Asians, particularly Indians, came to be doctors, engineers & set up small businesses. Refugees complicate this, obviously.
-
There can be a reluctance to westernise but this is not seen as 'gentrification.'
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.