Skip to main content

"Where are you from?"

A big news story in Britain in recent days has been a conversation between Lady Susan Hussey (83), a close friend of the late queen, and an activist from Hackney, Ngozi Fulani, the founder of a charity supporting victims of domestic abuse, at an event hosted by the Queen Consort, Camilla.

The controversy surrounds questioning by Lady Hussey as to where Ngozi Fulani was "from", who "her people" were. 

I was discussing this incident with my friend last night (who, I should say, like me, is a straight, cisgender, white, middle-aged male). 

So far, the public has only heard one side of the story. The narrative is one of residual racism in the royal family and the misconception that Ngozi Fulani was in some way "not British". It may well be that Ngozi Fulani deserves an apology. But maybe there is another side to the story as well. 

We do want to be a society that includes people from all backgrounds and puts them at the centre. But there are backgrounds. That is to say, there is such a thing as "backgrounds". 

Ngozi Fulani's name is of Igbo (Nigerian) origin. She wore her hair in dreadlocks. She was wearing traditional African clothing. Her organisation is called "Sistah space" (no that is not a typo), which, on its website, states, "we realised African and Caribbean heritage people don’t actually have a venue to go to." In her comments after the incident, Ngozi Fulani said, "In my culture, elders are respected..." I am pretty sure that by "my culture" she meant the particular heritage and background she is from. I am not going to clumsily tell her or anyone what that heritage/culture is, or what it should be called, but it does exist, doesn't it? 

It would be racist to say that made Ngozi Fulani an outsider or non-British. It is not racist to acknowledge that background/culture exists.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The history of the Christian Church in twenty places

α. Jerusalem (30 or 33 AD) The place where Christ, the Son-of-God-become-man, died on the Cross, was raised from the dead on the third day, and from where he ascended back to heaven. This is also where the Holy Spirit was poured out on the first disciples. Sometime after AD 44 (Acts 12), Peter, John and other Apostles dispersed across the world to bear testimony to the risen Christ. 1. Ephesus (approx. 100 AD) The place where the Apostles, Paul and John, handed over to the next generation of Christian leaders, which included the “Apostolic Fathers”. One such “Apostolic Father”, Ignatius of Antioch, passed through Ephesus on his way to martyrdom at Rome, and addressed a letter to the church at Ephesus. 2. Athens (second century) The centre of Greek thought, which Justin Martyr and other Second Century Apologists addressed in their presentations of the Christian faith, proclaiming Christ as the Logos (the Word or principle underlying the universe). 3. Lyon (from 177) The church in ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hearing the "khutba" at Friday prayers, Noor-ul-Islam mosque in Bury

Yesterday, I was present for the " khutbah " (sermon) before Friday prayers at Noor-ul-Islam mosque on Yarwood Street in Bury. I was there by kind agreement of Imam Hassanat, a gifted Muslim preacher, whom I met a few months ago through a mutual acquaintance, and I was made welcome. Noor-ul-Islam is one of seven Sunni mosques in Bury, and follows the Sufi way, a more mystical interpretation of the Muslim faith.  I have been present at Friday prayers on at least one occasion before (at a Shi'a mosque). I do not actively take part in the prayers, however, local Muslim leaders have allowed me to be present and observe. In this case, I was present for the preliminary "khutbah" which corresponds to a Christian Sunday morning sermon.  For those not familiar with Friday prayers, this is the main weekly gathering of Muslims early on Friday afternoon to perform the prescribed prayer ritual together at one of the set times of prayer. At this time of year in this part of t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bury, Greater Manchester - Timeline of churches

979?      First Church on the site of the present Parish Church (the picture below is an artist's impression of Bury parish church in 1485)  1585      Parish church (re)built in the gothic style . 1662+    Chapel on Bass Lane for Henry Pendlebury of Holcombe , supported by Richard Kay , and others ejected from the C of E (replaced in 1712 by Dundee Chapel, Holcombe) 1669      The vicar of the parish reported to the Bishop of Chester that he heard that several conventicles were 'constantly kept at private houses of Independents, Presbyterians, Dippers and other such like jointly, of the bset rank of the yeomanry and other inferiors.' 1689      The passing of the Toleration Act and services held openly by a congregation at Bast House, Walmersley, the home of Richard Kay, 1712      Edward Rothwell , became minister of what would become Bank Street Presbyterian Church, Bury. He ministered at ...
Post a Comment
Read more