Racism amid the American melting pot
Fatima al Shamsi
- Last Updated: November 27. 2009 1:46AM UAE / November 26. 2009 9:46PM GMT
Matt Carr for The National
Over the Halloween weekend, I was out with a large group of friends when I experienced a painful reminder that racism and ignorance are still very much prevalent in a city as cosmopolitan and multicultural as New York.
A friend of a friend, dressed as a Hasidic Jew, was entertaining himself by yelling out “shalom” and random Hebrew words he knew. Now, I’m not really a fan of “ethnic” costumes – I dismissed his choice as silly the same way I did the “Arab sheikh” get-ups I saw that night – but nothing excuses what then transpired.
Outside of a pizza parlour, a stranger approached him asking, “Are you Jewish?”
In keeping up with his persona, he responded with a jolly, “Shalom, my friend!”
The stranger then exclaimed: “I can always tell the difference between a Jew and a terrorist.”
No one was laughing any more. Three among us, including the dressed-up “Hasidic Jew”, were actually Palestinians who had grown up in various Gulf countries, including the Emirates.
To my surprise, no punches were thrown, no blood spilt. Even more surprising to me was that I hadn’t reacted at all. Whether it was because I was a few steps ahead or because the comment wasn’t directed at me, I don’t really remember anything other than how the weight of the word made it seem suspended in mid-air for the longest three seconds of my life. It all happened too quickly to process: the transition from laughter to disbelief to rage just didn’t take place fast enough. The next thing we knew, the stranger was gone, and we were still standing there, fuming.
If you have never experienced discrimination, it might be hard to fully comprehend the extent to which it shakes your sense of reality. Suddenly, you are an outsider. When you are identified by a label that categorises you as an “other”, such as a terrorist, it affects you no matter how mild the comment. Despite being the least confrontational person I know, being subjected to such ignorant comments makes me viscerally sick, and nothing would please me more than to release the tension in punches. But I cannot utilise violence as a solution without falling into the trap of becoming what I’ve been labelled – a stereotypical example of the fanatical, violent Arab terrorist.
I supposedly live in a free and tolerant country: this is, after all, America, one of the planet’s great melting pots. But that night, sadly, I experienced something different. Although we presumably exist in postcolonial times, racist ideologies remain. Skin colour, in many cases, is still a marker.
I went to international schools all my life, where there was an almost naive environment of cultural exchange and acceptance. My best friends were all from different countries and between us we spoke at least six languages. We could call each other “communist” or “terrorist” or anything that might appal someone who is politically correct, but even with such harsh comments, I always knew that nothing was meant maliciously.
But after I left that bubble of bliss for university, I realised how big of an issue race can be. Suddenly I was “brown” – I prefer a light coffee colour, actually – and people were suddenly categorised. This not only made me very aware of myself but also of everyone else around me.
Later that Halloween-weekend night, I went home to the flat I share with friends: a Jew, an Indian, two Hispanics and an African-American. I spent the walk home thinking about how I should have taught that guy a lesson, and yet I realised that this was one battle not worth fighting.
Please log in to post a comment
Other Regulars stories
Fashion
The little things leave the biggest impression
Accessories rake in about 60 per cent of a designer's revenue, making next month's fair in Basel, Switzerland particularly important.
Travel
Falling for Fes: just dive in and get lost
Cover While some parts of Morocco have been overrun with tourists, the country’s fourth-largest city retains an ancient and fascinating allure.
House & Home
The do-it-yourself drill
H&H cover A rare breed in a land teeming with handymen, the DIY guy needs more than enthusiasm to get the job done.
Food
Our love-hate relationship with MSG
Chinese takeaway could well be both the death knell and the saving grace of the restaurant industry.
Added: 12/02/09 11:09:00 PM
Alpha Delta,
The fact is well put. What you have mentioned is a fact as in theory with so many proofs. And I believe that the writer has to do nothing but keep mum regarding this.As it is being widely practiced and some even feel proud about it.
I recently read the National's UAE 38th National Day magazine, and even went through the CD attached. I just cannot believe that there is not even one single appreciation or even mentioned anything about the labor class Asians and ordinary market movers in the region.
I thought at least the media would show some level of respect for these people.(IN case nobody knew till date there is over 700 people died while working in construction sites only in UAE - THIS IS RECORDED AND THERE ARE SO MANY UNRECORDED) .Even the currency here was Indian Rupees and main trading was with Pakistan and India. Meat and grains used to come from these countries only AT ONE TIME. In fact there is even an Arabian Dhow manufacturing industry which still exist in Calicut, South India.And conveniently all Emiratis seems to have forgot all that.And the same people complain about racism. In simple terms its like a ball peen hammer complaining to an anvil that it's getting stroked. Ironically all hammers strike anvil, and the ball peen hammer strikes occasionally and its a big fuzz..
End of the day, its all in the game. Alpha Delta,at least there are some people who understands how you feel. Above all like I mentioned in the earlier post there's good and bad in all. So many Emiratis are very good in behavior and they respect Asian culture and race alike , 'coz they believe the fact that its not just Middle East its Middle East ASIA.
Shiyas Asaf Ali, ABU DHABI
Added: 12/02/09 09:10:00 AM
Ms. al Shamsi:
During the Civil Right era, very many white Americans didn't think that their country was racist at all. Many white South Africans never could see what the fuss was with apartheid.
Does this same lapse in judgment explain why you as an urbane and sophisticated Emarati (or at least that is what you like to portray yourself as) seems ignorant of the fact that salaries and job prospects in the UAE are based on nationality?
Alpha Delta, Dubai
Added: 11/28/09 10:15:00 AM
Dear Fatima,
I am a Canadian of Indian Origin, since u have felt racism in NY,I just thought I would express my feeling. My 6 year old nephew knows what racism feels like and he has been in UAE all his life.
How do you explain that???
I feel sorry for you to go that far to feel what racism is,despite of having it in UAE in such a large volume that even a toddler can understand.
Since most Asians, especially Indians Pakis and Bangladeshis work here at jobs which require less intellect or educational criteria, it doesnt mean all asians are just the same.In fact I have seen how badly people are being treated in airports, governments offices and so forth in a very disrespectful manner.
So next time you have such racial feelings, please keep it on check as it is barely anything compared to those poor labor class people working day and night to built your country's fame and so called progress.
Yet, there are so many Emiratis I know who have a good view and a perfect mindset who appreciates and really make them feel better. The best example is the Great Shiekh Zayed ,past ruler of UAE. And many more who follow his lead. The way we should see things are like flip of a coin. There is good and there is bad.Of which we cant help beyond an extend.
I am not sure if you know this. Being a white skinned , or looking like a westerner is the biggest threat for tourist in Africa and East Asia, Dispute areas of Kashmir and Afgan. Where as a dark skinned person can pass all these areas as a normal tourist. Thats what happened when we went to Zimbabwe and Iran last year.That doesnt mean these places openly threat the lives of pale or white skinned people.But its just like that.So to an extend there is ups and downs. So take it easy.
"As much as there is wise people, there are people with a much lesser IQ.And in fact it is becuase of them that wise people are still wise. Else where's the difference."
-----B.T.Washington
Shiyas Asaf Ali, ABU DHABI