How others see us
With recent events, both globally and locally, creating a heightened awareness of racial prejudice and injustice, Renée Finnegan shares some of her experiences of integrating into life in Ireland.
“Y
ou’re the dad, you’re the sister… and who are you?” These words echoed through the room the four of us occupied when the doctor finally arrived to attend to our toddler’s injury. This experience, in the accident and emergency department, isn’t my first or last in Northern Ireland of being dismissed as the mother of my children, but, to date, is one of my worst. In another context, and with a less pressing priority, I would not have left this blatant neglect of interpersonal skills unchallenged. With the spotlight on racial inequality being intensified, specifically over the past year, anyone subjected to racial prejudice and discrimination will know the plethora of global stories of injustice encompassing this reality. Against the backdrop of this fallen condition of the world, there is perhaps little of a person’s opinion that has the potential to bring about change. Rather, it’s someone’s story, used by God, that has the power to challenge and influence attitudes with life-changing impact.
My story Each of us has a diverse back story that converges with the stories of others at
38
Herald Spring 2021
the crossroads of life. Sharing my ethnic story is complex because it is rooted in the systematically structured political regime of apartheid. This discrimination, which measured a person’s social and economic status on the basis of skin colour, subsequently comprised racially determined policies and practices. This unjust apartheid served as the canvas for my introduction to the world and spanned into my early 20s. Despite this political ploy of control and coercion, I had the privilege of a fairly sheltered upbringing within an Indian family in South Africa. Thankfully, for me, it was a rather unscathed experience. My world revolved around a racially frozen landscape within which I simply didn’t know of anything being amiss. This was the benefit of my grandparents’ humbling and proactive protection of their children and future generations. Due to my grandfather’s political involvement, by committing his life to a non-violent struggle for a non-
Engaging with people different to us undoubtedly requires making a concerted effort.
racial democracy with the South African Indian Congress, I was prevented from being directly subjected to any form of personal racial abuse in my homeland.
Mistaken identity Having travelled the world, including living in Israel, it was only when I relocated to the United Kingdom in December 2001 that a very different picture suddenly emerged; I experienced the rawness of racism. Shortly after arriving, I was confronted with preconceived ideas of my dignity and worth, which were based on having me all figured out. I was dismayed to find that my character and background were prejudged by my packaging, with no time and effort made to get to know me.
Making friends Excluding family, everyone starts off as strangers. For someone like me, making friends here is by no means straightforward. It’s fair to say that a history steeped in tribalism poses a formidable hurdle. Therefore, this has been the hardest of my challenges in adapting to life in Northern Ireland and adopting it as my home. Yet unlike most people who come to live here, I have the support network of my family-in-law
