I was invited to take part in a panel discussion at Greenbelt 2019 Wit and Wisdom, hosted by my friends at USPG. ‘USPG is the Anglican Mission agency that partners churches and communities worldwide in God’s mission to enliven faith, strengthen relationships, unlock potential and champion justice. Founded 1701.’
MP David Lammy’s tweet to Comic Relief arguing that “The world does not need any more white saviours” made headline news this year. He claimed that “the idea Africans are victims that need saving is a missionary idea…Let’s instead promote voices from across the continent of Africa and have a serious debate.” USPG is a 300 year old mission agency and we believe Greenbelt is the perfect place for such a debate. We have invited thinkers from around the world to join us – we hope you will join us as well.
I was joining a panel featuring: Revd. Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Revd. Ijeoma Ajibade, and Revd. Duncan Dormor. The panel was chaired by Revd. Dr Rachele (Evie) Vernon O’Brien.
For the panel we were each asked to prepare a six minute presentation. After we had each given our short presentation, we would then answer questions from the audience.
The Treehouse tent was packed at Greenbelt for a really enjoyable discussion, which received really positive audience engagement.
Here below is a transcript of my presentation for the panel:
I’m going to break Lammy’s original tweet down into three sections. Firstly, ‘The world does not need any more white saviours.’[1]For centuries we British have spread our influence and dominance across the world, particularly through our Empire. I myself, as the son of Indian immigrants, am here in the UK because of the imperial connection, and the invitation to the Commonwealth to come here to work.
Sharing ideas, cultures and beliefs with others is wonderful. It’s a great joy that different cultures can benefit from each other. However, so often British culture, and with that white culture, has been imposed on other cultures unwillingly. So, when Stacey Dooley asks David Lammy, ‘is the issue with me being white?’ The answer is 100% NO. The problem is when we impose white culture and beliefs as an act of superiority or dominance, as done for countless years. We imposed our language, our dress, our ideals, our religions, and so much more. Now there is nothing intrinsically wrong with European languages, a suit and tie, or with Christianity – I myself am very grateful that the gospel was shared with my great-grandparents in India through white British influence – but when we impose these things on others, we express a belief that we have the superior language, ideals and culture, and therefore place other peoples’ cultures as lesser and inferior. Over time these dynamics have become systematically rooted in our national and global culture, against non-white people groups. This is an oppressive and insulting predicament, which fails to look at these non-white people groups as beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, who have deep value and richness as fellow human beings.
In our history books, we so often propel a white cultural narrative of beliefs and ideals that we fail to hear about this deep richness found in other people and their cultures – we effectively hear only half the story. This phenomenon is often referred to as ‘white-washing history,’ where we see a white-only narrative distorting the full picture. Take for example how we look back at the abolition of the slave trade. The only well-known name from the movement is William Wilberforce, a white politician. I do not for a second doubt Wilberforce’s contribution to the abolition of the slave trade, but how many people know of the stories of black communities in the abolitionist movement, the likes of Olaudah Equiano, or the Maroons in Jamaica? If we forget black participation in the abolition of the slave trade, we end up with a distorted image where white people saved the black slaves and granted them freedom, ignoring the role of black people in winning their own freedom. We also often overlook the contribution of soldiers from the Commonwealth during both world wars, where India contributed over a million soldiers for each war. This maintains a superior-inferior, stronger-weaker dynamic. It paints a distorted picture of white people as white saviours. It then also perpetuates a myth that Africans, Asians etc. are all in need of saving, which is to be performed by these white saviours.
This is the second issue, of perpetuating ‘tired and unhelpful stereotypes.’[2]Our culture creates a distorted image of white people, and a distorted image of other ethnicities. For example, Lammy argues that Comic Relief paints Africans as ‘helpless victims to be pitied.’ We see only the negative side of the story, and we fail to see the domestic success and innovations taking place on the African continent, such as their economic growth and development. We come to see Africa as a pity project, rather than people worthy of equality and respect; and we then see it as the task of the white western world to come and save them. Lammy says, this can bring with it a perpetuation of ‘an old idea from the colonial era’ – of viewing white culture as superior to non-white cultures. The cycle continues. For those of us like myself, and others who are non-white, when we find ourselves caught up in these structures and distorted images, we begin to doubt ourselves. There are times when I’ve felt inadequate because I’m not white. Even now going forward in training for the priesthood, there was a point on this journey that I thought being an Anglican priest would involve me conforming to white culture – that I would have to leave part of myself behind. It is not uncommon for ethnic minorities in this country to change or hide part of themselves for a white audience. In short, their sense of self is determined by others, often by white culture: the white saviours of our self-believed shortcomings.
We need to hear Lammy’s third point, to promote unheard voices and have serious debate.[3]Actor Himesh Patel suggests that, ‘Storytelling is the most powerful way to promote our understanding of the world in which we live and the vessels to tell these stories is our media.’[4]It is through hearing each other’s stories and perspectives, through debate and discussion, that we come to see and respect different ethnicities as people. Comic Relief and other media outlets have a great opportunity to do this in a respectful and wholesome manner.
We need to find a way to engage with those in need as people, as fellow sisters and brothers in Christ – they are not a charity project. Part of what USPG aims to do with the Journey With Us programme is to cultivate learning through living alongside others. The phrase itself, ‘Journey with us’, captures the heart of how Jesus calls us to work with those who are different – we are to interact from a place of fraternity and not superiority. We are not saviours coming to impose dominance and influence; instead we are allies, people who come alongside our fellow human, where we recognise the value of what we can receive from them (because we have many issues too), while they too recognise the value of what they can receive from us. This is where we should aim to be. We don’t see white saviours; we don’t see people in desperate helplessness; we see equals – people who share in the ups and downs of life.
[1]https://twitter.com/DavidLammy/status/1100849824046505984
[2]https://twitter.com/DavidLammy/status/1100849824046505984
[3]https://twitter.com/DavidLammy/status/1100849824046505984
[4]Nikesh Shukla, ed., The Good Immigrant (London: Unbound, 2017), 67.
Shakeel Nurmahi 