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Last week’s news story from Buckingham Palace that a member of staff of the palace had resigned over an allegation of racism got many Nigerians talking and wondering what was racist in the question, “Where are you from?”
The accuser was Ms Ngozi Fulani, founder of Sistah Space, a domestic abuse charity based in the United Kingdom. The accused was Lady Susan Hussey, a royal aide and godmother to Prince William: Prince of Wales. The incident, which was witnessed by two other people, took place at Buckingham Palace at an event on violence against women and girls hosted by the Queen Consort, Camilla.
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Recounting the encounter between her and the 83-year-old royal aide, Fulani described the conversation thus:
Lady SH: Where are you from?
Me: Sistah Space.
SH: No, where do you come from?
Me: We’re based in Hackney.
SH: No, what part of Africa are you from?
Me: I don’t know, they didn’t leave any records.
SH: Well, you must know where you’re from, I spent time in France. Where are you from?
Me: Here, UK
SH: No, but what nationality are you?
Me: I am born here and I’m British.
SH: No, but where do you really come from, where do your people come from?
Me: ‘My people,’ lady, what is this?
SH: Oh, I can see I am going to have a challenge getting you to say where you’re from. When did you first come here?
Me: Lady! I am a British national, my parents came here in the 50s when …
SH: Oh, I knew we’d get there in the end, you’re Caribbean!
Me: No Lady, I am of African heritage, Caribbean descent and British nationality.
SH: Oh, so you’re from …”
Many Nigerians have noted that they don’t see anything racist in such a question. Asking someone “where are you from” is so common in Nigeria that it is not seen as anything untoward. It is seen as an honest way of knowing the person better. Sometimes by probing deeper, people discover that they are related or connected in one way or the other.
However, in the Western world, it is not the same. Such probing typically is used to isolate people, especially those of African or Asian heritage. It is used to directly or indirectly tell them that they are outsiders; that they don’t belong fully. While people with Norwegian, Austrian or Polish ancestry, for example, don’t usually receive such probing because they are White, people with Indian, Nigerian or Kenyan ancestry, for example, would constantly be asked, “Where are you from?”
Ms Mandu Reid, who witnessed the incident, explained the impact that had on them: “It was pretty shocking because we didn’t feel welcome. We didn’t feel that we belonged. We felt our legitimacy in a way was challenged and questioned.”
The person who is trying to find out where the other person is from may even be a descendant of migrants. But by asking you “where are you from”, the person assumes the position of “I am an indigene here, while you must have come from somewhere to my land.”
For this reason, most Western countries which understand the underlying message in this question have made it clear that such a question should not be asked. In such countries, you are not allowed to ask someone: Where are you from? How old are you? What is your marital status? What is your sexual orientation? What is your religion? Employers of labour are included in this.
The idea behind this is that those who ask people to state their ancestry in their official documents can use it to discriminate against such people. This is also true in Nigeria where every official document requires you to fill in your state of origin and local government of origin. Once this is seen, it is used to compartmentalise or pigeonhole you. The thinking of the Western world is that one’s ancestry has no connection to the ability of the person to perform a duty.
Similarly, many people face employment discrimination based on their age. This is called ageism. People in their 20s and 30s are usually preferred for employment over those in their 40s, 50s, 60s and above. For this reason, applicants are not requested to supply their date of birth as is done in Nigeria. If a company asks for such in a job vacancy, it is the civic duty of citizens to report such an organisation. Even in private dealings, if someone asks you for your age in a way you consider improper, you are encouraged to report the person to the authorities. Even though there is a retirement age for workers in such countries, those who want to continue to work as employees into their 70s and 80s, either to keep themselves busy or earn more money, are given the opportunity to do so.
The same thing goes for someone’s sex or sexual orientation or religion. Such factors are not to be asked for. You don’t need such information to get a good employee or have any fruitful dealing with an individual. If the person chooses to disclose it, it is the person’s priority.
Most Western countries put these measures into effect to protect the minority against the majority. They want people to be seen and treated as human beings without any attachment to issues that are extraneous to them. They want people to feel respected and equally accepted. They know that discrimination is not always verbal and direct. Most times, it is nuanced. Therefore, they ensure that even those instances of nuanced discrimination are tackled and not allowed to assume a cloak of acceptance as the norm.
Consequently, most countries of Western Europe, North America and the Oceania have the freest environments for human beings on earth. There are definitely instances of racism in these Western countries, but they take honest, robust, concrete steps to ensure that discrimination of all forms is uprooted or at least refused the water, air and nutrients to grow and flourish. On a continuous basis, they pass laws (or their law courts make pronouncements) which expand the frontiers of human rights.
That is why most people in different parts of the world flee to Western countries whenever their life or freedom is threatened. This includes those who tongue-lash Western democracies. Even those who live in Western democracies but verbally or violently attack them for not operating as they wish, based on their culture or religion, would resist any attempt to return to their country of descent or migration.
It should, therefore, not surprise anyone that the issue between Fulani and Hussey received the attention of Buckingham Palace and other sections of the United Kingdom. In a statement, Buckingham Palace said inter alia: “We take this incident extremely seriously and have investigated immediately to establish the full facts. In this instance unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments have been made. We have reached out to Fulani on this matter, and we are inviting her to discuss all elements of her experience in person if she wishes.”
Human beings have dignity. Human beings love to be treated with respect and decency. All forms of discrimination – direct or indirect – should be discouraged by all people of conscience.
Azuka Onwuka
Twitter: @BrandAzuka
