by Ruth Daly
The Immigrant Council
of Ireland recently held a highly important workshop entitled ‘Voices of Young
Migrant Men’ which brought to light the varying and often difficult issues
facing young migrants in Ireland. This ground-breaking research project, funded
by the European Commission, took place in seven different European countries,
including, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Today, reports have
been slowly filtering through Irish media about the discrimination, prejudice
and assault faced by migrants in Ireland. Of course, we can conclude that these
findings are not exclusive to Ireland but rather are the experience of migrants
everywhere. While the research project mentioned focuses on the experiences of
young migrant men, I would like to extend this discussion to migrant women, who
face equally difficult challenges in the form of discrimination and prejudice.
Findings from the
research project indicate disturbing levels of racism and prejudice from
authoritative government groups. Policy and Research Officer with the ICI,
Peter Slovak stated that racism was a common thread seen among members of the
Gardaí and the Immigration Authorities with highly unprofessional and
insensitive workers remarking ‘your kind is not allowed here’ among other derogatory
and racist remarks. Additionally, there were reports of insinuations that
migrants were there purely for financial gain. Godfrey Chimbganda of ICI
stressed the importance of integration in tackling racial discrimination
towards migrants, stating that the Garda Síochána and other government bodies
need to become more diverse. I have included a link to this report at the end
of this post for anyone who would like to read more about it.
Oswaldo, one of the
young men who participated in the research project has stated that ‘borders are
more than just lines drawn in a map, some are even literally massive walls and
spiked fences, not even airports are as welcoming as you might expect, they are
scary, judgmental and discriminating. We cannot discover our own planet
freely.’ (ICI, 2015)
We need to reassess the
way in which we view culture and borders and embrace their respective fluidity.
If we are to regard culture as intermingled and multifarious, it follows that
cultural growth is something which migration facilitates. Thus, it stands that
migrants are in a position to act as empowered agents of change here in
Ireland, and indeed globally. In The Location of Culture, literary theorist and
scholar Homi K. Bhabha highlights the importance of recognising the porous
borders between cultures, a notion of fluidity shared by other critics. John
McLeod states ‘that [borders] are always leaking into each other,
criss-crossing the supposed barriers’ (263) which causes ideas to move and
change as a result.
In The Black Atlantic:
Modernity and Double Consciousness (Verso, 1993), Gilroy discusses the middle
passage, employing the image of the ship as a means by which to symbolise ‘a
living, micro-cultural, micro-political system in motion’ (4). This symbol ‘bears
witness to the history of black oppression but also the possibility of putting
ideas and cultural practices “on the move”, circulating them across different
places in perpetual motion’ (266). Here we see an element of hope and new
possibility regarding the exchange of ideas emerge out of the profoundly
horrific, deeply traumatic Middle Passage.
I refer to Gilroy as
parallels can be drawn between his research and the current migrant crisis.
What men, women and children are currently going through in an attempt to flee
war-torn countries and oppressive regimes is unfathomable. The gross violation
of human rights is disgraceful. Our, the EU’s, response is less than welcoming.
Simply put, it is not good enough. How is it that have we not learned from
history?
In their own words,
migrants have described the immense difficulty of leaving their respective
homelands to come to a strange place in search of hope, in search of peace. In
light of the continuous difficulties facing migrants living in Ireland – many of
which have been highlighted by this research – it is more important than ever
to highlight the manifold ways in which men, women and children from outside of
the EU who have sought asylum in Ireland have enriched Irish culture. Indeed,
many have been hugely influential in our continued societal development.
One such example can be
seen in a recent legal case which saw Muhammad Younis vindicated as the Supreme
Court overturned a previous High Court judgement. Younis was awarded €92,634.42
in unpaid wages and compensation for 7 years’ work in a Clondalkin restaurant.
Mr. Younis’ unrelenting perserverence in his fight for his rights has not only
changed the law but it has made Ireland a far better, safer, more just place
for all workers.
Additionally, a recent
International Report entitled ‘Indicators of Immigrant Integration 2015’
carried out by the European Commission and the OECD has shown that Ireland has
the most educated immigrants in the EU. If anything, we should be grateful to
have such bright minds contributing to Irish society.
It is imperative that
we focus on the fluid and porous nature of borders, and embrace our fellow
citizens. I will conclude with some sage advice from Oswaldo:
‘At the end of the day,
it’s all of us together, the common citizens of the world through our opinions
and activism who can change the actions of our policy makers, and the positions
of our politicians.’ (ICI, 2015)
References
Bhabha, Homi K., The
Location of Culture (Routledge, 1994)
Gilroy, Paul, The Black
Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness (Verso, 1993)
McLeod, John, Beginning
Postcolonialism (Manchester University Press, 2010)
To read more about the
findings of the ‘Voices of Young Migrant Men’ research project, visit: http://www.immigrantcouncil.ie/
To read more about the
‘Indicators of Immigrant Integration 2015’ report, visit:
http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/social-issues-migration-health/indicators-of-immigrant-integration-2015-settling-in_9789264234024-en#page149
