Comments and discussion

In your analysis of “The Pioneers: Fifty Years of Caribbean Migration to Britain” by Caryl Phillips, you should consider discussing those statements that are particularly interesting or controversial. 

For example, there are a few claims in the text that accuse the British of having been xenophobic and racist in the past, such as the “Keep Britain White” (p. 31, ll. 26-27) slogan or the fact that Britain tried to beat immigrants “into submission” (p. 32, l. 18) and “had no desire to welcome them” (p. 32, ll. 18-19). Such statements were probably intended to make the British feel ashamed about their past attitude to immigrants.

However, these statements could be considered offensive by more conservative readers and alienate them instead of convincing them multiculturalism is beneficial. Similarly, the attack on Conservative politician Norman Tebbit could be considered offensive: “Should this happen we will once again find ourselves surrounded by people like Norman Tebbit (…) said that ‘different cultures will splinter our society.’ ” (p. 32, ll. 32-36). Norman Tebbit was a Conservative politician who occupied various functions in Margaret Thatcher’s Cabinet between 1981 and 1987.

You could also...