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71
WORK WITH IMMIGRANT FAMILIES
(Miss I. O. D. Harrison, M.B.E., J.P., S.S.D., Assistant Principal Social Worker)
The year 1968 was an eventful one which brought to the fore many aspects of the problems
of immigration and race relations. Events such as the Asian Kenyan situation, and publicly declared
concern of well known people over what they considered to be problems caused by the presence
of coloured people, led not only to nation wide and controversial discussion, but unfortunately,
also emotional reaction from certain groups of people. These events, coupled with frustrations
arising from unresolved social problems, and from the insecurities of economic crises manifested
themselves by certain groups of people voicing resentment and fears against the presence of
coloured workers, many of whom have been here for so long that they cannot be described as
immigrants, but only as citizens.
Tragic assassinations in the United States, protest movements there, and to a lesser extent
over here, I believe also increased feelings of insecurity because such events inevitably introduced
a reality of violence, suggesting particularly to the emotionally susceptible, that violence should be
considered to be an ingredient of race relations in this country.
It is understandable that people may feel threatened by "unlike" people whom they believe to
be "flooding the country"; threats which are sometimes reinforced by individual unhappy
experiences with unsatisfactory neighbours, landlords and tenants. It is not easy to explain the
difference between uninvited immigrants and Commonwealth immigrants, invited by virtue of
work vouchers because it is felt that they have skills and work contributions which are still necessary
for our employment forces, because people consumed with their individual problems are obviously
not receptive to this kind of reasoning.
A disconcerting aspect of this unhappy situation is the understandable reaction of minority
groups, who though welcomed for the work potential, had it brought increasingly to their attention
through the various organs of public opinion, and publicised statements by certain people that
they were considered to be responsible for the social problems in the communities, and not therefore
welcomed for themselves as citizens in the communities. They can only turn inwards for mutual
self protection, or look towards the more vociferous members of their ethnic communities to protect
their interests as an alien group. Unfortunately of course not all such representatives are fully
capable of leadership and balanced comment.
A further consequence was that among white people concerned with community relations
were some who, becoming disturbed by the situation, emotionally over-identified with the victims
of the unhappy predicament and, as a coloured man remarked, "became white people trying to be
blacker than the black man", which is not a progressive step. This behaviour then resulted in
criticism against other workers in the field of race relations. Resentful white people sometimes
claimed that these workers are all extremists and politically rather then socially oriented, while
some embittered leaders of vociferous groups accused officers not engaged in active protest of
being uncaring. (I received letters accusing me of all these offences.)
I think it would be true to say that, despite the fact that many coloured citizens wish only to be
left in peace, even though they experience the hurt of being the subject of controversy for reasons
over which they have no control, and that the numbers of people working towards the solutions
of the problems increased, the situation as a whole became more tense during the year.
It would, therefore, be belabouring a point to explain the many ways in which the overall situation
increased and complicated my work. Suffice it to say that while still being available to assist and
advise individuals with personal problems, the aspect of the work which I consider to be of
tremendous importance—that of disseminating facts and dispelling false beliefs, and addressing
groups of people and organisations (both official and unofficial) to consider and attempt to work
out difficulties increased enormously.
Problems brought to my attention arising from the Race Relations Bill increased, not because of
the objects of the Act and what it says, but because of what some people believe the objects to be,
and believe it to say. Unsatisfactory and unsuitable coloured staff are not expected to be tolerated
in the belief that they must be treated differently from others. Behaviour resulting from such a
belief can only hamper the aims of the Bill and create an unfair disadvantage for other workers.
The Bill is not designed to give privileges to coloured people, but to prevent underprivilege on
ethnic grounds. Nevertheless, this is still a commonly held belief. I spent a great deal of time
discussing problems of this kind with staff managers and personnel and welfare officers in places
of employment.