Brit(ish) Summary

“What does it mean to belong when your skin color or heritage prompts the question, ‘Where are you from?’ no matter where you've called home your whole life?”

1. British Identity is a Contested Concept

What defines a person as British? Hirsch explores identity as personal and shared, shaped by both self-view and societal perception. British national identity, often linked to values, heritage, and history, is anything but universally agreed upon. Political and social divisions have contributed to multiple, often conflicting descriptions of what being British entails.

The 2016 Brexit vote tore open these debates, showing how nationalism, immigration, and a longing for "Englishness" clashed with liberal and inclusive ideas. Leave campaigners equated British identity with closed borders and traditionalism, indicating a preference for a less diverse society. Meanwhile, others viewed Britishness as inherently multicultural, embracing immigrants and their contributions.

For many people like Hirsch, British identity remains elusive. When asked repeatedly about her “true” origins, she feels excluded from an identity she has every right to claim. That question implies “British” defaults to white — an assumption people of color must repeatedly confront.

Examples

• Post-Brexit, hate crimes surged by 41%, fueled by anti-immigrant sentiment.
• White Britons often asked Hirsch, “Where are you from?” despite her British roots.
• During Brexit discussions, definitions of Britishness mirrored Leave versus Remain divides.

2. A Long History of Xenophobia and Immigration Backlash

The UK's history reveals how immigration and xenophobia are tightly interwoven. From Queen Elizabeth I lamenting immigrant workers to Conservative and Labour politicians enforcing restrictive laws, opposition to newcomers is not new but deeply ingrained.

The mid-20th century waves of immigrants from the Caribbean, India, and Pakistan illustrate this. Called to fill post-WWII labor shortages, these settlers faced hostility despite contributing to the nation. Government officials in the 1950s openly warned against perceived threats to British “purity.”

Despite centuries of migration, many Britons insist theirs is a homogeneous heritage. The tendency to ignore historical immigration while railing against newer migrants fuels a continuing cycle of prejudice, scapegoating, and exclusion.

Examples

• Post-War Caribbean and South Asian immigrants faced restrictive immigration laws by 1961.
• A 1905 editorial described Jewish immigrants as “grafting sickness onto English stock.”
• Theresa May’s government tried to shame companies employing foreign workers in 2016.

3. The Illusion of a Post-Racial Britain

Many Britons proudly describe the UK as tolerant and diverse, claiming they “don’t see race.” This idea of racial color blindness seems positive but often dismisses or invalidates the value of racial identity. Racial identities provide meaning and connection for many and cannot simply be erased.

The deeper issue is denying systemic racism’s persistence. From nuanced microaggressions to overt hate speech, racism still shapes people of color’s experiences. Despite the optimistic “everyone belongs” narrative, Hirsch has faced dismissal of her British identity and witnessed people wield racial biases in everyday life.

Examples

• The taxi driver asked Hirsch after Brexit if she was “going home soon.”
• White peers viewed themselves as racially unbiased yet still doubted Hirsch’s British claim.
• Some British workplaces and schools banned hairstyles linked with Afro-Caribbean heritage.

4. Childhood Experiences Shape Racial Perceptions

With privileged access to private schools and ski trips, Hirsch's childhood might seem idyllic. Yet her racial identity cast a shadow. In a largely white suburb, she faced ridicule for physical traits like her tightly curled hair or muscular legs. These experiences were isolating, marking her as different.

Comments from classmates were often rooted in racist stereotypes. Physicality stereotypes about Black women, like "thunder thighs" or “scary,” reflect lingering colonial ideologies. Such teasing wasn’t just bullying — it tied Hirsch’s body to centuries-old myths about race.

As a young girl, Hirsch became aware that her very presence challenged white beauty norms. Her sense of worth was deeply affected by both peers and media framing.

Examples

• Schoolmates called her "troll" to mock her hair texture.
• Adult shop managers assumed Hirsch would steal from stores.
• Media rarely showed role models who looked like Hirsch.

5. White Beauty Standards Have Damaging Effects

From childhood, Hirsch absorbed messages that positioned white physical features as the ultimate standard. The beauty industry and entertainment celebrated light skin, slenderness, and button noses, leaving women like Hirsch feeling excluded.

Modern advertising often performs diversity by featuring ambiguous or light-skinned models, still conforming to whiteness-based standards. This perpetuates harmful patterns where darker skins and African textures remain marginalized or erased.

As a teenager, Hirsch doubted her looks, even describing herself as “disgusting.” This internalized ideal of beauty underscores broader racial biases extending into adulthood and professional lives.

Examples

• Black women in the UK increasingly use skin-lightening products.
• Hirsch felt insecure comparing her body to white-centered standards in magazines.
• British workplaces pressure women to straighten natural Afro hair for a “polished” image.

6. Sexual Stereotypes Continue to Harm Black People

Black women and men remain burdened with harmful stereotypes about sexuality. Women face fetishization yet rejection for relationships, a double bind rooted in colonial rhetoric. Men, meanwhile, are framed as both threatening and desirable.

White gaze-created myths about “tribal” Black bodies persist in media today. They influence interracial relationships, dating preferences, and perceptions of masculinity or femininity. Such views dehumanize individuals, reducing them to assumptions based on skin pigment.

Examples

• In 2010, a study revealed only 7% of white men on dating platforms were open to dating Black women.
• Black men have been stereotyped as “lustful” since the sixteenth century, making headlines like “Black Scourge” in the 20th century.
• Hirsch observed men fetishizing her mixed-race identity while simultaneously distancing themselves.

7. Marginalized in Professional Spheres

Black Britons often find themselves boxed into lower-skilled or menial roles. Even in spaces of privilege, Hirsch has noticed how rare it is to meet professionals of color outside cleaning staff or servers. These perceptions extend into subtle, paternalistic doubts about Black individuals’ competency.

Such assumptions are not limited to workplaces. They arise socially, with well-meaning allies confusing Hirsch with public figures like Michelle Obama. Mistaking her for powerful individuals reinforces stereotypes like “all Black people look alike.”

Examples

• Black catering staff outnumbered Black guests at professional events Hirsch attended.
• Racist assumptions led someone to mistake Hirsch for Michelle Obama at a London restaurant.
• Over half of young Black Britons have experienced employment discrimination.

8. Britain Downplays Its Role in Slavery

The UK often celebrates its abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in 1807 but largely glosses over its immense involvement. With over 40% of enslaved Africans transported through British ships, the empire profited immensely from human suffering.

Even abolition wasn’t as clean as the narrative suggests. Financial loopholes permitted continued exploitation through trade in commodities like sugar. The UK has yet to squarely confront this history or acknowledge the contributions of Black abolitionists who fought alongside figures like MP William Wilberforce.

Examples

• Britain led the global supply of slaves during the 18th century.
• Olaudah Equiano, a crucial abolitionist, is seldom mentioned alongside Wilberforce.
• Slave-grown cotton dominated industrial Britain’s economy through textiles.

9. Black History Is British History

Black voices remain largely absent from UK history. Figures like Olaudah Equiano are rarely honored in textbooks or memorials. Meanwhile, Black contributions often feel confined to “Black History Month,” suggesting separateness.

This lack of integration limits national understanding and leaves Black Britons excluded from their own shared past. Hirsch argues that embracing Black history as integral to all British narratives helps foster genuine equity and belonging.

Examples

• The Sons of Africa’s abolition efforts remain overshadowed by Wilberforce in UK curricula.
• Black veterans from wars rarely appear in documentaries or public commemorations.
• Hirsch herself discovered important British-African connections only in adulthood.

Takeaways

1. Challenge your assumptions about identity and belonging — ask yourself what makes someone a true member of your given nation or community.
2. Learn about your country’s racial and migration history to see how it shapes current inequalities, policies, and narratives.
3. Center marginalized voices in conversations about history, beauty standards, and professional representation — these stories are part of the whole picture.