Minimizations and denials of racism by UK residents from Zimbabwe as occasioned linguistic practice

ABSTRACT

This paper argues that talk about racism produced by UK residents from Zimbabwe during life history interviews conducted in 2011 should be regarded as occasioned linguistic practice rather than a means of accessing their experiences or views about racism. Firstly, I show that interviewees downplayed racism in the UK to emphasize that Zimbabwe has a far greater problem with forms of structural inequality. This was part of a broader attempt to construct Zimbabwe as an undesirable place and thereby justify their presence in the UK. Secondly, I explore ways interviewees tried to ensure their talk about racism did not position them as victims. This paper focuses on appropriated oppression, a dimension of racism neglected by scholars, particularly those studying migrants. It seeks to demonstrate that appropriated oppression is a form of mediated action rather than a psychological state.

KEYWORDS:

• Appropriated oppression
• denial
• minimization
• action orientated
• migrants
• racism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 This paper is based on interviews and analysis I conducted for my PhD thesis (see Hall 2016).

2 Research ethics approval was obtained from a Research Ethics Committee at City, University of London before contact was made with potential interviewees.

3 Verbal informed consent was obtained from interviewees before I conducted the interviews.

4 Job Seekers Allowance.

5 British National Party.

6 Race consciousness denotes a politicized, oppositional consciousness of race and racism (Brush 2001, 171).

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by an Economic and Social Research Council 1 + 3 studentship [grant number ES/G015007/1].