London's First Black Community

[Viv]

Yes, it's true what the forum racist propaganda says. Europe is being overcome by a new wave of immigrants who are a new phenomenon in UK in particular and London, never having seen an immigrant before, is in danger of becoming entirely non-white. [/ferocious sarcasm]

But wait. What is this...evidence that immigration dates back centuries in Merry Olde England.

At least as far back as Elizabeth 1st.

And Shakespeare built it into the culture as far back as all that...?

Britain's first black community in Elizabethan London


Black trumpeter John Blanke played regularly at the courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII
The reign of Elizabeth I saw the beginning of Britain's first black community. It's a fascinating story for modern Britons, writes historian Michael Wood.
Walk out of Aldgate Tube and stroll around Whitechapel Road in east London today, and you'll experience the heady sights, smells and sounds of the temples, mosques and curry houses of Brick Lane - so typical of modern multicultural Britain.
Most of us tend to think that black people came to Britain after the war - Caribbeans on the Empire Windrush in 1948, Bangladeshis after the 1971 war and Ugandan Asians after Idi Amin's expulsion in 1972.
But, back in Shakespeare's day, you could have met people from west Africa and even Bengal in the same London streets.
Of course, there were fewer, and they drew antipathy as well as fascination from the Tudor inhabitants, who had never seen black people before. But we know they lived, worked and intermarried, so it is fair to say that Britain's first black community starts here.
There had been black people in Britain in Roman times, and they are found as musicians in the early Tudor period in England and Scotland.
But the real change came in Elizabeth I's reign, when, through the records, we can pick up ordinary, working, black people, especially in London.
Shakespeare himself, a man fascinated by "the other", wrote several black parts - indeed, two of his greatest characters are black - and the fact that he put them into mainstream entertainment reflects the fact that they were a significant element in the population of London.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18903391

Call off the genocide then. Other cultures have always been part of ours...

[Iolo]

And we almost all came from northern Spain ancestrally, and before that from Africa. Long live our mixed vigour, and the young people who'll pay our pensions!

[Munqi]

What is it about britain that produces these liberal zealots? You'd think that the brits of all people should be proud of their country because it is a great nation.

For the last frigging time, i doubt that anyone out there has a problem with small immigrant communities living in britain or anywhere else in Europe. What we have a problem with is the destruction of Europe as we know it, which will occur by mid century if you psychopaths get your way.

How is it possible that you dont understand the dangers of being over run by foreign, and in many cases hostile cultures? What happens if the muslim immigrants some day decide that they're not interested in paying your pensions? Are you saying that they love you so much that they're willing to give away half of their life to serve you? Like it or not, the welfare state is product of nationalism.

I know you have this fantasy that you're standing against the forces of fascism, but really what you're against is common sense. The intelligent people left the liberal movement a long time ago, now its just airheads like you.

[alexa]

What is it about britain that produces these liberal zealots? You'd think that the brits of all people should be proud of their country because it is a great nation.

For the last frigging time, i doubt that anyone out there has a problem with small immigrant communities living in britain or anywhere else in Europe. What we have a problem with is the destruction of Europe as we know it, which will occur by mid century if you psychopaths get your way.

How is it possible that you dont understand the dangers of being over run by foreign, and in many cases hostile cultures? What happens if the muslim immigrants some day decide that they're not interested in paying your pensions? Are you saying that they love you so much that they're willing to give away half of their life to serve you? Like it or not, the welfare state is product of nationalism.

I know you have this fantasy that you're standing against the forces of fascism, but really what you're against is common sense. The intelligent people left the liberal movement a long time ago, now its just airheads like you.

There is no evidence for your concerns, The Eurabia myth was destroyed years ago so yes, I think it is against fascism. The Welfare State was a product of fear of revolution and has all but gone in England in particular.

We need to deal with immigrants who are here, who have lawfully received residency or citizenship and help them to integrate within our society and as you mention it, I think it probably is against neo nazism or fascism whatever form it wishes to hide in for the time being.

Oh and what is it about Britain, probably because we have never gone that way but have seen its results.

[CKW]

I would think that if black people and middleeastern people living in the United Kingdom had loyalty to the English culture and values (which I am sure the few minorities that lived there in the middle ages had) then all is good.

But what seems to be happening from what I read...is that mini-countries are existing in the U.K that have values in conflict with the U.K culture. And that these groups are trying to change the culture of their adopted country to that more of their own home country. Immigrants should decide to take on the traditions and values of the country they choose to go to---not conquer the adopted land and change the country into something else.

I don't look at immigrants as whether they are black, brown or white---but I do look at them and decide if they are a parasite or asset.

[Iolo]

I would think that if black people and middleeastern people living in the United Kingdom had loyalty to the English culture and values (which I am sure the few minorities that lived there in the middle ages had) then all is good.

But what seems to be happening from what I read...is that mini-countries are existing in the U.K that have values in conflict with the U.K culture. And that these groups are trying to change the culture of their adopted country to that more of their own home country. Immigrants should decide to take on the traditions and values of the country they choose to go to---not conquer the adopted land and change the country into something else.

I don't look at immigrants as whether they are black, brown or white---but I do look at them and decide if they are a parasite or asset.

At the time we abolished slavery in the West Indies a couple of scumbags shipped their slaves to Dent, up in the North-West (it is part of the confusing background of 'Wuthering Heights'). You can see photos from the 1890's of African-featured blokes in their caps and mufflers, but now no-one would know - or care. People are just people. Almost all immigrants are a huge advantage to us, but if not, so what? Ain't nobody here but us people.

[ThirdTerm]

Pocahontas at the Court of King James I

[CKW]

At the time we abolished slavery in the West Indies a couple of scumbags shipped their slaves to Dent, up in the North-West (it is part of the confusing background of 'Wuthering Heights'). You can see photos from the 1890's of African-featured blokes in their caps and mufflers, but now no-one would know - or care. People are just people. Almost all immigrants are a huge advantage to us, but if not, so what? Ain't nobody here but us people.

Its more then just people. The reason why we have wars is because the world has people. What keeps a country intact is shared values, traditions and goals.

[alexa]

Its more then just people. The reason why we have wars is because the world has people. What keeps a country intact is shared values, traditions and goals.

Of course it is community. We don't have the sort of problems some people like to assert on internet boards. We have one or two towns, Luton being one where for completely different reasons the town became divided between whites and Muslims and that is being exploited by the far right and a tiny group of radical Muslims. We are probably less concerned about terrorism as we have lived with it for so long from Ireland, largely funded by the people of the US. We understand that there can be difficulties and they can be resolved. Most of us concentrate on the majority who want to make a good life here. The rest will pass.

Yes, we like the US allowed our Muslims to be indoctrinated into Saudi Salafism but that also took it's course and the majority have now moved into at least that plus sufi/traditional. Life changes. Our Muslims are British Muslims. I have heard talk of them eventually finding a particular kind of British Islam which will include Sufi/traditional. We all have to deal with all the things which are going on in the world and effect everyone and many things lead to the situation we are now but the bottom line is our citizens are our citizens wherever they come from and whatever their religion. They are all part of our society and they all have freedom of expression as long as that is contained within British law.

[Viv]

I would think that if black people and middleeastern people living in the United Kingdom had loyalty to the English culture and values (which I am sure the few minorities that lived there in the middle ages had) then all is good.

But what seems to be happening from what I read...is that mini-countries are existing in the U.K that have values in conflict with the U.K culture. And that these groups are trying to change the culture of their adopted country to that more of their own home country. Immigrants should decide to take on the traditions and values of the country they choose to go to---not conquer the adopted land and change the country into something else.

I don't look at immigrants as whether they are black, brown or white---but I do look at them and decide if they are a parasite or asset.

Absolutely amazing. Breathtaking.

Loyalty to English culture and values my arse. Do you even know the UK contains 4 countries and none of the other 3 give a flying **** about English culture? We have independent cultures. It is not a requirement of UK to be homogeneous. Diversity is UK culture.