Enough is enough! I’ve had it with you Finns!

Posted on by Dana

By Dana

Yesterday was a dark black day but a blessed one even if it brought so much sadness. A racist couldn’t kill who I am and yet again, like so many times before in my life, God helped me to overcome a very difficult situation. For you racists out there, and those who support you, even those who are racist but yet don’t know it, even those of you who are racist but are still in denial, let me tell you the following: I can hear your thoughts and hate.

Here’s what happened to me at work a day before Vappu, or Labor Day:

I began work on Tuesday in the morning and I knew that the following day would be Vappu. I don’t need to prove to anyone how good of a worker I am. I’m just as good as any of my Finnish coworkers.  Even so, I still don’t understand how people can be so cruel and rude to anyone before a day like Vappu.

My coworkers were in a festive mood and already partying in the kitchen and I heard their laughs all the way from there. Their joy brought me to them. It was wonderful to see my people in such a happy mood. There was food on the kitchen table: cakes, sweets and fruits.

To my surprise, the Vappu they were celebrating a day before was not for me because I was not like them. I’m a foreigner. It was hard blow being excluded. Oh my God, I said to myself, how could they hurt me in such a way?

It was clear that they didn’t want to be with me. Their clear  “you’re not one of us” look and their laughs told me that loud and clearly.

When I returned to the kitchen a little later for my lunch break, I saw them eating ice cream on the other side of the room.  It was the same message over again: This ice cream is for us and not for you.

How did I know?

Because nobody in the room was considerate enough to ask me to join them.

It’s not the first time I’ve been in these types of situations. Only 1% of all the Finns I have met have accepted me and been kind to me.

Sitting as I usually do in the kitchen and eating my lunch by myself, I was careful not place my food on the table because I didn’t want their food to touch mine. Everybody could see I was in the room but no one cared to notice.

I finished eating lunch and went back to work.

Even while I was working, nobody called me to join my fellow coworkers in the kitchen. I felt that I had turned into a ghost before them and Vappu. I didn’t exist.

When I left work I wanted to scream at the top of my voice but where and to whom? In the market? On the street? In shops? At Lidl?

I’ve had it with you Finns! I’ve lived here for five years and I give up!

Believe it or not, I’m actually happy that I gave up on the Finns because I won’t waste my time anymore on false expectations.

Enough is enough!

_______________

More blog entries by Dana: 

A warning: Finland

Don’t leave me

Poetic essay for tomatoes and cucumbers

An immigrant’s life in Finland: Dana misses her family

 

Landmark busman turban case will be another watershed in Finland’s acceptance of cultural diversity

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Finland is about to cross another watershed in cultural diversity, when busman Gill Sukhdarshan Singh of Vantaa was prohibited from using a turban at work, reports Helsingin Sanomat. Some legal experts see it an open-and-shut legal case.

The excuses for a turban ban by bus company Veolia highlight, however, a wider challenge facing our ever-growing cultural diversity.

Kuvankaappaus 2013-5-4 kello 9.52.00

That “challenge” is nothing more than acknowledgement by Finland that we live in a culturally diverse society today. Other ethnic groups and cultures have just as much right to feel at home in Finland.

The whole turban case is as well an example how far behind we lag with other European countries concerning cultural diversity. Sikh bus drivers in England won such rights over forty years ago in 1969.

Despite the arguments used by the bus company to justify the ban, one of the most absurd reasons stated is that waring a tuban is a security risk.

How does wearing a turban cause a security risk?

Singh’s attitutde and approach to the ban by his employer is the correct one that other immigrants and minorities should take when challenging intlerance.  “I’m doing this for my children’s sake so they won’t have to [fight for such a right],” he said.

The case should be seen not only as important to Sikhs living in Finland, but to all immigrants and visible minorities living in this country. Greater acceptance of a group’s rights will have a positive effect on promote greater acceptance of other groups in this country.

On an editorial in Saturday’s Helsingin Sanomat, the daily writes about the turban ban. It hopes that the case is won by Singh.

Meanwhile, retailer HOK-Elanto announced that its employees can wear veils at work, reports Helsingin Sanomat. One of the reasons why their is a policy change in the dress code is because many Muslim women work for the company.

Analysts believe that this practice will become common in other Finnish companies.

While Finland takes proactive steps to accept other groups in this country, parties like the Perussuomalaisiet (PS) are fighting tooth and nail against cultural diversity.

PS MP Vesa-Matti Saarakkala, a well-known anti-immigration lobbyist who is anti-Muslim, has introduced a law initiative in parliament that aims to ban the burqa and nijab in public places. Despite the fact that we’re speaking of a minute minority of women in Finland (I have never seen a woman wearing such clothes in this country), he considers the law important because it is “a preventive measure.”

The law is not expected to pass in parliament.

 

Migrant Tales story sheds more light on a wider problem at schools in Mikkeli

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Who says that writing cannot change matters? Migrant Tales published on Monday a story about a single mother who moved out of Mikkeli with her child because of the racist harassment at school. The story was picked up by Länsi-Savo, Itä-Savo, Peruopetus and commented widely in different national chat forums. 

Kuvankaappaus 2013-5-3 kello 10.16.24

Read whole story here.

On Friday Länsi-Savo wrote an interview with Maaret Deufel-Kirjalainen, Mikkeli’s school immigrant coordinator.

Deufel-Kirjalainen said that the single mother and her boy are not the only immigrant children who may possibly have moved out of Mikkeli because of racist harassment and bullying at school.

She said that these types of racist attitudes are learned at home.

 

 

 

We speak of two-way integration but too many still believe in assimilation

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Finland’s integration law is exemplary in many respects because it aims to integrate newcomers as equals in our society. No law is, however, written in stone and is only as good as the institutions and people that enforce it. One of the matters that some have a difficult time grasping is what two-way adaption, or integration, means and implies. 

Integration is the opposite to assimilation, which is one-way integration. Those who are in favor of assimilation, believe that most if not all of the adapting to cultural diversity will be done on their terms. One of their favorite arguments is: “Why should I adapt to them if they are in my country.”

Assimilation is a lazy and convenient way to exclude and keep others corralled with the help of our suspicion. This integration model is one of the reasons why intolerance is still the rule instead of the exception in many European countries.

Assimilation not only is a lazy model and sustains itself with the help of ethnocentrism, prejudice, white privilege, outright discrimination of whole groups and, worse, by defensive and repeated denials that we don’t have any issue with intolerance.

Take for example Finland’s Romany minority, which have suffered the greatest hostility in our society. They are a good example if any of outright social exclusion.

A US state department human rights report stated recently: ”Groups of Roma have lived in the country for centuries, and Roma are classified as a ’traditional ethnic minority’ in the ombudsman’s report. The Romany minority was the most frequent target of racially motivated discrimination, followed by Russian-speakers, Somalis, and Sami.”

Some Finns are still waiting after 500 years for the Roma, which number about 10,000 in Finland, to turn “white.” By turning white, I mean giving up their traditional dress, identity and ways of life in order to gain greater acceptance.

The paradox, however, is that if they gave up their identity they’d be in worse shape then they are today. The aim of  intolerance and the victimization of groups like the Roma, is to wipe them off the Finnish cultural map.

One matter we should be careful to avoid when promoting two-way integration is exclusion by default. The best of example of this is when elementary schools continue to call third-culture children as students with immigrant backgrounds (maahanmuuttajataustainen) irrespective that they were born and have lived all their lives in this country.

Living in a culturally diverse society where two-way adaption, or integration, is the rule is the most effective and less-expensive way to adapt newcomers.

Even if our society promotes mutual acceptance, our laws and human rights play important roles.

The greatest integrators of all are social justice and equal opportunities – the very values we promote in our laws.

Cecile Kyenge: Italy’s first-ever black minister

Posted on by Migrant Tales

The appointment of Italy’s first black cabinet minister, Cecile Kyenge, 48, is a good example that we can pull together on a difficult issue like race for too many European countries. Kyenge’s appointment has ushered in a new era in Italy politics. Even so, her appointment has exposed in the raw the nation’s ugly race problem. 

Kuvankaappaus 2013-5-2 kello 20.59.12

Read full story here.

Writes the Hufington Post, quoting AP, about Kyenge’s appointment: “One politician from a party that not long ago ruled in a coalition derided what he called Italy’s new ‘bonga bonga government.’ On Wednesday, amid increasing revulsion over the reaction, the government authorized an investigation into neo-fascist websites whose members called Kyenge ‘Congolese monkey’ and other epithets.”

A mother of two who lived in Modena with her Italian husband, Kyenge moved to Italy from her native Congo thirty years ago to study medicine. She is an eye surgeon.

Premier Enrico Letta said in his first speech to parliament that Kygenge’s appointment as minister for integration was a “new concept about the confines of barriers giving way to hope, of unsurpassable limits giving way to a bridge between diverse communities.”

How long will it take for Finland to appoint its first-ever non-white minister?

Thank you Anne Ceesay for the heads-up!

How can we challenge racism if it isn’t a problem?

Posted on by Migrant Tales

As long as we don’t see racism as a big enough problem in our society, our response to it will be inefficient. Just like any illness, we must first diagnose it and then prescribe a cure.  

Kuvankaappaus 2013-4-30 kello 8.18.39

It’s disappointing to read how some people can insult others in a racist manner.

Yesterday’s news story published on Migrant Tales about a single mother and her son, who moved to Helsinki from Mikkeli because they were harassed in a racist manner, sheds light on a social illness inflicting our society today and which we must challenge.

The comments to the story on Iltalehti and Hommaforum could reveal the extent of the problem in Finland.

The Migrant Tales blog entry was mentioned on Länsi-Savo, Itä-Savo and Perusopetus.fi.

Suvaitsemattomuudesta ei löydy ratkaisu, koska sitä ei koeta tarpeeksi isoksi ongelmaksi

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Tässä on mielestäni ongelman ydin kun puhumme rasistisesta kiusaamisesta koulussa tai häirinnästä julkisella paikalla: jos kiellämme ettei rasismi ole ongelma, lääkkeet sen vastustamiseen ovat puutteelliset.  Tärkeintä on löytää keinot haasta tämä ilmiö koulussa. 

Kuvankaappaus 2013-4-30 kello 8.18.39

On surulista lukea kuinka ihmiset voivat nimettömänä loukata toisia rasistisesti.

Eilisen kirjoitus yksinhuoltajasta äidistä ja hänen pojastaan, jotka muuttivat Helsinkiin Mikkelistä rasismin takia, kertoo laajemmasta ongelmasta yhteiskunnassa johon pitää tarttua.

Kommentit Iltalehden ja Hommaforumin palstoilla valaisevat kuinka laaja suvaitsemattomuuden ongelma on Suomessa.

Migrant Talesin kirjoitus mainittiin Länsi-Savossa, Itä-Savossa sekä Peruopetuksessa.

Sara kertoo kuinka hänen poikansa joutui rasistisen kiusauksen kohteeksi Mikkeliläisessä koulussa

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Mitä ajattelisit, jos kuulisit afrikkalaisesta yksinhuoltaja äidistä, joka joutui muuttamaan Helsinkiin sen vuoksi että hänen poikansa joutui kokemaan koulussa kiusaamista ja rasismia? Ottaisitko tiedon vastaan ja lakaisisit sen maton alle vakuuttamalla itsellesi ettei tätä voi tapahtua kaupungissa missä asun?

Migrant Tales  blogi otti yhteyttä äitiin Sara (nimi muutettu), joka kertoi että hänen ja pojan elämä muuttui huonommaksi kun hänen pokansa Julian (nimi muutettu) tuolloin seitsemän vuotias aloitti koulun Kattilansillan koulussa.

Migrant Tales julkaisi lokakuussa 2010 kirjoituksen saman koulun ulkoseinällä olleesta rasistisesta seinämaalauksesta joka oli siinä useita kuukausia ilman että siihen puututtiin koulun taholta.

Valkoinen valta-2_edited-1

Sara uskoo kyllä että opettajat ja rehtori tekivät parhaansa lopettaa pojan kiusaaminen. Kuitenkin eräs koulun opettaja v.2010 ei ollut kovin huolissaan rasistisesta seinä maalauksesta ja kysyi miksi ns. maahanmuuttokriittiset ryhmät kuten Muutos 2010 ja perussuomalaiset leimataan rasistisiksi jos he kyseenalaistavat maahanmuuttajien saamat suuremmat tuet verrattuna suomalaisiin. Kuitenkin kyseinen opettaja sanoi ettei seinäkirjoitus edustanut hänen arvojaan.

Sara:

“Olin kuullut että rasismi on ongelma Mikkelissä mutta se ei aikaisemmin koskenut minua tai lastani. Ongelmat alkoivat kun poikani aloitti ensimmäisen luokan paikallisessa koulussa. Olin itse valmistunut ammattiin ja yritin saada palkkatyötä Mikkelistä mutta se oli mahdotonta. Oli aina työharjoittelijana erilaisissa  työpaikoissa mutta koskaan en saanut varsinaista palkkatyötä.

Kerran poikani tuli koulusta ja kertoi luokkakaverin kiusanneen häntä ihonvärin vuoksi. Hän oli liian nuori ymmärtämään rasismia puhumattakaan että olisi ymmärtänyt syyn kiusaamiselle. Hän vain kysyi miksi olin synnyttänyt hänet mustaksi afrikkalaiseksi. Miksi hän ei voinut olla valkoinen kuten muut koulukaverit.

Pian suurin osa luokkatovereista alkoivat myös kiusaamisen. He kutsuivat poikaani mustaksi apinaksi ja että hänen on mentävä vessanpönttöön koska hän on ulosteen värinen.

Asiat alkoivat mennä huonompaan suuntaan koulussa Julianille. Koulussa oli tappelu ja kukaan ei halunnut leikkiä poikani kanssa. Eräänä päivänä hän sanoi ettei halua mennä enää kouluun koska kukaan ei tykkää hänestä.

Koulun opettajat ja rehtori olivat ymmärtäväisiä ja he puhuivat kiusaajien vanhempien kanssa. Asiat muuttuivatkin paremmaksi kunnes tilanne palasi entiselleen. Julianin luokkatoverit olivat saman ikäisiä kuin hän, mistä he ovat oppineet rasistisen käyttäytymisen mallin, kotoa, muilta lapsilta.

Poikani ei vain valittanut ystävien puutetta koulussa vaan sama koski pihapiiriäkin. Asuimme osaketalossa ja siellä hänellä oli yksi ystävä, mutta pojan äiti kielsi pokaansa leikkimästä Julianin kanssa.

Asuin Mikkelissä seitsemän vuotta ja kahtena viimeisenä vuotena sain vihapostia missä minua kehotettiin painumaan sinne mistä olin tullut.

Ottaen huomioon  Julianin koulukiusaus  ja tunne että elämämme oli mennyt huonompaan suuntaan kaikkien tapahtumien vuoksi päätimme muuttaa viime syksynä Helsinkiin.

Nyt elämämme uudessa paikassa on saanut paremman suunnan. Siellä missä asumme on enemmän afrikkalaisia ja pojallani on ystäviä koulussa. Häntä ei enää kiusata rasistisesti.

Jos olet ainut mustaihoinen lapsi koulussa sinua varmasti kiusataan, mutta jos heitä on useampia kiusaamista ei tapahdu niin helposti Sara ajattelee.

Toivon hartaasti ettei kukaan joudu kokemaan samaa mitä lapseni koki. En toivo kenellekään samanlaista tuskan kokemusta.

Vaikeneminen ei ole hyvä ratkaisu kun haasteena on suvaitsemattomuus.”

Sama kirjoitus voi lukea englanniksi.

Migrant Tales Literary: Six sparrows in spring

Posted on by Migrant Tales

By Leo Honka

Golondrina - 1

Six sparrows in the woods

fly through the soul

but all is not lost

there’s plenty of room in spring:

goose is exhaled,

duck now enters, learns to stay an image

hare now hopes in.

Late to an appointment

sadness rushes out of the door

as toucan paints the scene

with its mighty colored beak

 final image before departing

into the sunset

with my imaginary friends.

Source: Memoria de Papel

Sara speaks out against the racist harassment her son endured at a school in Mikkeli, Finland

Posted on by Migrant Tales

What would you do if you heard that an African single mother decided to leave Mikkeli for Helsinki because her eight-year-old child was a victim of racist harassment or bullying at school? Would you just register the news and brush it conveniently under the rug and reassure yourself that these types of things don’t happen where you live?

Migrant Tales got in touch with Sara, an African single mother that spoke on condition of anonymity, to ask what had happened to her son at school. She said that her problems began when her son Julian, then a seven-year-old boy, went to Kattilansilta School.

Migrant Tales published in October 2010 a blog entry about racist spray paintings that were on the school’s walls for months.

Valkoinen valta-2_edited-1

While Sara believes that the teachers and principle did everything possible to stop the racist bullying of her son, a teacher in 2010 didn’t seem too concerned about the racist graffiti on the school’s wall. After the teacher admitted that the racist graffiti above had been there since spring and didn’t represent his values, he asked why anti-immigration groups like the Perussuomalaiset and Muutos 2011 are labelled racist whenever they criticize immigrants for getting more social welfare than Finns.

By Sara

I had heard before that racism is a problem in Mikkeli but my child and I were never its victims.  My problems started when I finished my studies and when my son Julian started first grade at the local school. Finding real work in Mikkeli was impossible for me. I served as an intern at different workplaces but never got a job that paid me a salary.

One day my son Julian came home and told me that a boy at school was bullying him in a racist manner. He was too young to understand why he was bullied.  He asked me why I had given birth to him as a black African and why he wasn’t white like the rest of the children at school.

Soon the majority of his classmates started bullying him. They named him a black monkey and told him to go to the toilet bowl because the color of his skin was like the color of feces. (Sara stops for a moment to contain her tears. She succeeds).

Matters got worse for Julian as the months passed at school. There were fights and nobody wanted to play with him. One day he said he didn’t want to go to school because nobody liked him.

The teachers and the principle were understanding and they spoke to the classmates’ parents. Things got better but for Julian for a while but then things returned to “normal” and the bullying started again. Julian’s classmates are the same age as he so what they know about racism is what they learned from their parents and other children.

Not only did my son complain that he didn’t have friends at school, but he didn’t have anyone to play with after school either. At the apartment block where we lived in Mikkeli, he did have a friend who wanted to play with him but the boy’s mother forbade it.

Last year for the first time in my seven years in Mikkeli, I got two hate mails telling me to go back to where I came from.

Taking into account what was happening at school to Julian and the feeling that things had changed for the worse in Mikkeli for us, I decided to move to Helsinki last fall.

Since then my life has changed for the better. There are more Africans where I live and my son is no longer bullied at school.

It’s incredible, but if you are the only black child at school like Julian was, you’ll get bullied. If there are more black children, bullying doesn’t happen that easily.

I sincerely hope that what happened to me and my son won’t happen to anyone.   I don’t wish such pain to befall anyone.

Silence is not the way to challenge intolerance.

Read story in Finnish here.