Your front page article, “Marginalisation angers British Sikhs” (AV dated 27/10/2018) is timely reminder that racism is alive and kicking, although compared to what we suffered in late sixties when we first arrived, it is less open and more subtle, moving with time and political as well as social environment. But that does not mean it is in any way less menacing.
While a white man abusing black, elderly lady on Ryanair flight caught imagination of public, in the year when we should be celebrating 50th anniversary of “Race Relations Act 1968” and confining racism to dustbin, relic of unsavoury past, instead racism has raised its ugly head once again, to the dismay of ethnic minorities.
One section where we have come across racism more often than anywhere else is “Air Travel” not only by fellow passengers, as was the case with Mrs Delse Gayle, but more importantly from employees, mainly female air hostesses in charge of Cabin crew. Being disable person in our party, we always book front line seats, paying for it, although some airlines provide it free to registered disable passengers.
So often, late arriving white disable person may demand our front-line seats through air hostess who would ask us whether we would like to give up our seats and if we have paid for it, she would arrange refunds through normal channel.
Our answer would be, we booked and paid for these seats because we need it. Why they did not book and pay for it if they need it that badly and now expect it free! Although this would be end of conversation, sometimes we are made to feel uncomfortable, as if we are the culprits.
In one case our seats, reserved and paid for, allocated to us on boarding passes, were given to an English couple before we boarded the plane, by racist air stewardess in charge. Her explanation was beyond belief, that she thought we were not boarding the plane, although as we were issued with boarding passes and logged on the computer, she was aware of our presence. In any case, she is not allowed to reallocate seats until flight is airborne. Although we bitterly complained, she did not remove passengers who were illegally occupying our seats.
As the plane was half empty, she allocated us full raw and free drinks, to ease her conscious. On return we complained, got refunds and apology. But we do not think she was admonish or reprimanded in any way. We could have gone to ombudsman but as we used to go on holidays with them so often, we felt it was wise not to go further.
Kumudini Valambia
By email
