I came across Nels Abbey’s article titled “Dear white Britain: we hate to say we told you so about Boris Johnson – but we told you so” and I must say, it was not only brilliant and shocking but also chilling. It is disheartening that our efforts to prevent individuals like Boris Johnson from succeeding in their anti-immigrant campaign, particularly against black immigrants, have failed.
This is only the second time in over 50 years that I am writing to The Guardian. The first time was in 1967 when the paper was still known as the Manchester Guardian. Back then, I shared my experience of racial abuse as a young parent living in Lewisham. Unfortunately, nothing has changed since then, except that racism has become more sophisticated. It was also during that time that Enoch Powell delivered his infamous “rivers of blood” speech.
I wish I could feel confident that this marks the end of Johnson’s political career. However, I fear that he will return with renewed determination to cater to the racist sentiments of the public by feeding them negative information, which they seem to crave.
This year, I am celebrating 67 years as an immigrant from Jamaica living in Britain. Sadly, there is nothing to make me believe that there is a brighter future ahead for my children and grandchildren. I will conclude my letter with Abbey’s powerful opening to his article: “If yu cyaan ‘ear, yu mus’ feel.”
– Shirley Fox, Greenwich, London
I am both white and British, and I want to assure Nels Abbey that I have consistently spoken out against Boris Johnson and voted against him whenever possible since he entered British politics. Many of my friends and acquaintances, regardless of their ethnicity, have done the same.
Opposition to his brand of populist racism is not limited to people of color, and although some BAME voters have supported his “policies” at the ballot box, despite clear warnings from his personal history, they are in the minority.
Johnson’s departure from parliament is cause for celebration, just like the indictment of the former US president and the ultimate end of Silvio Berlusconi’s career.
This month has been a positive one for western politics as a whole. Let us not attribute this progress solely to specific racial groups. Instead, let us take a momentary sigh of relief and unite to face the next wave of divisive politics from individuals like Suella Braverman who are still present.
– David Holmes, Sheerness, Kent
Nels Abbey is mistaken in asserting that only black Britain voiced their opposition to Boris Johnson. Many white individuals, including myself, raised our voices against Johnson from the beginning because we were appalled by his racism.
We were not fooled by his appointments of right-wing black and minority ethnic individuals to key political positions because this did not address racist tropes or challenge the racist and misogynistic policies of institutions like the Metropolitan police.
Johnson’s only sincerity was always self-interest. However, he managed to appeal to a broad spectrum of people from different races, ethnicities, and income brackets.
– Louisa Waugh, Oban, Argyll and Bute
As a 78-year-old white male and lifelong reader of The Guardian, I have come across hundreds of excellent articles. However, Nels Abbey’s piece has finally made me realize how shockingly tolerant I, and many others of my generation, have been of Boris Johnson’s terrible record.
I want to express my gratitude to Nels Abbey for his well-written and insightful contribution. I console myself with the knowledge that I would never have voted Conservative, even though I occasionally sympathized with Theresa May.
– Leslie Williams, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham
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