Trump’s ‘go home’ trope has a long, white and racist history
From the start, the natural rights of propertied men were defined against threats and dangers — from mutinous natives to rebellious slaves
This week witnessed outrage over racism at the highest levels of government in Britain and US. The day after the US Congress voted to condemn President Donald Trump’s attacks on four congresswomen of colour, British Prime Minister Theresa May and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn accused each other of tolerating racism in their parties.
Such moral indignation might make racism seem a taboo and Trump a pariah, but this would ignore both the insidious nature of racism and its tenacity, not to mention the hypocrisy of those ostentatiously recoiling from it. For instance, as Britain’s home secretary, May literally told refugees and illegal immigrants to “go home” — the message emblazoned on vans sent to ethnic neighborhoods — and presided over the deportation of elderly British citizens to where they had come from as young children: the Caribbean. ..
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.