Last Whites of the East End
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Last Whites of the East End | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Kelly Close |
| Produced by | Emma Wakefield , |
| Starring | Sophie Stanton |
| Distributed by | BBC One |
Release date |
|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Last Whites of the East End is a documentary which aired on BBC One on 24 May 2016. It presents a portrait of the London Borough of Newham, close to the East End with the lowest percentage of White British people in the country, due both to immigration and the migration of long-time residents, particularly to nearby Essex.
Before and after its broadcast, the documentary's content and claims were criticised by Newham officials, including Mayor Sir Robin Wales. The BBC maintained that it was a balanced broadcast.
The BBC's description of the programme states "Newham has been shaped by immigration for generations, but the past 15 years have been defined by it, as Newham welcomed the highest numbers of new residents anywhere in the country. At the same time more than half the white British population have vanished – breaking apart the tight-knit families their community was built on." The area's last working men's club is described as "a hidden world of tea dances, boxing and drinking in the last club left – an oasis for those left behind".[1]
Usmaan Hussain is a father from Silvertown whose family emigrated from Bangladesh. Despite the racial abuse faced in his youth, he considers himself equally Asian and British. His white friends from his childhood have moved away, and he feels that the Cockney culture will die out soon. However, the demographic changes in his area mean that he can run his own Muslim prayer group without having to travel elsewhere to go to the mosque. His children attend a primary school where 43 native languages are spoken, and he feels that a cohesive "Britishness" between all of the communities "has gone. And I don't think it will ever return".[2] The school's headteacher states that children learn English quickly and get along by being too young to have developed prejudices.[3]
Business owners describe the change of demographics on their finances. Richard Nathan owns a fourth-generation pie and mash shop, which is not frequented by Asians and Eastern Europeans, but sees more business when people return for Mothers' Day. Due to its position near West Ham United's Boleyn Ground at Upton Park, there is expected to be a decline as the team move to the Olympic Stadium.