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London is a densely populated urban metropolis renowned the world

over for being the epitome of a city which has managed to


successfully establish itself as a multicultural society. The city’s
institutions in sectors ranging from education, arts and literature
and fashion amongst many earn it an unbeatable respect rivalled
only by the likes of New York and Paris. As well as richness in
culture, the city is also an economic stronghold attracting
commerce and trade on an international scale. In the light of this, it
was inevitable that London would become an enchanting land,
attracting visitors from every walk of life. With such economic power
London welcomed those who wanted to settle in order to study or
work, with some migrants feeling discontentment with the lack of
employment opportunities available in their own native homelands.
However with immigration there arise problems such as,
overcrowding, lack of housing, raises in the unemployment rate and
integration into society. The curb on immigration into the UK has
meant that many try to infiltrate into the country’s borders illegally.
The 2002 film Dirty Pretty Things is a British film about the events
that transpire around two illegal immigrants who have found
themselves in London after leaving unfortunate circumstances in
their native land. Wherever I Hang, is a poem written by Guyanese
born poet Grace Nichols, which details the feelings of an immigrant
in London trying to integrate into London life, whilst still retaining
their native identity. These two examples will be discussed in order
to examine the quality of life offered to those who wish to settle in
London, exploring a side to the city perhaps hidden to those who
have not had to face the hardships that an immigrant must tackle.

Although migration into Britain has been happening for thousands of


years, it was not until the 20th century that it started to be
concerned as being a problem. London was the epicentre of
tensions about migrants and who should be eligible for UK
citizenship. A large population of Jews had arrived from Russia and
settled in the East End of London seeking asylum. There were calls
for major restrictions to be put into place on the mass immigration
that was flooding the country and the capital in particular. The
Aliens Act in 1905 was the first law brought in to control who could
enter the country, and who could be denied access. The 1948 British
Nationality Act enabled any citizen under living in countries that
were part of the British colony to be able to settle and work in the
UK without needing a visa. Much of the immigrants came from Afro-
Caribbean countries, who have long since become completely
integrated into Britain. This is shown through the character of Juliet
in Dirty Pretty things, she is the only characters amongst all of the
different ethnic groups represented who has a London accent, which
is symbolic of the longer history the Black community has in
comparison with other minorities. Nichol’s also a woman of Afro-
Caribbean origin, who has begun to ‘to change my calypso ways’
which also reaffirms the notion that perhaps the black community
has found it easier to integrate into British society as they are the
oldest migrant group.

With integration there also arises a crisis of identity and feeling of


belonging. Nichols says, ‘I don't know really where I belaang’ using
the phonetic patois spelling of ‘belaang’ signifies her West Indian
roots, however her sense of confusion over her place in the British
society places doubt upon her sense of belonging. This line becomes
an exploration of where she defines the idea of ‘home’ which she
later says is ‘wherever I hang my knickers’ suggesting that it is
possible to find belonging away from your place of origin wherever
you chose to settle.

Okwe works during the day as a minicab driver and during the night
in the Baltic Hotel on the front desk despite the fact that he is a
qualified doctor in his native home of Lagos. He sacrifices sleep so
he can work two jobs, resorting in him having to chew a special
plant in order for him to be able to stay awake. He also promises his
boos at the minicab office that he will try and get him some pills to
clear a sexually transmitted infection his boss has caught in return
for more work in the South London area. Okwe shows a dedicated
work ethic, however despite his relentless struggle he lacks any
dividend for his efforts. His status as an illegal immigrant mean that
he is unable to purchase a property, and so he must sleep on the
sofa of Senay, another immigrant seeking asylum who we find out
after she is visited by immigration officers is not allowed to have
anyone stay with her. Though they are from different backgrounds
and in London because of different circumstances they are bound
together by a loyalty to help each other. BLAHBLAH explains, ‘They
are all united in resisting the wider society’s homogenising or
assimilationist thrust’ Most of the characters in the film are all
ethnically different; however Okwe is helped by each one of them.
The Chinese coroner provides Okwe with drugs for his boss and later
a place to sleep at night, the Arab café owner provides him with a
plant to keep him awake so he can carry out his two jobs and Juliet,
a black prostitute contracted to work at the hotel helps him and
Senay with their plot against Juan to escape London with their fake
passports.

The unskilled positions are all employed by ethnic minorities. From


hotel doorman, maids, prostitute, cab drivers, shop keepers are all
filled by foreigners. When Okwe infiltrates his way into the hospital,
he is goes unnoticed, assuming the position of cleaner. At the
hospital, the cleaners are all of black origin but the doctors are
portrayed as being white, showing the inequality of ethnic minorities
in the workplace, it is precisely the unskilled labourers the country
requires in order for the economy to function. This shows the
exploitative nature of European countries who play on the fact
immigrants will work for less money than the natives, out of
desperation as Okwe explains to Senay, ‘for you and I there is only
survival’.

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