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| Cornwall a Safe Haven for one and all? |
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Page 1 of 6 George Thomas investigates if Cornwall is becoming tainted by prejudice. Cornwall has long been considered a place of harmony, a break from the pressures of urban life. Consider the assumptions: beaches to challenge paradisiacal locations in the Mediterranean, endless fields of luscious countryside, charming, peaceful villages and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. For many these amount to an oft-needed rest from the stress of modern working/living. Yet recently the latter of these attributes has been under fire after repeated defiling of a Christian church in Quenchwell, the perpetrators acting in opposition to the construction of a planned community centre for the Duchy’s Asians. Is everyone, regardless of race, met with this alleged laid-back and welcoming attitude so famously adopted by locals?  Chaz Singh of Fata He, outside Truro Cathedral. Chaz offers help for black and ethnic minority individuals and groups in Cornwall. Pictures by John Satterwaite. History supports these hopeful assumptions. Joseph Emidy, a West-African man enslaved by Portuguese traders in the 16th century, was met with prejudice and maltreatment throughout his years as a slave in Europe and South America, before being kidnapped by British sailors and abandoned in Falmouth docks. Here, without a penny to his name, Emidy was met with a kindness and acceptance not experienced since his days in Guinea Coast as a child. Joseph remained in Cornwall as a renowned violinist for the remainder of his life, married, and fathered eight children in a time when the slave trade was at its strongest; but not as strong as the compassion exhibited by the local Cornish people. It seems inconsistent, then, that racism decides to show itself so plainly today after many years seemingly hidden in the shadows. The population of Cornwall is overwhelmingly white, a fact that need not be reported by statistics to be believed – it is clear to see. Walking down a Cornish street can be an astonishing experience for those so used to the cultural diversity of cosmopolitan areas such as Birmingham or London. The racial homogeneity is striking, and considered by many to be an unfortunate feature of the demographic. For a region so preoccupied with offering a broad range of unconventional activities and attractions, it is ironic that such traditionalism should be its downfall. |
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