Earlier this year The New European published a letter by me about an negative experience I had in Essex at Christmas.
I – a woman of colour, domiciled in France – felt racially harassed at Southend airport when returning to Britain to visit my children. I attributed this, and still do, to the toxic climate of Brexit Britain.
I would like to share a far more positive experience I recently had when returning to England to visit my sons. Shortly after arriving I took a trip on foot to the supermarket. On my journey home I was laden down with bags and the sun was beating down. I am 74.
A young white man walking behind me noticed my distress. He offered to help me with my bags. I accepted. As we walked he explained to me that many young people are being blamed for society’s ills, but they were an unrepresentative minority. I explained to him that growing up in southern Africa many youngsters – mainly boys labelled as ‘troublemakers’ – had helped my blind father make the journey to and from work each day. My young helper explained to me that he was ‘sick of all the hate’ in society.
As we got closer to my destination I felt able to make it on my own. I gave the young man – he told me his name was Will, coincidentally also the name of my eldest son – a hug and we parted.
Will made my day. He reaffirmed my faith in the inherent goodness of Britain. He also reminded me that its young people didn’t ask for Brexit. It has been forced upon them. Will and the other millions of other decent young people deserve better.
Berlina Goble
Normandy
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