Am I the melancholic migrant?
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In observing the theme of melancholia that comes from the experiences of migrants , I see a consistent theme of melancholia that roots from migrants and actually sprouts in their children. British-Asian musician Nitin Sawhney’s track "Nostalgia" is a good starting point. From the voices of the parents, we hear their struggles and sacrifices as migrants. The mother expresses a hope that their sacrifices would one day be appreciated, while the father reflects on their hardships, hinting at a bittersweet feeling of resilience. This sets the stage for seeing how such melancholic emotions shape the identities and emotions towards the identities of the second generation immigrants.
Melancholia is also seen by Sarah Ahmed's analysis of multiculturalism and Trevor Phillips' critique of multiculturalism. Phillips argues that those who are "unalike" living together among diverse communities can lead to "conflict and unhappiness". This raises a question of what happens to the melancholic feelings of migrants? Are they supposed to just let go of their pasts and cultural identities to fit into what is defined as happiness by the nation that often prioritizes conformity over diversity?
Utilitarian views of colonialism, as talked about by John Stuart Mill, say that colonial rule was a “happiness mission” reinforces the idea that certain histories are seen less valuable if they do not align with a narrative of progress and happiness of the west. For migrants, the expectation to assimilate into a 'happy' national identity needs them to suppress aspects of their cultural heritage. This is illustrated in the film "Bend It Like Beckham," where the protagonist, Jess, is only happy when she will be able to conform to Western ideals which is football while simultaneously navigating her strong loyalty to her Indian heritage.
Second generation immigrant melancholia is shown further in the concept of melancholic migrants who cling to their past experinces , particularly around racism and cultural identity. Another example is the character Yasmine's experience which reveals how the pursuit of happiness can become an alienating when it requires her to forget her culture as she is encouraged to forget her mother tongue, Urdu and how her parents encourage to westernize herself because of their own experiences of racims. This highlights an irony: the more she tries to assimilate, the more othered she feels, the more she can relate to her parents hurt. The empty promise of belonging often leaves a gap filled with anger and frustration, particularly in the wake of significant events like 9/11, which can serve to amplify feelings of exclusion where she had never more separate from the public opinion.
The idea of a "happiness duty" for migrants complicates the idea around integration. This duty suggests that they must leave behind their experiences of racism and historical trauma to successfully assimilate. These expectations further deepen melancholic feelings, as these individuals may struggle to come to terms with their past traumas.