Scars of the Lascars
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In the mid 19th century, Lascars referred to the forced labor of people recruited from Somalia, Yemen and India, who worked for the British navy. At first, they came to England willingly for a short period of time but ended up settling in the littoral of Britain. During this period of transition of energy usage, the lascars were completing the jobs that British people discarded. According to Sydney Collins, Lascars were considered a “manageable and amenable” workforce, valued by British capitalists for their reliability and low wage demands. However, their status was shaped by entrenched racist stereotypes and assumptions which made it impossible for them to get rid of. European sailors, for instance, believed that Lascars were only effective under the control of a British leader, reinforcing the existing power imbalances. One stereotype that particularly struck me was the belief that, due to their origins, Lascars were more capable of working in extreme heat. This misconception subjected them to inhuman working conditions, such as being sent to work in ship engine rooms where temperatures often exceeded 45 degrees Celsius. The language barrier further exacerbated their suffering, as they were unable to express their fears or pain, allowing the inhumane treatment to continue unchecked. These harsh working conditions, combined with racial stereotypes and systemic exploitation, left scars as of today, which are depicted in Asian Dub Foundation’s (ADF) song. Indeed, Debris highlights the long-term impact of British colonialism, specifically how it has influenced how people of colour are treated in Britain today. The lyrics imply that South Asians are considered as remnants of a colonial past, a population transported over as part of Britain's imperial conquest and now forced to navigate a system that still regards them as outsiders. The statement "We're only here 'cos you were there, consequences of your global pillage" emphasizes the irony of South Asians' presence in the UK. By defining colonialism as "global pillage," ADF opposes the sanitized historical narratives commonly taught in Britain, reminding audiences of the empire's brutal and exploitative underpinnings.