*TekkieBrek

It's not uncommon for television stations to produce programmes that educate you on different cultures, different races and different countries...but do you wonder what happens when they do a series of programmes based on your own culture, race and country? Are they always just the standard history documentaries about Anglo-Saxon settlers, George Washington, the French Revolution, the fall of Communism, et al? Or is there one or two or 5 programmes about how your own society and race react to people of different backgrounds and skin colours coming into your country to settle?

This is what BBC2's "White" Season is about- the past and the present concerns about Britain's increasing immigrant population, and on how native Brits react to their new neighbours via a series of different programmes from documentaries to dramas. You can find out more about it at The BBC White Season website, or, more tantalising, watch the programmes on BBC's IPlayer for free once they've finished showing on the TV schedules (they only last a week on there though, so catch them while you can).

Some of the more intriguing problems have yet to come on TV, such as 'White Girl'- about a young white schoolgirl's refuge into Islam once she learns about it from her new neighbours, or 'The Poles Are Coming'- about the UK's recent, and most significant, immigrant population. They'll appear on Iplayer soon enough, but right now you can catch 2 problems about how Britain reacted to the first big immigration boom back in the 1940's-1950's, and how it changed Britain, such as 'Last Orders'- about the fading world of the working-class Gentleman's club, and the older generations' views and feelings of displacement from new races, new faces, and suchlike (though I'd blame places like Wetherspoons and Yates for the fall of Gentleman's Clubs. They are to pubs what Taco Bell is to real Mexican food), and the one that really intrigued me, and made me want to voice my opinion on society- 'Rivers of Blood'.

'Rivers of Blood' was a speech made by the Conservative (UK Republicans) Member of Parliament Enoch Powell- an influential member of the party who influenced many of his party members, such as future PM Margaret Thatcher, and championed privatisation before it was put into practice. However he was banished to the political wilderness due to the aforementioned speech on the perils of immigration and how he thought it would lead to violence and destruction of the gentile British society that he knew. The programme investigates whether he was misguided, or if he was right all along. He predicted that widespread immigration would lead to segregation and violence and, 20 years later, violent and bloody race riots broke out in 3 districts of 3 of Britain's biggest cities, let alone the bombings of 7/7 back in 2005. But on the other side, it's said the effects of his speech on his fellow and rival politicians, leading to general ignorance of the thoughts and views of the races joining British society is what led to the race riots and tension amongst the different cultures on this isle.

British attitudes towards races and Anglo-racial communities is rather different than...well...any other countries really, as each have their own development, but I've felt it's a strong contrast to that of American communities. America's been a cultural melting pot (albeit with some chunks that refuse to blend) for many people of many backgrounds for almost centuries, and thus many racial communities there have forged their own identities as Italian-Americans, or Irish-Americans, Afro-Americans, Jewish-Americans, Iranian-Americans and what-have-you.

But Britain's generally seen as being the whitest of white nations to people. Black and Chinese communities have been in Britain since 1730 (Black) and 1820 (Chinese) or earlier, but they were considered exceptions- the minorities with the fewest members- until after World War 2, where Afro-Carribeans, Indians and Pakistani's came in and became a part of British life rather than an exception. Before the 1950's, you probably would've only seen someone of a different skin colour or culture if you lived in one of the grimmer parts of the city. But in the 50's and beyond, you could see Hindu shopkeepers, Islamic Halal restaurants, and African greengrocers.

People fear what they don't know, and people fear change, so I think British people at that time were equally intrigued and scared of their new neighbours. For each person who thought touching a black bus conductor would bring them luck came cases of predujice and sneers. Just as America's civil rights protests were coming into view, Britain's own views of other races were growing tense. In the end, I believe the civil rights protests influenced the politicians here and aided immigrant integration, as did protests from the students and younger generation on this side of the pond who supported civil rights.

To me, it seems like British society is tamer on the issue of race, as anyone voicing racist views here turns out to be the one stigmatised as a racist. Black, Chinese, Indian and other communities can live in any suburb or place necessary to survive in generally safely since the racists will either stay away, or abide by them to survive themselves. People who accept different cultures accept them, people who don't put up a front that says they do, or take their chances and verbally abuse those they're incapable of tolerating. Some rise to violence, but the majority are all mouth and no trousers.

But then I could be wrong. Perhaps the British view of acceptance is a facade of double-standards. Some races are safer from abuse than others. Asian races and Black people aren't demonised as people that'll steal your jobs and take your kids' school placements by the working class anymore (or as much), but how about the new Turkish, Greek, Polish, and Eastern European communities that are growing in British society today? The Daily Mail amongst other papers and pamphlets raises the fears that Brits have of these new communities. Polish and Slavic shops are appearing as quickly in British society as much as Indian cornershops must've done decades ago. Will new fears, predujices and acts of violence rise from their entry here? Or has the world made some progress in the acceptance of new immigrants?

Am I predujiced myself? I wouldn't say so. I don't think I know enough about some cultures, so when I meet people of those cultures I'll be curious about their background and ask them about it to learn more about them and become more comfortable with new teachings, but I'll treat them as a person and as the person they present themselves to be, not by their appearance or culture.

Give the BBC Iplayer and White Season a shot for a better understanding of the issues, or even look up information from the Internet or elsewhere, and you might gain some new insights, and see how it contrasts to the society that you live in.

REQUEST LIST SO FAR:
Feel free to make a request!

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1- Full figured harem/school girl pin-up - DONE
2- Giantess Series -
1st Pic- DONE- WIP Preview
2nd Pic- DONE -WIP Preview
3rd Pic- DONE -50% Finished WIP Preview
4th Pic- DONE - Rough Draft
5th Pic- DONE
6th Pic- DONE
7th Pic- DONE
8th Pic- 18% Complete
9th Pic (Conclusion) - Pending

- Sandstorm line-up
1- Kyoden Hayami - DONE w/ original scrap image
2- Yumi Kawashima - DONE
3- Solaris Salinas - DONE
4- Dave/Damon Heat - DONE
5- Adikkt - DONE

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1- Alexandra Kraven OC corset pin-up - DONE
2- Ryu Hayabusa and Ninja Marta - DONE
3- M. Haylo - DONE
4- Kill Bill Style: Ryu Hayabusa and Ninja Marta- 15% Complete - 15% WIP Preview
5- Kristel Ninja Marta w/ Hayabusa- Pending

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1- Jay OC drawing - DONE
2- Demon Fia OC horror colour pic. - DONE


1- Jean-Genie - DONE


1- Selected Photo:Lust As A Drawing - DONE


1- The Manga-Off; Ouran High School Host Club- Tamaki w/ Haruhi In Ichigo Mew Mew outfit- Pending


1- Portrait - DONE


1- Pencil Sketch - DONE


1- Bee Bryant- DONE...or is it?

Josh (Uni Friend)
Vulcan Raven- DONE

Leanne (Uni Friend)
Kyoto Temple- Pending

Paula (friend of Leanne)
Spider-Man Mosaic- DONE - 50% WIP Preview

PROJECTS:
James Clephane-Cameron, an old high-school and 6th form friend, has provided me with an interesting proposition- something which should interest fantasy fans out there (Tolkien-D&D-Warcraft ones, not Final Fantasy ones). He requires someone to illustrate some character races for his RPG project and, well, guess who he asked? Here's how it breaks down (like requests, it'll have a progress rating beside it).

Viking (standard viking complete w/ horned helmet) - Pending.

Celt (tartan-clad warrior)- Pending.

Elf (tall, jewellery-covered forest folk)- Pending.

Troll (Orcs in Romanesque outfits- yeah, this time, the green guys are the supposedly civilised, not the typical barbarians- this is gonna be fun to draw)- Pending.

Vampire (Romany/Russian look rather than Castlevania Bishie)- Pending.

Beastkin (Middle Eastern Anthro's)- Pending.