Not long after the 7/7 (2005) terror bombings in London, I was invited to a roundtable at someone's house.
He was rich. His company did very well and was close to establishment. He was also gay, and Muslim.
He taught me something powerful about identity backlash.
He was rich. His company did very well and was close to establishment. He was also gay, and Muslim.
He taught me something powerful about identity backlash.
He told me that he had never felt Muslim in his life. As a gay man he was ostracised by other Muslims of course.
But after 9/11 and 7/7, he felt more Muslim than ever. A part of his identity he never identified with was under attack. He was now Muslim whether he liked it or not.
But after 9/11 and 7/7, he felt more Muslim than ever. A part of his identity he never identified with was under attack. He was now Muslim whether he liked it or not.
He wasn't about to donate to terror groups ofc. He wanted to fund people working against hate. He wanted to use his money to defend Muslims - which he never expected to do.
This is common. When a part of your identity is under attack, a lot of people become more attached to it.
This is common. When a part of your identity is under attack, a lot of people become more attached to it.
The backlash to Muslims after 9/11 created far more politically-engaged Muslims than any other event in recent history (other than Satanic Verses).
Same for other groups. Sikhs rallied even stronger after the 1984 assault on the Golden Temple, as another example.
Same for other groups. Sikhs rallied even stronger after the 1984 assault on the Golden Temple, as another example.
I listened to @jamiesusskind over the weekend talk about how he never felt as Jewish as he did during Labour's anti-semitism scandals. I've heard many others say it too.
The identity backlash effect exists, and is very strong.
The identity backlash effect exists, and is very strong.
When Black people are angry because they're constantly treated worse due to their skin colour, they have no choice but to be Black because that's how society treats them. That's the backlash effect too.
They can't just turn that off.
(not saying that's the only dynamic at play)
They can't just turn that off.
(not saying that's the only dynamic at play)
The backlash effects exists in *every* society and community. To my mind its not just about race or religion - it can apply to environmentalism too.
And... it exists with white people too.
And... it exists with white people too.
I recently tweeted about why the far-right are so excited by this moment.
The far-right are hoping that the Left start attacking 'western identity and history' and position themselves as its defenders. So when the backlash comes, they benefit.
The far-right are hoping that the Left start attacking 'western identity and history' and position themselves as its defenders. So when the backlash comes, they benefit.
An identity backlash isn't always about defending the worst parts of your identity. The gay Muslim man I met wasn't planning to defend Al-Qaeda.
Let's just be cognizant that:
- identity backlashes are real
- they affect almost everyone
- be careful of not feeding into one.
Let's just be cognizant that:
- identity backlashes are real
- they affect almost everyone
- be careful of not feeding into one.
