Question

Give an account of the incidents of racial discrimination that Braithwaite has described in the novel ‘To Sir With Love’. 

Answer 1

The theme of racism is prevalent in the novel. The first aspect of racism is explicit prejudice. The prejudice can be depicted through the scene which took place on the bus, from Aldgate to Greenslade.
The woman’s refusal to sit with Braithwaite shows the seriousness and intensity of the problem of racism, in the books. Not all of the Londoners were racial towards Braithwaite or all the coloured people, as it could be seen in the conductor’s supportiveness of Braithwaite and his ever-growing irritation of the lady, who continued to show expressions of ignorance towards the situation.
Through Braithwaite’s soliloquy, it implicitly implies that the higher social class was more corrupted by society and discourteous to the colored people than the middle of the lower social class. This can be shown through the sentences: “There were a part of the world’s greatest cities and at the same time common as hayseeds” and “courteous deference to a slim, smartly dressed woman” (shows she could afford money to buy alluring clothes).
Another aspect of racism prevalent in the novel is the use of language, used as a powerful weapon to express racism. This can be evident through the citations which were “black bastard” and “blackie teacher” were intended to be provoking. Denham, who cited the slur: “black bastard” was only said to gain attention from his peers and by standing up to the teacher, it would give him the characteristics of a leader; an individual who was brave and stood up for what he believed in. The following sentence: “He looked like he wanted a response, shows that the reasoning for his cite, was not for true intentionality or taunt, but to make the atmosphere of the class, heated, and to make Braithwaite resign from his occupation, and “gird up his loins”, as Weston described it.
Implicit acts of racism can be noted through two significant events and incidents – one being the event at Poisson Door and the other being the job interview for Braithwaite, as an engineer. In the restaurant incident, the mistreatment of Braithwaite, by the waiter dropping soup, and not on Gillian (who was white-skinned) and the appearance of a smirk, across the waiter’s mouth, shows the disrespect and intentionality of the act.
The gauntlet of eyes, as Braithwaite described it, implies that the customers saw the incident, but refused to stand up to the waiter – who had obviously attempted wrongdoing. The waiter’s courage to put his job on the line (as he may get fired), adds to the gravity of the situation. In the interview, the recruiter’s asking of irrelevant questions, sheep). However, in later phases of the story, the acts of racism he endures are converted from anger to hurt. This can be seen in the scene, where the class was discussing whether Potter should fret for his action – disrespecting and cursing at a teacher. Braithwaite said Potter should definitely ask for forgiveness, whilst the rest of the class said that Potter was right in cussing, as because of the teacher (Mr. Bell), Buckley, got hurt. Seales, a student in Braithwaite’s class, says: “Easy for you to say, Sir, you have never experienced a time where someone pushed you around” and Braithwaite responds to Seales: “I have been pushed around. I have been hurt, really hurt. I sometimes awoke to a painful, quick remembering world, without conflict or disagreement. Braithwaite knew those schoolbook teachings could not be related and with no relation to their lives, it was useless, so he discussed with them freely about disclosed topics like relationships, and through the ignorance of the students’ taunts towards him and the careful teachings, and his knowledge of knowing their background – that they were students who were poor, were surrounded by social vermin, prostitutes and bad influences and went to bed, sometimes hungry, he was able to win the hearts of all his students.
The sentence: “Some of them grew strong within – They are all now willing to learn. They may turn out to be decent folk” shows how extensively Braithwaite evolved their character, and this sets in contrast to Weston’s opinion about them: “blithe spirits”.

In conclusion, racism was regarded as a significant and very present issue in the 1950s, then it is today, in London. Racism took place everywhere. This restricted careers and diminished dreams of all the colored people inhabiting the city. To Sir With Love, is an autobiographical text, which truly reflects on the racial atmosphere of cosmopolitan London.