10/11/2017
The word 'Paki' carries a heavy and often painful historical weight, particularly within the United Kingdom. Its usage is inextricably linked to periods of significant South Asian immigration and the subsequent rise of racial tensions and violence. While seemingly a simple abbreviation, 'Paki' evolved into a potent racial slur, deeply embedded in the fabric of British social history. Understanding its trajectory is crucial for grasping the complexities of multiculturalism and the enduring impact of racism.
Origins and Early Usage
The use of the term 'Paki' in the English language was first documented in 1964. This coincided with a notable increase in immigration from South Asian countries to the UK. In its nascent stages, the term was not uniformly negative, exhibiting a degree of mixed usage. However, it was frequently employed as a derogatory slur. While one might assume it was exclusively directed at individuals of Pakistani origin, historical records indicate it was also used against people of other South Asian backgrounds, including Indians and Bangladeshis, and even individuals from different demographics who bore a physical resemblance to South Asians.
The Era of 'Paki-Bashing'
Beginning in the late 1960s and reaching its zenith during the 1970s and 1980s, the United Kingdom witnessed a disturbing surge in xenophobic violence. Gangs with strong anti-immigration sentiments perpetrated attacks known as 'Paki-bashing'. These acts of brutality specifically targeted and assaulted individuals of South Asian descent and the businesses they owned. On occasion, other ethnic minorities also became victims of this targeted violence.
'Paki-bashing' saw a significant escalation following Enoch Powell's inflammatory 'Rivers of Blood' speech in 1968. Public opinion polls from that era suggested that Powell's anti-immigrant rhetoric resonated with a substantial portion of the white population. The perpetrators of these attacks were often aligned with far-right fascist, racist, and anti-immigrant movements. Prominent among these were white power skinheads, the National Front, and the British National Party. The attacks were commonly referred to as 'Paki-bashing' or 'skinhead terror', with the assailants being labelled 'Paki-bashers' or 'skinheads'.
Contributing Factors to 'Paki-Bashing'
Several factors fuelled the prevalence of 'Paki-bashing'. The media played a role through its anti-immigrant and anti-Pakistani commentary at the time. Furthermore, systemic failures within state authorities exacerbated the situation. These failures included the under-reporting of racist attacks, a criminal justice system that often failed to take racist violence seriously, and instances of racial harassment by the police. In some cases, law enforcement personnel were even implicated in racist violence. During the 1960s and 1970s, Asians were frequently stereotyped as 'weak' and 'passive'. Pakistanis, in particular, were often perceived as 'passive objects' who were 'unwilling to fight back', making them perceived as easy targets for 'Paki-bashers'. By 1985, the Joint Campaign Against Racism committee reported over 20,000 racist attacks on people of colour in Britain, including those of South Asian heritage.
Resistance and Activism
Inspired by the broader civil rights movements, including the African-American civil rights movement, the Black Power movement, and the anti-apartheid movement, young British Asian activists began to organise. They established a number of anti-racist youth movements to combat 'Paki-bashing'. Notable among these were the Bradford Youth Movement in 1977, the Bangladeshi Youth Movement following the tragic murder of Altab Ali in 1978, and the Newham Youth Movement which emerged after the murder of Akhtar Ali Baig in 1980.
The earliest organised resistance against 'Paki-bashing' dates back to the period between 1968 and 1970. Two distinct approaches to combating the violence emerged. The first, an integrationist approach, was spearheaded by the Pakistani Welfare Association and the National Federation of Pakistani Associations. Their aim was to foster positive race relations while upholding law and order. This stood in contrast to the autonomous approach, initiated by the Pakistani Progressive Party and the Pakistani Workers' Union. This latter group engaged in vigilantism as a form of self-defence against racially motivated violence and police harassment. They often collaborated with the Black Power movement, including the British Black Panthers and the Communist Workers League of Britain. Their objective was not only to defend themselves but also to challenge the prevailing stereotypes of Pakistanis and Asians as 'weak' and 'passive'. By 1970, divisions became apparent between these two movements. Raja Mahmudabad, an integrationist leader, criticised the vigilantism of the autonomous groups, deeming it 'alien to the spirit and practice of Islam'. Conversely, Abdul Hye, a leader of the Pakistani Progressive Party/Pakistani Workers' Union, asserted that they 'have no intention of fighting or killing anyone, but if it comes to us, we will hit back.' It wasn't until the 1980s and 1990s that academic discourse began to seriously address racially motivated violence, a shift partly attributed to the increasing presence of Black and Asian individuals within academic institutions.
Reclamation and Modern Usage
In the twenty-first century, a movement has emerged among some younger British Pakistanis and other British South Asians to reclaim the word 'Paki'. This effort draws parallels with the LGBT community's reclamation of the slur 'queer' and the African American community's reclamation of the slur 'nigger'. Peterborough businessman Abdul Rahim, who produces merchandise featuring the reclaimed term, likens its usage to more socially accepted terms such as 'Aussie' and 'Kiwi'. He argues that 'Paki' is more akin to these terms as it denotes a nationality rather than a biological race. However, this attempt at reclamation is not universally accepted. Many British Pakistanis continue to view the use of the word as unacceptable, even within their own community, due to its deeply entrenched negative historical connotations.
Research and Contemporary Parallels
In December 2000, the Advertising Standards Authority published research into British public attitudes towards pejoratives. In this study, 'Paki' was ranked as the tenth most severe pejorative in the English language, a significant increase from its seventeenth position just three years prior. Scholars have drawn comparisons between the Islamophobic street violence witnessed in the 2000s and 2010s and the 'Paki-bashing' incidents of the 1970s and 1980s. Robert Lambert highlights a key distinction: while groups like the National Front and BNP targeted all South Asians regardless of religion, the English Defence League (EDL) specifically targeted British Muslims. Lambert also observes a parallel between the media's role in amplifying 'Paki-bashing' in the late 20th century and its contribution to fostering Islamophobic sentiment in the early 21st century. Academic Geddes has noted that variations of the 'Paki' racial slur have been occasionally used by members of the EDL.
Usage in Canada
The term 'Paki' has also migrated and is used as a slur against South Asian Canadians. Its presence in Canada dates back to around the 1970s, coinciding with an increase in South Asian immigration to the country. In 2008, a campaign sign for an Indo-Canadian candidate of the Alberta Liberal Party in Edmonton was vandalised with this slur spray-painted onto it, illustrating the term's continued offensive usage.
Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| First Recorded Use (UK) | 1964 |
| Peak of 'Paki-Bashing' | 1970s-1980s |
| Key Influences on Violence | Enoch Powell's speech, far-right groups (National Front, BNP, skinheads) |
| Forms of Resistance | Integrationist and autonomous youth movements |
| Modern Reclamation Efforts | Drawing parallels with 'queer' and 'nigger' |
| Perception of Reclamation | Divisive; accepted by some, rejected by others |
| International Usage | Also used as a slur in Canada |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is 'Paki' ever acceptable?
While some individuals are attempting to reclaim the term, its historical use as a violent racial slur means it is overwhelmingly considered unacceptable and deeply offensive by most people in the UK and Canada.
Q: Who was targeted by 'Paki-bashing'?
'Paki-bashing' primarily targeted people of South Asian descent, including Pakistanis, Indians, and Bangladeshis. It also sometimes extended to other ethnic minorities who were perceived as similar.
Q: What caused 'Paki-bashing'?
It was fuelled by anti-immigration sentiments, xenophobia, racist ideologies promoted by far-right groups, and amplified by certain media narratives. Systemic failures in law enforcement and the justice system also played a role.
Q: How did communities fight back against 'Paki-bashing'?
Through organised anti-racist youth movements that advocated for positive race relations and, in some cases, engaged in self-defence against racially motivated violence.
The history of 'Paki' serves as a stark reminder of the damaging impact of racial prejudice and the importance of vigilance against hate speech and discrimination in all its forms. The journey from a slur to a contested reclaimed term highlights the ongoing evolution of language and social attitudes.
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