The Good Immigrant

What emotions arise when you're persistently viewed as a potential danger and subjected to strip searches at every airport? Imagine being cast in acting roles that confine you to stereotypes, such as the "wife of a terrorist." Consider the frustration when words from your own language are misused or weaponized against you. What thoughts emerge when a child of color voices that stories belong only to white protagonists? How is the feeling of having to visit India as 'home,' while London is where your heart truly lies? Reflect on the constant pressure to serve as a representative for your entire race. How does it feel to always select 'Other' on forms?"The Good Immigrant," a compelling anthology, gathers the voices of 21 black, Asian, and minority ethnic writers, shedding light on their experiences in contemporary Britain. This book probes into the reasons immigrants arrive in the UK, why they remain, and the repercussions of being perceived as 'other' in a nation that, despite needing its diversity for quotas, often appears reluctant to accept them regardless of how deep their roots now run.Edited by Nikesh Shukla, this collection emerged from a critical discourse on how society labels people of color as undesired immigrants—regarded as job thieves, welfare opportunists, or unworthy asylum seekers—until they achieve fame or success and are recast as ‘good immigrants’. The essays are a tapestry of emotions, mixing poignancy, challenge, humor, and reality, and offer a genuine exploration into the lives of those who navigate these complexities daily.