In ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, Harper Lee wrote  “You never really understand a person…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” 

There could not be a more apt time to bring this quote, highlighting the significance of empathy, to the spotlight in the UK, after this summer’s shocking outbreak of racist rioting. 

In this interview with Mrs. K.-a Muslim, Pakistani immigrant- you can hear her side of the story about the struggles of a migrant in the UK. 

The biggest driving force of her decision to move to the UK in 2014 was her “kids’ education and to get a better job” whilst “financially support[ing] [her] family’s back”. 

One of the hardest challenges Mrs K. faced when coming to the UK was that “it's really tough to communicate here.”

The issue lay not in differences of language, but people’s unwillingness to help her due to her immigrant status. 

She said, “people are really reserved and don’t want to talk to other people, especially immigrants.”

Even so, Mrs K. described how one of the diamonds in the rough for the treatment of immigrants in the UK was its “freedom of religion.”

She applauded how in the UK, in her experience, “kids study all the religions in school. That’s really amazed me.”

Something she wished to change about the country, however, is “to increase the minimum wages.”

Despite how during the summer, rioters claimed immigrants occupied higher paying jobs, Mrs K. described how many immigrants work minimum wage occupations.

According to the Migration Observatory, in 2022: 

"Highly educated migrant workers are often overqualified for their jobs…working in low and medium-low-skilled jobs.”

 

Mrs K. stated: “When immigrants come here they work very hard… and still live their lives hand-to-mouth.”

Often, minimum wage workers are on tenterhooks regarding how much they can spend on food and living situations, rarely having left-over money. 

Following this, she was asked about the sudden riots, which in some cases, rendered people of colour too frightened to leave the house. 

Mrs K. commented that violent anti-immigration displays are certainly not new. 

“This problem was there from the beginning in this country.

“There is racism… since I came here.

“You can’t say it's a new thing.”

Mrs K claimed attacks against immigrants are "unfair". 

People move to the UK because “there are not enough opportunities” where they come from. 

She explained how they sacrifice a lot to get here.

“It’s really hard for immigrants.

“The fees are really high. 

“The visa fees and living here, health insurance, there are lots of stuff you need to pay, the rent and cost of living has increased, it’s not easy for immigrants as well.” 

Ultimately, when asked what she wanted readers to take away from this article, if nothing else, Mrs K. stated: 

“Please be helpful. If someone needs help…and you can do it, please do help.”

A touching call-to-action that one can only hope people will hold in their hearts moving forward.