Countries more often than not are built on the backs of immigrants and yet, immigrants are often confronted with the question of their ethnicity and are asked to “go back to their country.” It all appears even more gory if you happen to be Brown or Black. Riz Ahmed’s spoken word ‘Where You From’ has been taken, shot, and conceptualised by filmmaker Sanvir Chana to talk about this reality for the Sikh diasporic community in Britain.
The video opens with a Sikh man tying his turban as the words, “They ever ask you where from? You know – like where you really from/ The question seems simple but the answer’s kinda long I could tell ‘em Wembley/ But I don’t think that’s what they want ” play in the background narrating the questions of ethnicity and identity that will always confront them even as they continue to build on the future of countries.
“My ancestors’ Indian but India was not for us/ My people built the West, we even gave the skinheads swastikas/ Now everybody everywhere want their country back/ If you want me back to where I’m from I need a map,” plays in the backdrop as small clips of police brutality and racism against the Sikh community in Britain are shown.
The video ends on a powerful note with the words, “My tribe is a quest to a land that was lost to us/ And its name is dignity/ So where I’m from is not your problem bruv” as the Sikh man in the POV has a scissor in his hand to cut his hair to fit the White narrative and opt-out of endless racism refuses to do so and embrace his identity. The last shot of him looking into the camera with a glint of pride is testament to the title ‘Too Brown For The Crown’ which can be interpreted both as being too brown for the crown (the British establishment) or as a powerful statement of pride wherein one refuses to fit the fixed narrative (the crown) and embrace their identity (too brown).
You can watch the video for Too Brown For The Crown here.
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