It seems they’ve caught the Malmö killer. News that they’ve apprehended and remanded a suspect in a criminal case spun as a immigrant-hating-serial killer has immigrant-looking people in Malmö saying they’re feeling safer. So I guess me and my black head o’ hair ought to feel smug as a bug in rug in Malmö. Most likely.
However, with electing into parliament an openly immigrant-unfriendly political party, Sweden Democrats (SD), and the controversy around this Malmö case and the way the police and media are handling it, we blatte, the black-headed immigrants (old fashioned svart skalle) are in the crossfire figuratively and literally (though perhaps not now with the alleged shooter behind bars.)
So where does that leave us non-Swedish looking types? I’ve somewhat intentionally left alone the discussion of the election of SD into parliament. I don’t understand the supposed “shock” expressed by many Swedes that they were voted in (they were polling over 4% –the threshold number to get seats) coming into the election and I am disappointed that Swedes haven’t figured out that if you want something to go away you can’t just ignore it. I have been trying to discuss the discrimination and latent (and mostly unintended) racism towards the non-Swedes for nearly 2 decades. The most common rebuttal is a denial that it could exist since most Swedes are kind-hearted and well-intentioned. I don’t refute that for an instant. But if you don’t want to address the spin-off effect, even as unintentional as can be, you will never be rid of it. So, I kind of feel it’s the same story just later on.
But there are even other newer developments within the Swedish society now. Swedish media has in general a tradition to not publish names and faces of suspects. In fact, convicted criminals also normally enjoy anonymity at the hands of the media (a huge debate in and of itself). However, now one of the main newspapers, Expressen (and The Local too) have released both.
One thing is for sure, the term “blatte” ain’t gonna be less used anytime soon. Sigh.
Tags: immigrant, malmö, Peter Mangs, sweden
The word “blatte” has a socio-economic edge to it. Much the same ways as “chav” or “white trash” have. I don’t think American housewives in dull safe suburban areas fall into the “blatte” bracket. Unless you’re going by some neo-nazi definition, but they’re not representative for Swedes.
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required, that’s very naive of you. You clearly have no idea.
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You under estimate the native Swedish. The don’t discriminate in there discrimination. I am a average white American living in Sweden that can pass looks wise for a Swede. However simply because I am not a native Swede I have had my dose of discrimination. So it doesn’t really matter how black and curly your hair is or how crispy your skin is.
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There has been a negative outlash against all “non-Swede” immigrants living in Sweden for as long as I have lived here (17 years at the end of the month). I attributed it largely to the average Svensson’s need to pin blame on something/someone for the 1992 economic crisis. Whenever I tried to discuss the discrimination and the sporadic outward disdain a non-Swede could and occasionally would receive out “on the streets” I was often offered the appeasing effort of “But you’re a first class immigrant.” I never knew if they were trying to comfort me that I shouldn’t ever have to suffer the reality of the discrimination or that I shouldn’t care since it wasn’t supposed to affect me. In either case (or another one) no one ever wanted to discuss that the problem existed so as to try to erase or contain the negativity and that something needed to be done to better mix new and native Swedes.
BB
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If you are coming from America. White, brown or whatever. Please pull your pants
up and act respectful. This should go towards visiters, migrants or whatever.
Also of course their might be discrimination of anybody living in another country
that is not native to their own because of culture difference.
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@ BB
If people don’t consider you a “blatte”, then why do you call yourself one? If you want to understand discrimination, maybe you should wonder why some people are labelled a certain way and others are not.
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I know exactly what she means and I am Swedish. Many Swedes think that there is very little discrimination in Sweden and that it happens to a few people when in fact every blatte has atleast one story of discrimination. My sisters and my mum have darker hair and skin so they get that a lot. I was even once scolded at customs in the airport. Apparently I was one of “those people who had married into society”, despite the fact that my passport clearly states that i was born in Sweden. I should have reported him.
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Its not just about hair colour. Its about where one stands in the social hierarchy and social interaction. You have to understand how class works in Swedish society. An American expat living a comfortable life, doesn’t face the exclusion and frustration that an immigrant in one of the high rise suburbs does. Simply saying that you’re “blatte”, while enjoying all the trappings of a safe middle-class well-adjusted life is naive. But I guess its only human to want to be “gangsta”.
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@required. Boston Svartskalle just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
Besides, is there some sort of sanctioned vetting process to qualify for a culturally-based, derogatory epithet? When someone mistakenly calls me a blatte should I calmly explain to them that they’ve misassigned their ethnic slur and I deserve a standing upgrade to “javla invandrare”?
Perhaps I should tattoo my American passport to my forehead to politely provide satisfactory notification that I do not originate the appropriate socio-economic class of 2nd class immigrants and proudly belong to the elitist 1st class immigrant status despite the misleading black head of hair and non-Swedish features. Dammit my parents worked hard to give me a better immigrant life!
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Actually using the term blatte is a way of disarming the implied insult and negativity it bears. No, I don’t know the much more trying and ugly exclusion and frustration of an immigrant from a “second class” background. However, since I’ve tasted the spinoff of the anger and disdain (even if I am not supposed to get that, being middle-class and all), I have a vested and personal interest in combating it.
BB
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There’s systematic racism in Sweden. Its not about a word that the vast, vast majority don’t associate you with. And yes, thats how the word “blatte” is used. Its as more about conforming to social norms and who well adjusted you are to Swedish society. Most of your blog posts are about showing your Swedish middle-class credentials. Sky-diving, boat club, buying oil paintings at auction, flying business class, running a business, name dropping…its all very much about status. The one time you did visit a less well off area and blogged about it, you patronised the residents and glossed over the real difficulties. I don’t think you understand structural racism or class. It seems to you that you’re lamenting missing out on a tiny amount of social status, that being european might give you. You’re not fighting discrimination.
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Thank you required for a very constructive reply. I fully agree that there’s systematic discrimination in Sweden and throughout the years I see that the average Swede would rather not address it. They mean well so they can’t fathom that something they do, say , support –could inadvertently contribute to or demonstrate a separation of “us and them”. As a result, nothing is done, nothing changes and the disenfranchised are further marginalized. That’s how SD got into parliament. Not because Swedes have some sort of latent or inherent racism but because people got tired of ignoring the elephant in the room. People have questions, concern, issues that they were tired of being called racist for asking or bringing up.
I blog about my life in Stockholm and I never pretend I am an expert of anything more than my own experience. I don’t know the real difficulties experienced by people “stuck” in places like Rinkeby, Tensta and the like. I know that in my middle-class existence I get some butterflies going into these areas that the messages around me say are dangerous and problematic. I know I have been surprised both by my own irrational fear and to hear from people I know linked to Rinkeby that they have many wonderful things to say about it, the cultural diversity, the number of events constantly in play etc.
But I do think I have a right to want to discuss it like we’re doing now. And I do welcome open, honest and even brutal feedback. That means the topic is on the table and not swept under the rug.
BB
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@ BB
The same as you, I get the comments like “we don’t mean you” and such. And I think they are sincere. And I don’t mean to candy coat anything. Discrimination is alive and well in the USA. But Swedes take it to a new level.
@Wes
I guess when you say “pull your pants up” it is one of those metafor things for not showing your a**? I don’t think most swedish need my help in that area. They are doing well enough in that area.
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It is sad to see, especially the double standards around the world with white immigrants in the Far East/Dubai/South Asia treated as lords and given opportunities that locals would dream of having.
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