I was born at home in Smethwick 1964. Left when parents divorced and lived in Worcestershire with mum &
new stepdad from early 1976. (did one term, ist term of first year at Handsworth Grammer) Started jan 76 in Pershore high school.
Fast forward 10 years, I go back to live with my dad for 6 months before leaving for a kibbutz in oct 86.
In that time Smethiwick had changed a lot. My dad's mechanic who atacked me with a hammer used to call them 'paki stinkies'
Fast forward to 1989. I begin cabbing for a sikh firm. f/f two years at college, college is mainly asians I'd say.
Fast forward to 1995 when I leave Brum. It's 'mixed', but smethwick high street fully Sikh indian. Sparkhill ... kind of like it is now but not as bad ... because that was 31 (count em) years ago. And in 31 years .. if I went back there now, .. to go down Soho Road, lozels, Handworth, sparkhill, smethwick .. those core areas, just expanded. = lorra change.
But coming from there I was exposed to asians and black immigration from a very early age. 1969 type exposure, when my dad knew 'Santok' who was 'good with carburettors'.
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In 25 yrs the majority of children in schools will be 'non-white'.