Assimilation Issues in Stephen Kelman’s Pigeon English
To what extent does Harrison Opoku assimilate into London culture in
Pigeon English?
Extended Essay
English B
Category 3: Literature
Word Count: 3998
, Table of Contents
I. Introduction ...............................................................................2
II. A New Beginning: Language and Culture ..............................4
III. Stepping Back: Prejudice .......................................................7
IV. The End: Death and Violence .................................................9
V. Conclusion ..............................................................................12
Works Cited ................................................................................13
1
, I. Introduction
“In England, nobody helps you if you fall over. They can't tell if you're serious or if it's just a
trick. It's too hard to know what's real.” (Kelman 130)
African immigration has grown dramatically over the past decade (Kekana) in hopes of
receiving higher living standards and achieving unfulfilled desires with the UK being many
immigrants’ one of the top destinations throughout the history to the present day. Inspired
by the tragic story of Damilola Taylor, a ten year old Nigerian boy who was stabbed to death
on his way to home by a street-gang in 2000 (Christodoulou), Stephen Kelman’s Pigeon
English, with its protagonist and narrator Harrison Opoku, a young Ghanaian immigrant in
London, shows the dark facets of an immigration experience from the perspective of a child
that is full of innocence, curiosity and joy.
With the murder of Taylor, the British public is awakened to the issue of increasing
rate of knife crime every day in the UK, dedicating more than five novels and a television
drama to the incident across the country (Seresin). Pigeon English is one of the notable ex-
amples of this awareness, as it tells the story of a brave Ghanaian family who separates in
hopes of reuniting someday in England when enough money is saved. The mother leaves
her husband and baby behind in Ghana together with her two older children and starts a
new life for a brighter future in London. Harrison or shortly ‘Harri’, arrives at his new house
with his older sister Lydia and his mother whom he calls as Mamma, speaks pidgin English
and tries to adjust to his new life as an outsider surrounded by an unfamiliar culture with
many harsh rules and norms. He imitates the new world around him but this is still not
enough to eliminate the ongoing marginalization, prejudice, and black-racism.
Immigration is a long process that comes with several consequences. Harri, practical-
ly, is unaware of how London’s culture contradicts with the concept of multiculturalism, de-
spite being a multiethnic community. London expects its immigrants to assimilate into their
way and perception of life which at the outset includes the difficulties Harri frequently faces
2
To what extent does Harrison Opoku assimilate into London culture in
Pigeon English?
Extended Essay
English B
Category 3: Literature
Word Count: 3998
, Table of Contents
I. Introduction ...............................................................................2
II. A New Beginning: Language and Culture ..............................4
III. Stepping Back: Prejudice .......................................................7
IV. The End: Death and Violence .................................................9
V. Conclusion ..............................................................................12
Works Cited ................................................................................13
1
, I. Introduction
“In England, nobody helps you if you fall over. They can't tell if you're serious or if it's just a
trick. It's too hard to know what's real.” (Kelman 130)
African immigration has grown dramatically over the past decade (Kekana) in hopes of
receiving higher living standards and achieving unfulfilled desires with the UK being many
immigrants’ one of the top destinations throughout the history to the present day. Inspired
by the tragic story of Damilola Taylor, a ten year old Nigerian boy who was stabbed to death
on his way to home by a street-gang in 2000 (Christodoulou), Stephen Kelman’s Pigeon
English, with its protagonist and narrator Harrison Opoku, a young Ghanaian immigrant in
London, shows the dark facets of an immigration experience from the perspective of a child
that is full of innocence, curiosity and joy.
With the murder of Taylor, the British public is awakened to the issue of increasing
rate of knife crime every day in the UK, dedicating more than five novels and a television
drama to the incident across the country (Seresin). Pigeon English is one of the notable ex-
amples of this awareness, as it tells the story of a brave Ghanaian family who separates in
hopes of reuniting someday in England when enough money is saved. The mother leaves
her husband and baby behind in Ghana together with her two older children and starts a
new life for a brighter future in London. Harrison or shortly ‘Harri’, arrives at his new house
with his older sister Lydia and his mother whom he calls as Mamma, speaks pidgin English
and tries to adjust to his new life as an outsider surrounded by an unfamiliar culture with
many harsh rules and norms. He imitates the new world around him but this is still not
enough to eliminate the ongoing marginalization, prejudice, and black-racism.
Immigration is a long process that comes with several consequences. Harri, practical-
ly, is unaware of how London’s culture contradicts with the concept of multiculturalism, de-
spite being a multiethnic community. London expects its immigrants to assimilate into their
way and perception of life which at the outset includes the difficulties Harri frequently faces
2
