The good immigrant - Nikesh Shukla

How does it feel to be constantly regardedas a potential threat, strip-searched at every airport?

Or to be told that, as an actress, the partyou're most fitted to play is 'wife of a terrorist'? How does it feel to havewords from your native language misused, misappropriated and used aggressivelytowards you? How does it feel to hear a child of colour say in a classroom thatstories can only be about white people? How does it feel to go 'home' to Indiawhen your home is really London? What is it like to feel you always have to bean ambassador for your race? How does it feel to always tick 'Other'?

Bringing together 21 exciting black, Asianand minority ethnic voices emerging in Britain today, The Good Immigrant explores why immigrants come to the UK, why theystay and what it means to be 'other' in a country that doesn't seem to wantyou, doesn't truly accept you-however many generations you've been here-but stillneeds you for its diversity monitoring forms.

Inspired by discussion around why societyappears to deem people of colour as bad immigrants-job stealers, benefitscroungers, undeserving refugees-until, by winning Olympic races, or bakinggood cakes, or being conscientious doctors, they cross over and become goodimmigrants, editor Nikesh Shukla has compiled a collection of essays that arepoignant, challenging, angry, humorous, heartbreaking, polemic, weary and-most importantly-real.