‘Coconut conundrum’: Is the term derogatory or can we use it when referring to ourselves?

The term and phrase ‘Coconut’ has amassed significant and widespread debate across the UK with individuals questioning whether the term is considered racist or not.

For decades the term ‘coconut’ has been used in jest by the South Asian community but also as a derogatory label, within and outside the community, as it connotates to an individual being brown on the outside and white on the inside.

Whilst some individuals have used this label in jest, even referring to themselves as ‘coconuts’, not everyone finds this label amusing, considering it to be racist and suggestive of being a betrayer to one’s heritage.

The debate over its usage was sparked by an image posted by the Metropolitan police of 37-year-old teacher, Marieha Hussain who was photographed raising a placard which police deemed to be a hate crime at a Pro-Palestine march. The placard depicted the faces of former Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak and MP Suella Braverman next to fallen coconuts under a palm tree.

The post has since gone viral, and Marieha has since appeared in court and plead guilty to ‘racially abusive’ behaviour.

When speaking to Conservative Cllr Doc Anand about his views on the trial, he expressed that “within this context, her actions make light of a very serious situation, and it is a purely racial slur”.

He went on to say, “To have the gall to put that on a poster is entirely disrespectful as her intention is wrong”.

“These are politicians who want to serve the country and be respected so it is degrading and wilfully intentioned hurt towards them, to accuse them of being ‘coconuts’ in a public domain”.

The actions of Marieha, have clearly impacted other politician’s views and have led to quiet an uproar over whether her actions were respectful and deserved a criminal punishment.

Speaking to other British-Asians on their views on the actual use of the term and whether they view it as a racist, revealed a divide in opinions between older and younger generations.

26-year-old Account Manager Aashika Mistry says “because we have grown up in western society, we have had to adapt which means we have taken on aspects of ‘white’ culture which is why I see how ‘coconut’ has reflected this adaptation and way of life”

She went on to describe how she would react if the term was directed towards her, “However, there are two sides to every coin, whilst I understand that the term has been used in a playful way, I think if I was called a coconut, I would take offensive to that because it questions my authenticity as a brown person”

22-year-old, Law Student, Amy Pal-Kerr, also shared similar views to Aashika, expressing that she finds the term “hateful” and believes “It’s a term that holds an incredibly significant weight in our current society and I believe it has no place here”.

The views by younger British-Asians clearly exemplifies the distaste for a term that does not keep up with current and woke values of society.

However, many British-Asians have often used the term in reference to themselves, so why the big controversy?

There are multiple businesses and individuals who would call themselves a ‘coconut’, myself included as someone who leaned more into Western culture as a child. I considered myself a ‘self-proclaimed coconut’ in an attempt to take back power and ownership over the word in a way that acknowledged that I could be both British and Indian and embrace two sides of myself.

When speaking to 57-year-old, Technical Director, Umesh Mistry, he shared similar sentiments around term and expressed how he wouldn’t take offence at the term being directed towards him, “I think its just a turn of phrase used to describe someone who may be more westernised and not necessarily a racial slur”.

He went on to say “I think I’m a bit more thick-skinned when it comes to my response to because I grew up in the seventies and racism was more direct and physical”

“This sort of terminology was just flying about; I don’t let it affect me and I don’t get offended by this term”

Umesh’s sentiments around the terminology stem from his upbringing during the seventies where racist was rampant within the UK and many racial slurs were enforced with a degree of directness, thus leading him to be unphased by the controversy surrounding ‘coconut’.

Newcastle based comedian and writer, Raul Kohli also shared a similar view to Umesh, saying “If one brown person wants to call another brown person a coconut or a black person wants call another black person an Uncle Tom, I really don’t see what the big deal is”.

When discussing Marieha’s upcoming trial, Raul said “As a comic I’m not too keen on criminalising language or drawings, period, as it is a slippery slope.”

“But if we are going to, then I’m clueless as to why 12 years after the John terry scenario, a woman who has held a poster calling the PM a coconut is being dragged to court, but a reform activist who has called him the p word has not been”.

Raul brings to attention the previous racist language used by reform activist, John Terry, who was filmed calling the former PM, Rishi Sunak, an “f—ing p-word”, in a video that went viral on social media.

Therefore, whilst many find the term ‘coconut’ offensive, there are individuals who believe it can be used in the attitude of free speech and use it to claim back racial negativity or are not necessarily phased by the term. Instead, individuals are more concerned with the outwardly racist actions of individuals in the political public eye who have not been held accountable for their actions.