Parallel Lives - David Shaw's Portfolio

Parallel Lives

Oldham, a post industrial town near Manchester was named as ‘Britain’s most deprived town’ in 2016. Living parallel to a predominantly British working class population, a large community of Asian and British-Asian people has developed after their predecessors arrived to work in the cotton mills, which have now all closed. Exploring the concept of ‘Parallel Lives’ - where two communities live side-by-side yet culturally separate which was developed after the Oldham Riots of 2001; this project tells the story of modern Oldham and the local people who are promoting integration through their daily lives.

Oldham was once the cotton capital of the world and had a strong economy. Now however, the mills are all shut down leaving the town with few jobs but a large and divided population. They sit as a reminder of Oldham’s more prosperous time.

Glodwick, which is a large residential area and home to Oldham's largest Pakistani and Bangladeshi community.

Keith Head, an Oldham local, shows his tattoos. People from all cultural groups in Oldham share the identity of their post-industrial town despite what they see their ethnic status as.

Demographically the town is made up of 75% White British and 17% Asian or Asian descendant.

Oldham Athletic fan celebrate a goal with Amari Morgan-Smith - one of the players. Oldham Athletic is a club deeply rooted within it’s community.

Background

Oldham sits on the edge of the Pennines in the North-West of England and is littered with abandoned mills and factories which act as a reminder to its once industrial and prosperous past. Demographically the town’s population is made up of 75% White British and 17% Asian or Asian descendant (2011 Census).

The Asian and British-Asian community, who are predominantly Pakistani and Bangladeshi, emigrated to Oldham in the 1960s after a nationwide push to employ people in the cotton mills. They moved to, and were located into the same areas as their families and friends which over time caused residential districts in Oldham to be only resided in by one of the ethnic groups, meaning integration between the communities has proven difficult. Even today many of the local school’s students are of one ethnic group and many of the older generation still do not speak English. Contemporary events in the muslim world add further mistrust between the communities and race hate incidents spiked after the Brexit referendum of 2016.

Fifteen years after the infamous Oldham riots the Brexit vote exposed a cultural divide in Britain, however, the residents of Oldham have known this divide for decades. Despite many successful community cohesion efforts by local arts, charity and educational groups a general mistrust between people in the town remains.

After the Oldham Riots a government commissioned report by Professor Ted Cantle developed the concept of ‘Parallel Lives’, where the two communities live side-by-side in the same area, yet with little social mixing or integration. This model has been used on towns across the UK and abroad.

Despite these issues, many people of Oldham display constant tolerance and promote integration through the actions they take in their daily lives. The focus of this project, is to document the concept of Parallel Lives through the interactions of the communities brought together by their shared residence of Oldham, whilst celebrating those who are actively breaking down cultural barriers.

Local revellers celebrate the New Year at the Welcome Inn on the outskirts of Oldham.

Two Oldham Athletic fans having lunch whilst on a trip to see their Oldham loose 7-0 away at MK Dons.

Many local Asian people talk of an identity crisis as they feel British, due to being born and living their lives in the UK, however they still live in closed Pakistani or Bangladeshi communities both physically in the town as well as socially.

The Jamie Masjid, one of the smaller Mosques in the Oldham area which was built by converting two terraced houses into one.

Islamic lights on the front of a home in Glodwick, a predominantly Asian neighbourhood. Many local Muslims celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed which is close to the December festive period.

A wedding in a Chadderton pub.

Najma Khalid is a single-mother who has battled unemployment during her parenthood during which she figured out the related government welfare available to her without support. She now uses her experience to help other local Asian women who struggle with similar social issues within the local society.

Najma’s organisation is called ‘Chai Ladies’. The group helps local Asian women with issues such as identity, poverty, religion, gender issues and parenthood through mutual support.

Hammad, Najma’s son. For Najma and her family many of their friends and contacts are of Pakistani or Bangladeshi descent but were born in Britain. They still attend Mosque and other Muslim cultural events however their lives are still heavily influenced by western culture.

Najma’s son Hammad picks out a bowling ball.

Members of ‘Chai Ladies’ on a shopping trip to Manchester. They also take part in many public outreach, health and artistic programs that aim for positive cross-community interaction.

Fermuda, an active Chai Lady.

“I was walking down the street and saw this punk guy with green hair walking towards me. I thought oh no whats this guy going to do. I was terrified.

I then saw an old lady carrying her shopping so I said - ‘you need a hand with those bags love’. She then screamed get away from me you Paki’ to which the punk guy jumps in and says - ‘whats your problem, she was only trying to help.’ It goes to show that you can’t judge people by how they look.”

Fermuda, a ‘Chai Ladies’ participant remembers a defining moment.“

Najma with her daughter Malaika whilst playing at a local bowling centre.

Najma with her mother - Sabar Jan Masood, who emigrated to Oldham in the 1960s, on their way to Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s annual garden party. Najma received the invitation due to her community work.

Members of ‘Chai Ladies’ participating on a fundraising trek for a charity in Pakistan.

Oldham’s Tommyfield Market.

Oldham’s town centre is not as visibly divided, as people from all communities use its services.

An Asian clothes shop built in an old mill in Glodwick which is an area that was heavily effected by the Oldham riots. It still has a reputation as a ‘no go’ area for ‘White’ people however most local residents feel this is rumour and gossip rather than a reality.

The Imam of the Jamie Masjid reads Islamic prayers at the mosque in Westwood, Oldham. 7.6% of Oldham’s population identity as religious Muslim.

A ‘non-political’ march through the Westwood district celebrating the birth of the Prophet Mohammed where local Asian residents were instructed not to engage with anyone who was not part of the procession.

Street labourers watch the procession go past.

A local Imam. Many British-Asian residents are suffering due to the stigma of being Asian and Muslim which has been exacerbated by contemporary global events in the Muslim world.

Two newborn twins in a home in Westwood.

Zakariyah sits on the lap os his father - Juel Miah Subhan. Juel lives in the predominately Bangladeshi district of Westwood and is a sports photographer working at lower league teams such as Oldham and Rochdale.

Zakariyah in his Westwood home.

Local British Asian men before Friday prayers in the Westwood area of Oldham, a predominately Asian area.

Juel Miah Subhan poses for a portrait in a new England football shirt.

Juel's niece in their Westwood home.

Deputy Mayor Shadab Qumer attends the 2016 Remembrance Sunday service in Oldham’s town centre.

An Oldham Athletic supporter sings whilst holding the St Georges Cross, the English Flag. National identity is very important amongst Oldham residents and the team’s supporters.

Keith Head on holiday in Benidorm.

Keith Head is a lifelong Oldham Athletic fan who is currently on ‘the sick’ where he receives government benefit payments and social housing due to a long term mental-health illness. He lives in the Oldham borough of Chadderton right on the border between ‘Asian’ and ‘White’ areas.

In his past Keith married Ruqia, an Asian women. Keith is still close with his ex-wife Ruqia, whom he is helping to fix up and sell the house they used to live in together. Keith and Ruqia got married a few years before the Oldham Riots when racial tensions were at their height. Their relationship was seen as taboo in local society however this created a very strong bond between the two.

Keith was once a homeless alcoholic and fell into a coma for one month. Due to his past, he still suffers from multiple illnesses which prevents him from working a paid job.

Keith Head with his ex-wife Rookie. He married Rookie an Asian women around the time of the Oldham Riots despite how taboo and rare this was at the time. He lives in the Oldham borough of Chadderton right on the border between ‘Asian’ and ‘White’ areas.

Oldham fans at Rochdale away.

The street Keith and Ruqia lived on before their divorce.

Keith with his Dad - Tommy.

Keith on a walk near Oldham.

Shopping in the local market.

Two men share a meal at a food bank run by UKEFF (UK Education and Faith Foundation); charitable organisation run by a Muslim family but hosted in a Chapel.

Race hate incidents spiked in the wake of Brexit in Oldham which voted out of the EU.

“Kill All Paky” sprayed on an Oldham wall then scrubbed away. In 2001 Oldham suffered its infamous race riots between the ‘Whites’ and ‘Asians’ as tensions boiled over into days of violent clashes. ‘Paki’ is the derogatory word used by the far right to refer to Asians regarding many of their Pakistani heritage.

Despite the successful efforts of many institutions in Oldham that are bringing the communities together, tensions in the town still remain with a sense of there being a cultural other. Malaika Khalid watches the town go by.

David J Shaw Photographer Journalist

David J Shaw

Photographer Journalist