I went for a walkabout in ilford lane last week. It was interesting. Hustle and bustle. Lots of asian shops and restaurants. Lots of asians. Lots of pakistani / bengali looking teenage girls with LOADS of make-up on hanging around in little gangs squealing with "yeah, innit!" in excitement. Lots of teenage boys hanging in their little groups using gangster language, with attitude...
And so I left, wondering what will become of these youths. Will they grow out of this strange speech and start speaking like the mainstream? Will they mature into humble adults? Will they get degrees and become teachers or doctors or lawyers or engineers? Or will they become more immersed within their gangs culture, attracted to drugs and enmity with others, a vicious spiral, from which few escape unscathed?
Do you read this and recognise yourself?