Diaspora

Interview: First-ever black Member of Parliament in Poland

John Godson became the first black Member of Parliament in a ground breaking election in 2010, in what is being seen as a large step forward in the nation's race relations.

He is an outspoken proponent of African migrants in central and Eastern Europe. Recently Afryka connect had a chance to sit down with Hon. Godson and share his experience and thoughts.

Afryka Connect (AC). Could you tell us about your background?

Hon. John Abraham Godson (JG). I was born in Nigeria. I came to Poland in 1993 after graduating from a university in Nigeria. I came as a missionary. First few years I was a lecturer at the Polytechnic in Szczecin, for one year at the university of Poznan and next 10 years as a pastor. When I was a pastor, my wife and I were involved in a number of social projects in helping the poor, the needy and those in need of scholarship, we also had a language school. It was while I was involved in these activities that people who knew me started to encourage me to get into politics. As a pastor and a missionary, I thought getting involved in politics was not the right thing to do until 2003 when I moved to Lodz, it was while in Lodz that I got this tingling that it might be the right thing to do, so I contested for the district council elections in 2005 and I got the highest number of votes out of 107 candidates and then the following year I ran for the city council Lodz and the rest is history.

AC: You have had a long journey in life; from Africa to Poland as well as a spiritual life.

JG: Whatever I do I’m a Christian and whatever I do I want to do for the glory of God. I want to serve people and I just consider what I’m doing now as a continuation of what I was doing earlier.

AC: What are the challenges if any, have you come across?

JG: Well of course life without challenges is a boring life and so in everything you do there must be challenges and the higher the heights you go the bigger the challenges. We can talk about racial challenges, the fact that being the first black MP in a predominantly homogeneous white society, an immigrant who’s had a Polish citizenship for only 10 years that would be challenging when you think in terms of mindset and the mentality. That shows that Poland has changed and the Poland we have now is not the Poland I met 20 years ago when I came. The Poland I met was very poor and much closed. It was very sensational to be black, I remember students in Polytechnic, after the lecture they would ask me can I touch your hair, by then it was strange for them since I was the first black person they saw. So yes Poland has changed.

AC: You said Poland has changed, do you think Poland is more receptive and hospitable to African immigrants and what is your opinion on African immigrants in central Europe?

JG: Generally Poles are hospitable, like I said Poland is more open, more friendly and more welcoming. Of course there is a need for more changes. But I would tell you that Poland has really changed. About central Europe, I think many of them come unprepared, not to talk about the fact that the society they are coming to is unprepared in terms of intercultural competence because it’s predominantly homogeneous white society. Many of them come with the attitude of to get not to give, but I think there is hope if they change that attitude they stop being isolated. What will help them adopt within their societies they are in is simply to mix up. That’s what I did when I came to Poland, I didn’t have any African friends, my closest friends were Poles, I think that’s what helped me to integrate into Polish culture.

AC: Most people call you Polish Obama, how do you feel about that?

JG: Well I don’t agree with them, I am not the Polish Obama, I am Polish Godson.

AC: Do you have a specific philosophy in life that you can identify yourself with?

JG: I believe that we are here for a purpose. I believe that every human being was created for a purpose and we are at our best when we fulfill our purpose. I also believe that we are here to serve and help others and that’s my principle philosophy in politics and I also believe, it is better to give and to receive especially for immigrants, many of them come to receive and that’s why many of them never get very far. Those of them who come to give, get very far. It’s very biblical. It’s more blessed to give than to receive.

AC: Do you have a world figure that you admire?

JG: Well, Nelson Mandela (pointing at Mandela’s portrait on his office wall) is a man I admire his courage and mostly for what he did after becoming the President of South Africa. He was not vengeful; he was for peace and reunion. I also admire historical figures like Abraham Lincoln and Jimmy Carter.

AC: What are you doing in your position as a Member of Parliament to improve or address Polish attitude towards African immigrants and helping in the process of assimilation?

JG: Before I became an MP, I founded the African institute in the region whose basic goal is to promote relations between Poland and Africa. One of the things we do is to organize orientation week for new students coming to Lodz, intervening in various situations when they have problem with immigration, Police or in court. As an MP I am a member of European parliamentarians for Africa, we have a conference this month where I will also be speaking, I’m also chairman of Polish Nigeria Bi-Parliamentary group. There are a number of initiatives and steps that I have undertaken to help promote relations between Africa and Poland and I regret that Africa is still very marginal when it comes to relationship with Poland. From the Polish side, I’m hoping that, that will change.

AC: Recently there have been some talks about legalizing illegal immigrants in Poland, what’s your opinion about that process?

JG: I think it’s a good step because it would bring out a lot of illegal immigrants who are functioning in the grey areas. But I also think that it’s only a short term solution, I think that everything is based on having the right immigration policy and I Poland can earn a lot from that for example, UK last year earned 7 billion pounds from foreign students, why not Poland. Poland can do the same, offering courses in English, they have very good universities, and it can be done. However, I do not think that Poland is a popular destination for African immigrants for various reasons, first, economic reasons, it’s not as rich as western Europe, second, for geographical location, it’s way in the North and for climatic reasons many Africans do not want to stay in Poland, third, for language reasons most Anglophone countries prefer Britain where they don’t have to learn the language whereas Francophone countries prefer France. If you have to stay in Poland, you have to learn the language and Polish language is not easy.  Nevertheless, Poland needs to formulate a coherent immigration policy.

AC: As a President of Africa Institute what’s the intensity of commitment between Poland and Africa right now?

JG: We have various sectors; academic and research, charity activities in partnership with UNDP and cultural programs. I serve as a honorary patron to a number of projects for instance last year a group of students from university of Poznan travelled to South Africa under my patronage. These are fundamental steps that in the end will tend to better relations. In fact today, we were consulted by a lady who wants to conduct humanitarian projects in Nigeria.

AC: What’s your opinion about how media is portraying Africa?

JG: It’s because of ignorance, what I call low intercultural competence when they are portraying stereotypes, when you think about Africa, seen as poor, sick people, a place full of conflicts. Those things are true and part of the truth, there is also the rich part of Africa, the industrialized part of Africa that is innovative. I believe it’s not fair to show only the dark part but also to show the good part of Africa as well.

AC: Do you have any non political commitments?

JG: I am a man of many hats. I just concluded my doctorate studies at the University of Warsaw. Today, I  opened my doctorate files at the University of Lodz where I’m writing about adaptation of Africans in Poland. I’m also doing 2 masters programs; Masters in Business Administration and masters of Science and Professional communications at the Clark university. I have a wife and 4 children.

AC: How do you manage to Balance all these with family?

JG: It’s by God’s grace on one hand. I don’t need a lot of sleep. I sleep for about 4 hours, I am very organized and I love work, I love what I’m doing.

AC: Finally, what are your future plans?

JG: To continue to serve in every possible way in terms of politics. Academically, I plan to defend my doctoral thesis next year and continue teaching, I teach at the university of Lodz and I hope to do more travelling, more writing, I’ve already written three books and I’m planning when I finish all these studies I’ll spend more time writing.

AC: Thank you very much for your time. We wish you well in your future endeavors.