Mythbusting

The media plays a massive role in how we understand and relate to any issue. Separating fact from fiction is crucial as we consider a topic that the Bible addresses in such a compelling way.

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.” – Zechariah 7:9-10

After reading an in-depth guide by the Scalabrini Centre on how journalists should approach the topic of Foreign Nationals in a South African context, it became clear that a lot of that measured approach can be applied to how we, as Christ-followers, should be engaging with the stories we read and just as importantly, the Foreign Nationals that we meet. Leviticus 19:34 goes one step further than the book of Zechariah and tells us that, “…the foreigners residing among you must be treated as native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.“ Love them as yourself. As yourself. Take a moment. Sit with that.

In an article in the Daily Maverick Greg Nicolson & Bheki Simelane wrote that “…the issue [of migration] is ripe for populist campaigns and there’s concern it might fuel the cycle of xenophobic attacks”. In order to be a part of preventing these kinds of attacks, it’s vital that we are ready to interrogate the facts that we are reading or hearing and look out for some common missteps therein. This is especially important now as we are in an election year and this issue often flares up around elections.

The way in which migration is reported can have damaging, and even fatal, impacts. Media pieces on migration tend to focus on negative imaging and consequences of cross-border migration, without taking into account the wealth and diversity that comes along with it.

One of the main missteps that we should be on the lookout for is Victim Journalism. Migrants typically appear in the media because they are victims of violence, or because they are heroes.

Neither is useful for changing perceptions towards migrants. This polarised approach creates a simplified perception of migration in our minds… Migrants are often linked to chaos and anarchy. They are also linked to disease, counterfeit goods, and adulterated food. This impression is furthered by the imagery of smoke, flames, displacement, and words like ‘floods’, ‘overrun’, and ‘swarms’. Those without documents are referred to as ‘illegal immigrants’, further linking migration and crime. These linkages are not a truthful reflection of the majority of foreign nationals. Have a look at some of these myths and their corresponding facts at the end of this article.

Xenophobia is usually put down to stress in the face of high unemployment. This simplifies a very complex problem and research on xenophobia has shown surprising results. For example, a poll by the Southern African Migration Programme found that, in terms of income, the lowest income groups were the least xenophobic.” This means that South Africans who are unemployed or earning the least, report that they do not harbour animosity towards their foreign national counterparts. This challenges the narrative that xenophobic attacks are grounded in frustration at ‘losing’ jobs to foreign nationals who have joined the workforce. In terms of racial groups, black South Africans were found to be the least xenophobic (even though this racial group is often ‘blamed’ for xenophobia in the media). The research found that the more interaction someone has with a non-national, the less xenophobic they are likely to be.

This is an important finding when you consider it alongside the verse, Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2). Research insists that when we interact with or really know a person, or see a person rather than a homogenous group beneath the unanimous banner ‘foreigner’ we are less likely to harbour discriminatory feelings towards them. The Bible pushes us even further, saying we should mindfully show hospitality- as in this article What does the Bible have to say about the foreigner?  points out:

It’s when we scratch beneath the surface of the content we are consuming on this topic, that we can start to see how our opinions might be shaped by a really nasty undercurrent. “Migration is usually in the news in reaction to a xenophobic comment or an outbreak of violence. Its coverage is therefore very reactionary, rather than proactive. This further associates immigration with violence and disorder in the public’s mind. So it’s on us to be more discerning when we engage. A helpful tool from the Scalabrini Centre is this one:

And finally, spend some time familiarising yourself with the Myths and Realties in the table below. Because when we’re able to apply wisdom to this topic, we will be better equipped to welcome the foreigner and honour their unique story.

Editors Note: This article leans heavily on Reporting On Migration In South Africa: A Guide for Journalists and Editors, a resource produced by the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town. The full guide is available here.

https://scalabrini.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Reporting-Migration-South-Africa-2.pdf