Why Some Immigrants Fail in The West
Many people assume that when immigrants struggle in Western countries, it’s because of racism or discrimination.
But what if the real reason has nothing to do with skin colour — and everything to do with culture?
As an immigrant in Finland, I’ve noticed a gigantic problem.
I see echoes here of something that’s already tearing other Western countries apart — scenes from Los Angeles, London, and Berlin where crowds wave flags and chant slogans about belonging, yet everything about those protests shows how divided the West has become.
Behind all of it sits a strange idea: that all immigrants are one people who ought to think and act the same way — that our allegiance should be to our “community,” not the country we now call home.
It’s a rotten idea that’s quietly ravaging much of the West.
If left unchecked, it will destroy the very trust that holds our societies together.
It’s already fanning the flames of anger, frustration, and division across multiple countries.
If things continue the way they are — and if saner minds don’t start speaking the truth — it will only get worse.
We are not one people.
Allegiance Over Identity
I moved to Finland six years ago. It’s my home now.
I have a family here, and it’s in my interest to make sure this country continues to thrive.
My allegiance is first and foremost to Finland — not to some vague immigrant community.
In my view, that’s how it should be.
The “us versus them” mentality being pushed politically is insane. Some immigrants get drawn into it, often cheered on by locals full of self-destructive “empathy.”
And this isn’t unique to Finland. The same mindset exists across Europe and in the United States — people who move to a country, benefit from everything it offers, and then campaign for ideas that stand completely against the culture that gave them stability in the first place.
The Backlash
When I began talking openly about integration, Finnish culture, and what it means to belong to this society, I noticed something strange.
People flooded my comments calling me a traitor.
A traitor to what? To who?
Some even had the audacity to call me a traitor to black people. Others accused me of “sucking up” to Finnish people for attention — a grifter, an Uncle Tom.
Anything positive I said about this country — or its people — was enough to provoke outrage from a small but loud subset of immigrants and locals who think I’m saying “the wrong thing.”
So what exactly is so wrong about what I’m saying?
What They Expect
The basic assumption seems to be that because I wasn’t born here, and because I’m black, my main priority should be “protecting” others like me.
Let’s put aside the fact that black people and immigrants don’t need my protection in Finland.
Let’s also put aside the fact that here, I’m equal under the law and can benefit from the same resources and opportunities as anyone else — provided I’m here legally.
In the minds of these people, my goal should be to reshape Finnish society — to mould it into something that feels more comfortable for outsiders. Even if that means changing the very character of Finland itself.
And I’d be applauded for it.
If I spent my time digging up stories of discrimination, victimhood, or a so-called “black struggle,” I’d be rewarded with pats on the back from the “tolerant” and “empathetic” crowd.
Some people seem to relish the idea of calling their own countrymen racist.
The Victimhood Trap
For certain immigrants, this narrative offers an easy escape.
If every difficult or unfamiliar experience can be explained away as “probably racist,”
then there’s no need to learn the culture.
No need to understand how Finns think.
No need to work through the natural discomfort that comes with adapting to a new land.
Integration is hard.
It’s awkward.
It can feel lonely.
But it’s necessary.
When people dismiss that process by framing every cultural difference as prejudice, they rob themselves — and the country they live in — of something essential.
That’s why I reject everything about this premise.
Perspective Changes Everything
Moving to Finland from South Africa gave me perspective.
I couldn’t believe the quality of life people enjoyed here.
Living here hasn’t always been easy.
One of my biggest mistakes was not learning the language intensely from the beginning. There’s a reason for it, but it’s not a good enough excuse.
Because of that, I had to play the integration game on hard mode — and I had no one to blame but myself.
Even during those early, awkward months, I could already see the truth: the quality of life here is unlike anywhere I’ve ever been.
I remember seeing people begging on the streets with nicer iPhones than I had.
I’m half-joking, but it’s true.
Everything people fight for in countries like the United States already exists here:
universal healthcare, free education all the way up to university, affordable and efficient public transport.
I pay around sixty euros a month and can take buses and trains all over the city.
All of this is available regardless of skin colour or ethnicity — as long as you’re a citizen or a legal resident.
No Excuses
In the U.S., people often argue that inequality stems from a lack of access — that minorities struggle because they don’t have the same financial opportunities.
Let’s put aside the fact that some minorities, like Asians, actually outperform white Americans — for the sake of argument.
In Finland, those barriers don’t exist.
So what’s the excuse if you don’t perform well?
What’s stopping anyone from succeeding?
There was no slavery of black people here.
No Apartheid. No segregation.
And yet there’s still a visible performance gap between students with immigrant backgrounds and ethnic Finns — one that persists into the second generation.
That’s something we need to confront honestly, because there are no excuses left.
What Real Disadvantage Looks Like
I know what actual disadvantage looks like.
In South Africa, my family was dirt poor.
I often went to school hungry, watching classmates eat lunches we could never afford.
Public high schools were terrible.
If you wanted a better education, you had to pay for it.
South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries on Earth, and that inequality is still visible along racial lines.
I would have done anything to have the opportunities people here take for granted.
Here, every student gets lunch.
Your parents’ income doesn’t determine the quality of your education.
University is free.
That’s why I have little sympathy for those who constantly complain about Finland.
Where else on Earth can you go that’s better?
If you can’t make it here, you’ll struggle anywhere.
Culture, Not Colour
The solution is simple — though not easy.
Everyone, on all sides, needs to understand a basic truth:
success has nothing to do with skin colour,
but everything to do with culture.
Integration has to be front and center.
It should be expected — and Finland shouldn’t feel ashamed for insisting on it.
Cultural or religious values from elsewhere must take a back seat to the ones that built this country.
That might sound harsh, but it’s about self-preservation — and giving people the best possible chance to succeed.
Finland has done well for itself, despite everything it’s faced.
This country was once dirt poor.
It fought wars, endured famine, and resisted colonisation.
And yet today, it’s one of the best places to live in the world.
That didn’t happen by accident.
It happened because of culture.
Standing With Finland
That’s why, despite being born elsewhere, I stand with Finland completely.
I want to protect and promote what makes this place what it is — because it works.
When a place becomes your home, you defend it.
You look after it.
You add to it.
I am part of Finnish society, and I want to see it continue to thrive.
Watch the Youtube video HERE