British/Jamaican | Guyanese
I identify as a heterosexual British, Jamaican & Guyanese and of no religious background.
My Dad was born in Guyana to a Portuguese father and Dutch Guyanese mother and came to England at a young age. My Mum was born in England to Jamaican parents. My late Grandmother came to England pregnant with my mum in 1961 to work in a factory and eventually become a nurse in various hospitals across London.
Growing up it was easy to say I was Black as none of my immediate family or close friends were of a mixed heritage. Both the school and where I resided consisted of predominately Black Caribbean. Any forms I filled out we’re all answered as Black British without hesitation as this is who I believed I was. My peers poked fun at my surname which caused me to only use half my surname for many years. This caused a gap in my identity at a young age being limited to information of my ancestry.
I’d say I was around 20 when I was introduced to my Dads side. This is when it hit me. Meeting all my cousins and aunties/uncles, seeing all the old family pictures. This was when I realised I am mixed race. All these stories helped piece the family history a little more.
Being raised in an area where there wasn’t so much a mixture of cultural background It was easy to make friends with those the same as I had identified with. More of a comfort thing I guess. We’d have many things in common. Many people play it safe in life and only stick to what they know.
I am unable to speak my native languages; however, I don’t feel this has affected me. I never thought I was missing out on not speaking my native language. I connect with my Jamaican (Caribbean) side more as I’m more exposed to it on a day-to-day basis, more exposed.
One positive thing about being mixed-race is it’s an ice breaker a lot of the time. It can be as simple as reading your name leading to ‘Where are you from’. People tend to take an interest straight away in your background. It’s exciting being able to find out family history even more so when it dives into various places around the world. Having family in different countries, also gives you a reason to go visit other places.
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