Afghan | British/Danish/German
I sometimes feel like I don’t belong, as if I don’t have a community or am fully accepted by people. I am often questioned about my name and my face and have experienced odd comments about my appearance when people hear I am mixed-race. I have learnt to be proud of who I am, regardless if I don’t ‘pass’ as mixed-race, because only I know how I truly am and how I identify.
My Dad is from Afghanistan with a small amount of Arab, Indian and Pakistani, and my Mum is half British and half Danish/German. They met in Manchester, England at a KFC my Dad was managing at the time. At first I didn't think my Mum thought she was going to end up with a man of another race, but I think now she wouldn’t have it any other way. And vice versa. I don’t know any family from my Dad’s side so I was primarily raised into British culture as I’ve lived here my whole life, but I’ve been to Denmark and Germany many times. I really want to learn more about my other half. My Dad recently showed me his Qu’ran, although I am not a Muslim there was something that felt so comforting about it. I felt a little more connected than I did before.
Sometimes it’s lonely or isolating not knowing many people who grew up with culturally and/or racially diverse parents. It helps speaking to my older sister about it and sharing my experience with my friends and family. I would say that it is such a special thing to have diversity within yourself, it makes you more understanding of other cultures, and of other people. It’s not something to be afraid of or feel isolated because of. Just own the fact you are unique and have an outlook not many others have.
Both of my parents inspire me in different ways. Both worked hard, again in different ways. My Mum focused on her career and is driven, like me. And my Dad was a refugee who fled Iran (where he grew up) to live a safer life in the UK, was resilient, something which I too try to be in my everyday life.
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