Guyanese | Indo Trinidadian/Irish

Photo credit: Provided by subject

I identify as mixed-race, Christian and heterosexual. Both of my parents were born in the UK. My Dad is Black Guyanese and my Mum is Indo Trinidadian and Irish. They met through friends. I understood I was mixed-race from a young age, around 7 or 8 years old. Having Black Aunts and Uncles, Indian Aunts and Uncles and Irish Aunts and Uncles, I got curious and asked my Nan where I was from and she told me. The area I was raised in was multicultural. Bengali’s, Black, Irish Chinese etc. Everybody hung out together; there was no segregation whatsoever. A lot of my Bengali friends did question my race as they saw Indian features in me.

I always tried to fit in but never did. I felt like I was too ‘Black’ for White people and too ‘White’ for Black people. I know a few Black people who tend to just hang out with their own race, same goes with a few White people that I know. I created my own circle of friends of all ethnic backgrounds and religions. If the person is good to me, I am good to them. No matter what colour or religion. 

A lot of people can’t seem to figure me out. People tend to ask me all the time where I’m from and I like to keep them guessing. People also like my hair as it's curly when I gel it.

If I had the opportunity to be reborn I would definitely like to return as the same person, I wouldn’t want to be anybody or anything else but wiser.