Swazi | South African

Photo credit: provided by subject

I was born in Natal, South Africa and grew up in a Christian household. My birth certificate says coloured. In 2018 had a brain aneurysm only to discover two more. So 2018 was a difficult year but I never let it get the better of me and I fought through every obstacle.

My Mum is originally from a place called Port Shepstone in Natal, South Africa and my Dad from Swaziland. They met at my Mom's sister's house in Durban, South Africa as my Dad had crossed the border to seek employment. My Mum speaks fluent English and Zulu and my Dad spoke fluent English. If Mum wanted to visit Dad's hometown she needed a passport. My Dad passed away during Covid and one of the toughest things was the family not being able to travel over to pay their final respects.

I would say so growing up in time of apartheid we only were allowed to stay within our own race, so we had our own community, schools, beaches etc. As a 16-year-old moving to Perth, Australia I found it difficult to blend into a multicultural society.

Growing up I hid a part of my identity as being fair skinned and growing up in an all-Black community I was picked on. Things like people calling me ‘Snow White’ or ‘your Dads the milkman’ affected me. I felt like I had to fight to prove who I was.

I think interracial relationships are great my thing at the end of the day is not skin colour but finding that one who loves you for you and sees no colour. In my Grandparents day it was unheard of to marry outside your race and if you did you were pretty much an outcast.

Challenges would be people never believing where I am from, always getting comments like ‘you too fair skinned to be from South Africa or even be Black’. A positive is I come from a beautiful country and amazing people who I now get to share my stories with here in Australia.

I have been back to Africa and there's no feeling like being back to your roots, enjoying the people, music, food and nature. I would love to take my kids back so they can learn about their culture.

Being a child I thought it was a punishment growing up as coloured and watching White kids have everything whilst we struggled. But as an adult I now see our parents did the best they could and I would not change who I am now for anyone.

If I had the opportunity to be reborn I would want to be me all over again but this time embrace my culture and enjoy my childhood days instead of always defending myself. If there's any young people out there that struggle with their identity all I can say is please don't let this bitter world dictate who you are and stand strong in your beliefs. I wish I had growing up.