British | Bajan
I identify as mixed-race – British and Caribbean. My Mum’s parents are from the UK, and my Dad’s parents are from Barbados. Both my Mum and Dad were born and raised in North West London. They met through shared friendship groups in the early 1990’s. I think that I first realised I was mixed-race around the age of 6 or 7. I remember my Mum and I were walking home with a school friend who questioned whether she was mixed-race because she had family that were both British and Mauritian. This was the first time I’d heard the term and recognised it as something that applied to me. As I’ve grown up in very multicultural areas of London, I’ve always been surrounded by people of various ethnicities. When I was much younger, I noticed differences in people’s appearance but felt no need to try to categorise people in any way. There were so many people around me that looked diverse from the colour of their skin to the texture of their hair. Yet, we all had a shared culture and I couldn’t see why there would be ways to differentiate us. It may be for this reason that I didn’t realise I was mixed-race, or that there was a term to define this.
Understanding race as fluid rather than classified has stuck with me throughout my life and I definitely think that race as a human categorisation is a learnt construct. I think that a growing mixed-race society is great as it breaks down the ways that we separate people and use race as a way to highlight differences. I hope that in the future, people may come from such a variety of heritages that it will become more difficult to categorise people according to race and result in a greater acceptance of fluidity. I hope that this acceptance will encourage us all to be seen as equal.
I definitely feel that the diverse area I grew up in had an effect on how I identify with my dual heritage – it’s allowed me to be very accepting and proud to be mixed-race and I’ve never felt particularly different from others around me. My parents also grew up in the same area and I think that because of this they already shared a culture when they got together even though their own parents came from different countries. There are definitely some cultural differences whether it be the genres of music they listen to or some of the foods they eat. However, this hasn’t ever been a problem, and differences between people have always been celebrated by my parents.
In terms of challenges that I’ve faced because of being mixed-race, something that stands out most is not always feeling a complete sense of belonging to either side of my heritage. As I began to get older, my peers and I grew more aware of the social stratifications of race and using race as a way to identify one-self got stronger. It was here that I began to struggle with my racial identity. Having a very diverse group of friends has helped me to feel comfortable with my mixed identity and having a lot of friends who have parents from different parts of the world helps me to be at peace with not always feeling completely connected to my heritage. My sense of belonging has come from understanding and admiring differences.
I love that being mixed-race is essentially a result of the world connecting and different cultures creating and growing together. In my own family there are people of various races and backgrounds whether it be one of my half siblings or a distant cousin. I think that when you aren’t necessarily the same race as the rest of your family it helps you to view differences in race as something to celebrate rather than to be used to separate, which is something that I think is really beautiful.
Now, as an artist, the concept of understanding and admiring difference underpins the artwork that I make. I always consider connection, togetherness and equality when creating and I think that being mixed-race has not only had an influence as to why I work with these themes but also my understanding of the world around me.
If I had the opportunity to be born again, I would like to come back as the same person with the same family and friends around me. There are definitely some stars in my life who are special and lovely souls who accept all for who they are, and I am very lucky to have them.