It’s no secret that I’ve moved and worked in predominantly white spaces since my youth. Growing up as a mixed race child in the middle of rural Wales was not an easy experience; though one that I value due to the immense love I now have for nature, it instilled a feeling of ‘otherness’ in me from a very young age.
Imposter syndrome started within the family, evolved through school and then work but was never something that I’d truly identified until a few years ago when I started to realise my past experiences through newly opened eyes – awakened fully through the Black Lives Matter movement.
Since helping to organise the Black Lives Matter march in Bristol a lot has changed for me personally and professionally with inclusion becoming an area that I’ve been working hard to attempt to make a difference in. When I am made to feel ‘othered’ the rage, the sadness, the emotion it sparks in me is sometimes uncontrollable…but I am so lucky to be able to express myself in a way that can be understood on a platform for which to do it.
One of the things I’m looking forward to most this summer is my talk: Reclaiming Space for the Speakers Corner at Boomtown Fair this year. I’ll be describing my experiences working in predominantly white spaces as a person of colour and how reflection of instances in which I’ve been made to feel ‘othered’ has helped me to develop ways in which to combat them through music, art and discussion. There is such a huge range of debates on offer at Speakers Corner this year and I am so honoured to be a part of it – check out the poster below for what else is on offer at Chapter 10.
