Interracial marriage in 1940s – Britain – My Grandmother and Grandfather – cannot believe this was in the 1940s – I could not be prouder.
WOW! I think I speak for many, who found yesterday overwhelming. It was a day full of many different feelings, thought processes and searching within ourselves, others and looking at other peoples writing – in order to not only understand the topic at hand, but also the wider picture and how that alters our own world view both globally and personally.
My thoughts
I spent the majority of my day thinking, not only about my family and our own personal experiences of racism, but asking many questions within myself about questions that I have never really seriously considered before or re-examined recently. Some of those questions were: (1) What do I think it means to be truly ‘Anti-Racist’?, (2) What is my viewpoint and stance on ‘subtle/unintentional racism’?, (3) What forms of subtle racism do I see in my daily life, whether that be at work, at the pub, in the gym, on my social media feeds or even more in my own family relationships and friendships?
Even as a woman of colour and as a person who defines herself as a person who will not tolerate racism, I started to look at myself and my ‘world’ – and I mean REALLY look (yes, it is UNCOMFORTABLE to take that look, but lets be honest – this isn’t a topic which should ever ‘feel COMFORTABLE’) – and think about all of the subtle racist comments/actions that may pass me by on a day-to-day basis and what is my response/action, when those moments occur… Leaving me asking “Could I do more?”
A current example of recent racism, can be seen in the treatment of the topic of the Coronavirus. As many of us have heard/read both blatant and subtle racist comments about the Chinese as a ‘group of people’ in reference to this crisis. Indecent comments has been rife throughout our media and I am sure that you too, would have seen unsavoury subtle racist comments in your social feeds and possibly your own social groups.
Positive footsteps
For me, the greatest thing to come out of the black square campaign of yesterday, was that not only that it bought awareness on a LARGE scale, on the murder of George Floyd and US Police Racist Brutality, but it also started conversations and discussions at home and forced people to evaluate the presence of Racism in their own countries. People started to have INTERNAL HONEST conversations with themselves about the impact of George Floyd’s passing, what their thoughts on Racism are, do they allow racism (subtle or blatant) to occur without comment. This in turn, has led to people then having the same HONEST conversations with their families and friends, debating the topic, challenging others interpretations, raising further questions as well as discussing if any conversations previously had by themselves plays into the topic of Race. It is in these discussions and peoples willingness to learn and discuss the topic of Racism yesterday, that honestly made a day of mixed emotions (some of which included anger), end on a note of Positivity and Hope.
Since yesterday, I can see that many people have been criticised for their involvement on the ‘black square campaign’ and I do understand and empathise with where that criticism has come from. However, did it not show UNITY as one RACE, the HUMAN RACE – I cannot help but wonder why this would not be seen as a positive, AS LONG AS those persons posting the ‘Black Square’ ARE indeed opening the dialogue of Racism within themselves, their environment and researching and reading further to get to a point of understanding and adjusting their daily actions further, in the goal to help rid society of racism.
Today, I can see that many people are asking or searching for books to read on the topic of Race further and also on how racism has become so deep rooted and indoctrinated in our system for centuries. As I can see from the social feeds, there have been many Non-Fiction books recommended, one of which I have started to read “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi, as for me, this is a question that I still have not been able to firmly answer within myself.
My Fictional Recommendations
Alongside the non-fiction books persons have recommended, I thought I would recommend some fictional books to read to better understand the treatment of both First and Second Generation Black British. I recommend these Fictional books, because I find that Fictional books are often easier for people to digest, pick up and easier to read. Although the stories may be fictional, they are loosely fictional and the Authors have managed to interweave their own experiences and research into the books, in a way that allows you to bond with the characters. You laugh, you cry, you resonate and empathise and I honestly cannot think of a better way to truly feel and grasp the impact of Racism in any other way, allowing you to learn and have your thoughts provoked in a way, free from judgement for your lack of understanding.
The books I recommend are pictured below and available in book stores, Amazon for Kindle and Audible. I have only recommended a few so that you do not feel inundated – but these are personal books to me which allowed me to learn more about my heritage and more of an understanding about the racism that my family have endured.
I hope you enjoy these books as much as I did 💕
If you have any other books that you would recommend – then I would LOVE to hear from you. Please pop them in the comments below, for us all to see.