Beth #mixedmonday
How would you describe your ethnicity?
I would describe myself as mixed race. I am Black & White Caribbean. My mum is white, she is of Irish and Scandinavian descent, while my dad is black and Bajan. I was raised in a white area, I attended predominantly white schools, and I felt disconnected from the black side of myself for a long time, because I didn’t have anyone of colour in my life other than my younger sister. I have been unable to have a relationship with my dad, and have been completely estranged from his side of the family. As an adult, especially post BLM 2020, I have felt truly connected to being black, more than ever before.
Has your mixed-ness influenced your career in any way?
My mixed-ness has massively influenced the job I’m doing right now. Before 2020, I worked in white spaces with limited diversity, I wasn’t awake to the fact that I was constantly around people who were nothing like me. I didn’t really feel like I ‘fit’ anywhere. I always seemed to be the only non-white person in the room, but I didn’t truly notice. After the BLM movement, I became acutely aware of being a minority, and how important it was to me to acknowledge this and reaffirm my identity as a black woman. I hadn’t ever thought too much about my race, as it was always raised as a negative by people I went to school with, so I spent many years dismissing it entirely. 3 years ago, I started my freelance business; @blkcherry.co, to support black-owned businesses with all things digital marketing. After BLM, I decided I wanted to primarily help marginalised groups with social media, content, websites etc. I have worked with some amazing people over the last couple of years. By creating my own lane, I have been able to connect with and work with people that I wouldn’t have otherwise had the chance to. It’s been so encouraging to see the shift in the world since 2020, to see black and mixed people doing their own thing and breaking out of historical traditions.
My mixed-ness has also inspired me to write poems. Taking the time to consider how I really felt about my identity and my race encouraged me to connect with poetry. Watch this space – I hope to finish a book by the time I'm 30!
If you could describe your mixed identity in one word, what would it be?
CENTRED.
I now feel very connected to both my black side and my white side. Though, visiting Barbados one day will complete the picture for me.
What is the best thing about being mixed heritage?
Feeling connected to both sides of myself. My identity feels very balanced, I feel black, I feel white and I feel British. Most of all, I feel like I am able to connect to a wide-range of people because of this. I can empathise heavily with black communities, and I have been used to being around white people all my life, so I feel completely comfortable and connected in both spaces. I love being ‘two sides of one coin’ - loving Caribbean food and music, while also feeling very British and loving that part of myself too.
On the flip side of this, there is sometimes a feeling of not belonging to either side, but that doesn’t stop me loving being mixed, and I’m so happy that I have a mix of heritages running through me. It makes life beautiful and interesting.
