Frankie Decaiza Hutchinson
Vanessa
1. What name do you go by?
Vanessa Kusah
2. How do you identify ethnically?
If I had to describe my self ethnically on an application form for example it would be either Black African or Black Caribbean. However, as my parentage is Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean on my mums’ side and Jamaican on my dad’s side and I myself identify as British. However, in the UK it seems still unfeasible for a black person to define themselves simply as British. I would prefer to identify as Afro-British. British from African descent and heritage.
3. To what extent does your ethnic identity influence your character, if at all?
I feel that I am variedly influenced by my cultural heritage but mainly from my mother’s side, especially my grandmothers to whom I am incredibly close. However, I find it difficult to say that my African and Caribbean roots are a strong reflection of my character, something I at times despise. However, as I feel that all my intrinsic experiences combine and seem best to define my character. The fact that I am a woman, young and black all combine to me being the person that I am. However, my life experiences more than anything define who am I and how I decide
3. Describe a particular incident where you have encountered racism. Keep in mind the definition of racism that I am using is broad. Therefore a racist incident is not necessarily something that should shock and disgust readers but also perhaps something that is very subtle and not overtly racist, but had an impact of making you feel different; bothered e.g. someone touching your hair, being questioned about your ethnicity, etc…
I do feel there are several instances I could talk about here. I feel that overtly racist instances are unimportant in my case as although shocking, it never phased me as any time I have encountered blatant racism, I have sort of laughed and assumed ignorance and lack of understanding and therefore have not felt deeply offended or hurt. However, there was a period at school when I was about 14 when I decided that I didn’t want to chemically straighten my hair anymore, even to the surprise of my mum. I think I was just spurred by a period of awakening where I spent a lot of time reading and understanding the history and struggle of people in the African Diaspora. It suddenly occurred to me that what I assumed to be the norm and acceptable wasn’t and just felt happier not having to conform. You could say it was a small act of cultural rebellion, however it was just something I felt I had to do in order to be happy to be me, the real me. After months of braiding my hair in an attempt to grow out the chemicals I finally had a full head of natural afro hair. It was actually daunting and something that I was highly self-conscious to begin with. The response also didn’t help. It was as if I had shaved my hair off completely. It seemed absolutely absurd. Within days of my new look, I was called into the headmistress’s office and told that my hair had to be tied back as it was not in line with the schools code of conduct. I was shocked. I argued that other girls were allowed to wear their hair down without any such questioning. She then went on to say that it looked untidy and that I couldn’t represent her school in my uniform with my hair like that. I remember saying that I though this was unfair, she just said to me: Life’s not fair. I went back to my form class in tears and my class tutor took me outside. He said to me that he would talk to her for me as he felt that it was ridiculous too. He also said that my hair was beautiful and I shouldn’t let anyone tell me otherwise. That will stay with me always. It wasn’t just about my hair, it was about me and all other aspects of my life where I was put down for being different, my rebellious nature and inquisitiveness didn’t help at the time but now I am happy that I have never just gone with whets is normal for THEM, but what is normal for ME.
5. How do you feel your oppression as a woman of colour differs from a white woman's experience?
I think that in many respects the struggle of a woman of colour is unique to any social struggle. It sometimes dawns on me that I am susceptible to a few of the words isms. I feel that my experience as a woman is influenced by me being a woman of colour. If someone were trying to describe me to a friend, I wouldn’t just be a woman or black I would be both. Two of the worlds most oppressed and subordinated groups of people. In terms of experience I feel that being a woman of colour means that my experience is altogether different of a white woman’s experience purely because of the combination of experiences from being a woman and black.
6. Do you feel comfortable identifying as a woman of colour?
Definitely. However, I do realise that it more a political statement rather than just a descriptive phrase used to classify me. I feel that to identify as a woman of colour not only gives me a sense of belonging as opposed to alienation, it also joins in solidarity the vastly different women of colour from all over the world who have a shared although distinctly unique common struggle. This unites all women of colour, those from Asia, Africa, Europe and South America, it allows a sense of pride, something that is difficult to find by oneself.
7.Do you feel there is a problem in homogenising women as one oppressed entity and not acknowledging that women's oppression differs depending on your race, class, disability, sexuality?
I do. It is extremely important to understand that all women of different backgrounds have different circumstances and the common underlying factor that unites us: is our sex. I feel that this needs to be addressed and not assumed that all women share the same issues. I feel that all issues factors of discrimination as stated in the question need to be dealt with on an individual basis and then in relation to us women.
8. If yes, do you think the term woman of colour could mobilise a new radical political agenda, where we understand our experiences as different from other women?
Yes, as it is highly idealistic to think that one half of the world share the same united struggle. Yes as women there are shared challenges but even this stand out as separate struggles in themselves. I think that a holistic way to advance the situation of women is to be able to see and understand the unique strands of the struggle and therefore enable us to become a stronger, more united front to challenge the paternalist and masculine structure of the world: more appropriately the western world.
Vanessa
1. What name do you go by?
Vanessa Kusah
2. How do you identify ethnically?
If I had to describe my self ethnically on an application form for example it would be either Black African or Black Caribbean. However, as my parentage is Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean on my mums’ side and Jamaican on my dad’s side and I myself identify as British. However, in the UK it seems still unfeasible for a black person to define themselves simply as British. I would prefer to identify as Afro-British. British from African descent and heritage.
3. To what extent does your ethnic identity influence your character, if at all?
I feel that I am variedly influenced by my cultural heritage but mainly from my mother’s side, especially my grandmothers to whom I am incredibly close. However, I find it difficult to say that my African and Caribbean roots are a strong reflection of my character, something I at times despise. However, as I feel that all my intrinsic experiences combine and seem best to define my character. The fact that I am a woman, young and black all combine to me being the person that I am. However, my life experiences more than anything define who am I and how I decide
3. Describe a particular incident where you have encountered racism. Keep in mind the definition of racism that I am using is broad. Therefore a racist incident is not necessarily something that should shock and disgust readers but also perhaps something that is very subtle and not overtly racist, but had an impact of making you feel different; bothered e.g. someone touching your hair, being questioned about your ethnicity, etc…
I do feel there are several instances I could talk about here. I feel that overtly racist instances are unimportant in my case as although shocking, it never phased me as any time I have encountered blatant racism, I have sort of laughed and assumed ignorance and lack of understanding and therefore have not felt deeply offended or hurt. However, there was a period at school when I was about 14 when I decided that I didn’t want to chemically straighten my hair anymore, even to the surprise of my mum. I think I was just spurred by a period of awakening where I spent a lot of time reading and understanding the history and struggle of people in the African Diaspora. It suddenly occurred to me that what I assumed to be the norm and acceptable wasn’t and just felt happier not having to conform. You could say it was a small act of cultural rebellion, however it was just something I felt I had to do in order to be happy to be me, the real me. After months of braiding my hair in an attempt to grow out the chemicals I finally had a full head of natural afro hair. It was actually daunting and something that I was highly self-conscious to begin with. The response also didn’t help. It was as if I had shaved my hair off completely. It seemed absolutely absurd. Within days of my new look, I was called into the headmistress’s office and told that my hair had to be tied back as it was not in line with the schools code of conduct. I was shocked. I argued that other girls were allowed to wear their hair down without any such questioning. She then went on to say that it looked untidy and that I couldn’t represent her school in my uniform with my hair like that. I remember saying that I though this was unfair, she just said to me: Life’s not fair. I went back to my form class in tears and my class tutor took me outside. He said to me that he would talk to her for me as he felt that it was ridiculous too. He also said that my hair was beautiful and I shouldn’t let anyone tell me otherwise. That will stay with me always. It wasn’t just about my hair, it was about me and all other aspects of my life where I was put down for being different, my rebellious nature and inquisitiveness didn’t help at the time but now I am happy that I have never just gone with whets is normal for THEM, but what is normal for ME.
5. How do you feel your oppression as a woman of colour differs from a white woman's experience?
I think that in many respects the struggle of a woman of colour is unique to any social struggle. It sometimes dawns on me that I am susceptible to a few of the words isms. I feel that my experience as a woman is influenced by me being a woman of colour. If someone were trying to describe me to a friend, I wouldn’t just be a woman or black I would be both. Two of the worlds most oppressed and subordinated groups of people. In terms of experience I feel that being a woman of colour means that my experience is altogether different of a white woman’s experience purely because of the combination of experiences from being a woman and black.
6. Do you feel comfortable identifying as a woman of colour?
Definitely. However, I do realise that it more a political statement rather than just a descriptive phrase used to classify me. I feel that to identify as a woman of colour not only gives me a sense of belonging as opposed to alienation, it also joins in solidarity the vastly different women of colour from all over the world who have a shared although distinctly unique common struggle. This unites all women of colour, those from Asia, Africa, Europe and South America, it allows a sense of pride, something that is difficult to find by oneself.
7.Do you feel there is a problem in homogenising women as one oppressed entity and not acknowledging that women's oppression differs depending on your race, class, disability, sexuality?
I do. It is extremely important to understand that all women of different backgrounds have different circumstances and the common underlying factor that unites us: is our sex. I feel that this needs to be addressed and not assumed that all women share the same issues. I feel that all issues factors of discrimination as stated in the question need to be dealt with on an individual basis and then in relation to us women.
8. If yes, do you think the term woman of colour could mobilise a new radical political agenda, where we understand our experiences as different from other women?
Yes, as it is highly idealistic to think that one half of the world share the same united struggle. Yes as women there are shared challenges but even this stand out as separate struggles in themselves. I think that a holistic way to advance the situation of women is to be able to see and understand the unique strands of the struggle and therefore enable us to become a stronger, more united front to challenge the paternalist and masculine structure of the world: more appropriately the western world.