English | English/Jamaican
As a mixed-race person who can be mistaken as White, it can feel like you can’t celebrate your heritage like others can, out of fear that people may judge you or think that you’re appropriating, before they know the facts. But, nowadays whenever I have these moments of doubt, I just think of my Grandad, his courage and what he sacrificed to leave his home country with minimal belongings and not knowing what the other side of the ocean would be like. To not celebrate my Jamaican heritage would be to dishonour my Grandad and all that he risked to create a new life, a family and ultimately bring me into this world. To not celebrate my Jamaican heritage would be disregarding the sacrifice, risk and bravery that brought me here. Acknowledging my history helps put things into perspective. This is how I got here and this is who I am, it’s really that simple.
I’ve had my ups and downs like many people. My mental health isn’t always the best and that’s something I’ve grappled with, especially as someone diagnosed with ADHD which comes with its own daily challenges, making life feel chaotic and confusing. It’s very misunderstood in adults, so that can be frustrating too. But my ADHD is something I’m slowly learning to manage: I attend therapy, I make sure I speak to other people who also have ADHD and I try my best to practise mindfulness in a way that works for me.
I think it’s crazy how we let our outward appearance dictate how far we can associate ourselves with our own heritage. Can we please start taking the power out of percentages and put it back into our actual lived experiences?! That would make a lot more sense. The dynamic between me and my brother is a great example. Although we share the same genetic make up, our skin tones are different with mine being the darker out of the two. This very small factor in our lives has meant our realities have been different despite having the same upbringing. I find it fascinating how such a small detail changes the way we each view the world and how the world views us.
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