Greek | Montserratian/Grenadian
I’m representing a very rare mix. My Mum's parents are from Montserrat & Grenada. Then my Dad's Greek Cypriot. My parents raised us by thinking loosely about inherent cultures & being open minded to all ideas. We gained an experience of our identities through visits to our islands in the early years of life.
It’s interesting; Montserratians in particular have had a difficult time. Based in the Caribbean, we’re still a ‘British Overseas Territory’. Unfortunately we're still very reliant on UK taxpayers, with the lack of independence causing a struggle with culture too. The population is also very small, so we’ve struggled with culture. 1 key reason: In 1995 our Soufrière Hills volcano erupted and buried the capital. Half of the island is still inhabitable. Which shrunk the already-small population down to 5000. The struggle continues. Representation can at times feel near impossible. The task is to build from scratch. This is the case for many!
Not only is my family unique, it’s quite small! Of course, there are a fair amount of extended family members. But I suppose there's a strain inherent in being tugged between multiple identities; you're the outsider. I can’t say I know much about my Grenadian heritage as my Grenadian Nan lived in Montserrat! What I do know though, is that those with Black as part of their mix are certainly seen as ‘Black’. We were already battling negative unconscious biases in life & in our workplaces, but in 2020 the world has taught us that we’re still facing the much larger battle: outright racism. In my opinion, we can’t rely on the eradication of racial inequality. Instead, we’re going to have to rely on economic empowerment. To help in the long run, we need to be unapologetic about preserving our cultures (in every way that appears fit). Persistent commitment doesn’t lower the urgency of the moment, it acknowledges it.
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