Angolan/Portuguese | Indian/Irish

Photo credit: provided by subject

I identify as multi-mixed race, no religion and straight. My Mother is Angolan and Portuguese (born in Angola and moved to Portugal due to the war when she was a child) and my Father is Indian and Irish (born in India Hyderabad and moved to England as a child). My parents were both salsa dancers and met at a salsa dancing gathering event. My Mum was a chef in Portugal and learned to cook the food of my Dad's culture. As both were salsa dancers in terms of music all was mutual and my Dad visited Portugal many times.

I am very proud of my background mixture and represent them with pride. Black, White and others are beautiful when coming together and I fully support it. It seems to be more accepted now then in their day though. Some recognise my mixed heritage based on the colour of my skin. I’m identified based on the colour of my skin which is very frustrating, as I am a proud mixed-race man to the point that as a child I started to hate the fact I was too light. I used to dislike the tone of my skin, the fact that I came out lighter than my sisters around the same age group. There was chocolate, caramel, olive, and milky, yes I was milky. As I got older, I started to understand that skin colour should not separate races, but what’s in our hearts. The colour of my eyes also receives comments, as they are tattooed and a different colour. 

I used to visit Portugal every year as a child but haven't been since I was 13 or 14. I am now 31 years old and my goal is to travel to all the countries within my blood Angola, Portugal, India and Ireland (also Nigeria and more) by the end of next year!

I don't believe people of colour are represented enough and they definitely should be. There should be no racial differences or religious wars. We shouldn’t be controlled by the government, just live free and natural. Stop using the term ‘my country’ or ‘our country’ and replace it with ‘our planet’. Explore the world and openly learn other cultures.