i have my own little hashtag #NotOnOurWatch which is my [and others] daily commitment to interrupt racism wherever we see it - online and off - and so i am absolutely loving this space that amplifies black and hopefully coloured and indian and other groups that call Africa home. i have learned that i cannot self-identify as an ally because it means nothing coming from me - my words and actions and thoughts have to show to others that i see them and am fighting for them and want to make the world better for them. i try to use my platforms to raise the issues and host many conversations [predominantly on Facebook or YouTube] around race and privilege and inviting white people to do and be better. #RepresentationMatters for sure!
I'm proud of my heritage because As a white person who has lived in South Africa my whole life but has British roots before me i have an extremely problematic heritage and it took me way too long in life to realise that and get going with the work of anti-racism that is so needed and interrogating whiteness and white spaces and working with white people to help them do the same. So no real pride in what has come before because it was devastating to so many. But hope for what we are busy creating and working at now.
Biggest misconception people haveThat i have somewhere else to call home. As a white person i get called European and told to go back there and while i do understand that given our deeply problematic past, i have only ever known South Africa as home and so my heart is here and seeing if i can be an active part of making it a country that works for everyone.
Why do you think Diversity matters?i used to see Diversity as the end goal but i have come to understand that while Diversity is important, Integration and Belonging are far more important. Diversity is about getting different people in the room but we have to be doing the work of seeing that everyone's voices and stories are equally elevated and heard and listened to and acknowledged.