"Beyond Stereotypes: Unpacking the Realities of Being Black in Britain"

This article, despite being posted during BHM, is going to be a bit negative. It focuses on black people and their portrayal by non-black (and sometimes black) people, focusing on people who are young, and old, their family members, teachers, employers, and even best friends. As a black woman writing this, I want to use personal anecdotes and recollections of other black people’s stories. I believe that's going to help a lot of people relate to this article and connect with me because I want black people to see their lives reflected in my words. 

Prejudice and racial discrimination are two things familiar to black people. From a young age, we experience it, despite our social standing, family background, and environment. In primary school, this is more common. Months ago, I spoke to a boy from my primary school, whose parents are of Jamaican descent. Our conversation was brief, mostly reminiscing about our school days. I joked about his ‘mischievous’ nature and how we were often labelled and set apart from our classmates due to our 'troublesome' behaviour. After I said this, he seemed confused. He admitted that, at the time, he hadn't realized how he was treated. As a teenager, he now sees that he wasn't the problem. It was people's perceptions of him that were problematic. Many teachers and staff assumed that, because he was a young black boy, he was more likely to be a problem child. In reality, he behaved just like any other energetic kid. 

This experience is far from new. I sincerely hope fewer children face it today. However, the practice of primary school teachers treating black children—particularly black boys—as if every action is an attention-seeking ploy or a mischievous deed must end. Boisterous black children who struggle with school and learning are often ignored, with their behaviour seen as intentional. This treatment leads people to subconsciously believe that black children are 'naturally' or 'biologically' disruptive and problematic. It also causes issues in their academic and psychological futures, as they may not be recognised as having learning disabilities like ADHD or dyslexia. According to an Oxford University study, Black Caribbean pupils are twice as likely to be identified with special needs than white pupils. The lack of attention regarding black children and learning disabilities disrupts their futures and gives them an unfair disadvantage in life compared to other children. Racial prejudice in schools has long-term effects on the lives of black children. 

I'll start with the concept of the "angry black woman." This stereotype is particularly harmful and offensive to both black people and women. Women, in general, are often portrayed as shrill, hormonal, and overly emotional. They're not taken seriously and are frequently seen as irrationally emotional. For black women, this stereotype is combined with assumptions of anger, aggression, and irrationality, leading people to believe that this is their inherent nature. Additionally, black women are often perceived as more masculine than women of other races, which contributes to them being feared and seen as aggressors. 

In school, I was always confused as to why my emotions were misconceived. When I was upset, tired, or just a little bit stressed, people would immediately assume that I was angry at something or someone. This ruined my image as a whole, with a lot of people believing that I was a tall, aggressive bully who didn’t talk to people because I hated them. However, once people warmed up to me, they would refute their prejudiced views and I would chalk down their reasonings to my ‘resting bitch face’ or my shyness. Being perceived as a bully, an enemy, or a mean girl before you can even open your mouth messes with a black woman’s self-image. It immediately forms their identity as hostile and forceful without allowing people to understand their true selves. As well as this, confident, intelligent black women who know themselves are seen as aggravating and pissed off by everything, despite their white counterparts being seen as intelligent and free-minded. This perception further fuels the stereotype of the "angry black woman," making it even more damaging. These general conceptions not only undermine the individuality of black women but also perpetuate harmful biases that affect their lives in various ways. 

Black men, particularly from London, often get unfairly labelled as gang members or violent troublemakers. This stereotype is damaging to them and overlooks their individuality and potential. When a black man is seen in a tracksuit or a tech fleece, they're immediately associated with gang life or crime, making them feared and treated with discontent. These quick judgments affect their prospects as well as their overall image to all people, making it harder for them to find opportunities such as jobs and educational advancements as they are immediately associated with danger, crime, and barbarity. This also means people generalize all black men in London as ‘thugs’ or ‘criminals,’ hindering them from displaying their true identities and being seen for who they truly are. This negative portrayal not only impacts their self-esteem but also perpetuates a cycle of prejudice and limited chances. Many black men feel as if there is no point in reaching ahead and advancing themselves, as their image itself impedes their chances at success in their careers or education, as opposed to their other racial counterparts. 

A family friend of mine was seriously into photography. He’d loved film for ages, and his school offered a 3-week summer filming course that he was excited to go to. His teachers, friends, and parents were all super supportive, helping him with fees, travel, and even new gear. But he came back just three days later, vexed and unsettled. He said the whole time, he felt out of place. In the predominantly white institution he was working at, he had this gut feeling that everyone knew he didn't belong. Security followed him around, and none of the other photography students took him seriously, and, this shook me to my core, he said he knew that poor black boys from London didn’t belong in that environment. It was heartbreaking to hear how deeply he felt that exclusion. Black men in London face a large number of challenges due to stereotypes and biases created by the people around them. Even when they pursue their passions and chase career dreams, like photography, they are often made to feel out of place in predominantly white spaces and sometimes even professional environments. This leads to feelings of exclusion and not belonging, which negatively impacts their confidence and desire to progress in life. 

Familiarity with this experience doesn't normalize it or soften its blow. It worsens the experience. Black children should not have to mind their ‘ps and qs’ in public just because someone else sees them as wild or disruptive. Black women should not have to stifle themselves to appear more feminine or appeasable. Our black men should not be harassed in the streets because they dress or look in a way that threatens others. Racial discrimination in Britain has a hard and harrowing history, starting from black soldiers in WW2 to the Windrush generation. In both instances, however, this country realized that they need us. They need our resources, our hard work - THEY MUST ACCEPT US AS ONE OF THEM. Racial profiling and presumptions didn't stop us once and it can't stop us again.

Happy Black History Month, lovelies <3

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