25 05 women in colour
exhibtition The empowerment of Black British women in Manchester.
Curated by J’nae Saunders
black women lead colouful lives 2
introduction T
he media is a powerful outlet that allows people to see what life is like outside of their own. The television we watch, the magazines we read and the internet, films and news we engage in, all act as a major factor in representing different cultures. Although there are some positive role models of Black women in the media, there are a significant lack of Black British female role models for generations to look up to. On the other hand the representation of them is obscured to fit in with a westernised ideal so that a wider audience can relate to them.
The exhibition was influenced by a study, held within the city of Manchester. With a survey asking a multitude of Black British women from a an array of ethnic backgrounds. The following statements are real testimonies and views on their experiences as Black women in Britain. In association with the Hideaway community centre and sponsored by the Reclaim project that enables young people to maximise their capabilities by pushing the boundaries.
The ‘Women In Colour’ is an exhibition curated by J’nae Saunders. To enable Black British women, identify and relate to other women out there and recognise their achievements.
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LOCAL HEROINES
6 :: 15
PRIDE OF BLACK BRITISH WOMEN
16 :: 23
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CONTENTS
THE BLACK MYTH
24 :: 28
LOVE THE SKIN YOUR IN
29 :: 36
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LOCAL HEROINES
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B
lack women in British media are scarcely or negatively represented. Is it because there are no role models that inspire black women to go further? Or is it because there is institutional racism that doesn’t allow viewers to see such women? Role models have always played an essential role in the healthy development in society. They provide positive images for both young people and their peers to aspire to. But traditionally Black women have only been portrayed in subordinate roles such as those of maids, kitchen hands or cleaners. - Black women have striven to acquire good educations and to progress in their career, but too little of this has been acknowledged. At present in Britain, young Black people look to famous African Americans, Africans and sometimes Caribbean women for their role models.
This is a good start, but young Black Britons also need role models who reflect their own specific cross - cultural identity and situation. The local heroines category in the exhibition allows women to know that they are not alone in the struggle and that these women’s experiences have only made them stronger. As a Black woman in Britain it’s hard growing up not being able to identify someone you can look up to or aspire to be like. This exhibition showcases not only the celebrities, but the local heroines that live next door to you, the ones you went to school with and the ones you walk past everyday. These women have made a name for themselves in their own right and continue to fight against what people told them they couldn’t do. 7
Women of colour throughout time have dealt with prejudice or experienced feeling like they don’t belong. When asked if these women had experienced being racially attacked or felt they had been discriminated because of their colour a percentage of 75% were affected by this.
my skin colour. I have always felt that I have had to work harder than my white counterparts to secure job opportunities. When thinking about the career I wanted to go into black women seemed to be represented in the caring sector such as nursing and the entertainment industry such as singers and dancers. There were no visible role models in banking, management and law industries.” Dinah Saunders, 46, Social Worker, Black American and White British
“Most of my experience of prejudice has been at school as a child as I went to an “all white” school. The negative labels that I was given as a child affected me as a young woman. I felt that I was dirty because of my colour and ugly. As a young woman I worked in a recruitment office and my manager (who had not employed me) would always talk down to me and not my white colleagues. I felt that this was due to prejudice relating to
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“At a young age, my school teacher grouped all the black kids together and kept them away from the others, they admitted it when confronted.” - Yasmin Williams, 20, Student, Black Caribbean and White British
“During my younger years I experienced prejudice an awful lot, due to the incredible influence of british young women’s magazines. Now I only compare my experiences, my intellect and my morals with other black women.”
“As a Black social worker, there are times that clients would say they do not want me a their social worker because of my colour.”
- Ruby-Ann Patterson, 22, Singer Songwriter, Black Jamaican and White British
These are messages real women, who educated, strong independent.
- Felicia Vasey, 49, Social worker, Black African. from are and
There seems to still be a significant amount of struggle that these women experience despite working hard and making a name for themselves.
“I was on a bus where drunken men issued insults to me and another black female because of our race.” - Rhianne Leacock: 21, Dental Technician, Black Jamaican
Despite prejudice and institutional racism. Black British women are making a stand daily to show their achievements in society and shape a better view of the world for the younger generations.
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These are a collection of achievements from local women in Manchester from a multitude of ages and occupations, that express their biggest achievements as Black women. 100% of women felt that they had achieved something remarkable as a Black woman. Weather is be through starting up their own company or studying in higher education. These women in the community are really influential in reminding Black British women that there is opportunities for us out there.
“Being a mother and owning my own Boutique is one of my biggest achievements!” Jade Stedford, 23, Clothing Boutique Owner, Black Caribbean and White British 10
“Living and working abroad as an English Professor has been my greatest achievement, as well as assisting in saving a village orphanage from closing down in Malawi.” Heather Allen, 41, English TESOL Professor, African American
“I am a Black British female who is on of the labour town counsellors. I think that is a big achievement!” - Vita Field, 50, Labour Councillor, Black Jamaican and White British
“Being a young Black woman, from an underprivileged background and studying a law degree at one of the top universities is definitely an achievement worth being proud of. Even more so, when there are only a handful of Black women on the course except myself and maybe two other international students.”
“Working in the modelling industry as a Black model. I am proud of my skin colour and embrace it.” - Keela Matthews, 20, Boss Model, UK
- Lauren Fairweather, 19, Law Student, Black Caribbean
“Getting a place at university and working whilst being a mum” - Georgina Williams, 23, Student, Black African and White British
“The biggest thing I have achieved as a black woman is to be able to live a life of contentment. I do not believe the lie that as a black woman I need to do something to be worthy.” - Irene Amegee, 42, Social Worker, Black African 11
PRIDE OF BLACK BRITISH WOMEN
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W
omen in the media are scarcely under-represented.
On Television in Britain there is a lack of Black women presented to viewers in everyday viewing. The media is not living up to consumer expectations in the way it portrays Black British women. A full 95% of women stated that there are hardly any black women in the media or found that there were no women in the media that they can call role models. These statistic have indicated that they believe the media hasn’t done a good job of reflecting Black culture today. There is clearly a strong divide between expectation and execution that needs to be changed.
This lack of representation only allows people to gain a small insight into what Black women are like and can only respond to what they are given. However there are women out their have achieved amazing triumphs in the media industry and made names for themselves in their own right. The Pride of Black British women category in the exhibition, sheds a light on these women in the media to ensure that they are recognised and applauded for their success. So that as Black women we can continue to support one another in changing societies expectations.
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The first black model to walk a Prada runway in over a decade. “I don’t know why people applaud designers for having just one ethnic model. I don’t want to be your token black girl.” - Jourdan Dunn, 23, Super Model
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The first Black female TV presenter of Strictly Come Dancing and Britain’s got talent. “When you are knocked down you have two choices - stay down or get back up, stronger.” - Alisha Dixon, 35, Musician and TV presenter, Jamaican and White British 16
The first black woman to be elected to the House of Commons. “I’m not thick-skinned at all, and of course I’m hurt by people attacking me as a person.” - Diane Abott, 60, Politician, Black British 17
Michelle Ogundehin is internationally recognized as an authority on interiors, style and design. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of ELLE Decoration UK. “I let my work speak for itself, not my identity.� - Michelle Ogundehin, 45, Editor in Chief of Elle, Black African 18
Emeli Sandé has three number-one singles across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Her album Our Version of Events spent 7 non-consecutive weeks at number 1 and became the best-selling album of 2012. “I was quite different and sometimes it was hard being completely different to everybody else, in terms of knowing where you fit in.” - Emeli Sande, 27, Singer, Black African and Scottish White.
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THE BLACK MYTH.. 20
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s Black women there are many ways in which people perceive us. Be it the way we look, were we come from, what people assume us to be like or the way in which we act. These ideologies are hard to get away from due to the way in which the word ‘Black’ is connoted in everyday life. It is no longer a just a word but something that is associated with a multitude of things. In a survey 1 in 4 people associated the word with negative connotations such as crime, police brutality and evil.
The word Black needs to be seen in a more positive light. It needs to celebrated and recognised by people that it’s more than just a word but a form of identity that people are attached to. The Black Myth category in the exhibition focuses on the positive connotations and sayings linked to the word Black. These connotations should be revised and remembered as a way of empowering your identity.
In in the English language there are many words that associate the word Black with negative connotations, such as the black sheep, blackmail and the black plague.
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black Black Is is sophisticated
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black is sexy 23
black is elegant
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black is bold 25
Black black is beauti
iful
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LOVE THE SKIN YOUR IN 28
It’s a taboo subject, but a cruel racial hierarchy still exists in Britain where the lighter-skinned Jamaicans, for example, is “superior” to the darker skinned Nigerian; where light brown is preferable to dark brown. Dark skin means failure; light skin is beautiful and equates to success.
This subject is what makes us black women feel insecure about ourselves and question our identities. The love the skin your in category in the exhibition, is all empowerment and loving who your are.
Women in the UK sacrifice their health and well being to obtain a more white defined beauty through using skin bleaching creams or other toxic methods. This beauty industry made more than £1 million selling toxic skin lightening creams to women with these insecurities, that can cause serious illness and even dis-figuration. 35% women said they have felt unattractive due to the colour of their skin at one time in their life.
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The love the skin your in component empowers women through motivation quotes from personal testimonies of being a Black woman in Britain.
Embrace life just like anyone else in the world. Be proud of your colour, be proud of your background and be proud of who you are.”
It’s important for women to recognise their worth, be proud of their identity and work hard to strive for success. Women need to make a stand against the misrepresentation of their culture.
- Leah Mennadie, 22, Sales Associate, Black Jamaican
All complexions of black women from light to dark are beautiful, and the colour caste system should not define how we feel.
“My advice would be. Be yourself, don’t feel uncomfortable with the colour of your skin just because other people may not like it.
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“Always aim high, pay no mind to what others are saying, remain positive and resilient as every thing you go through is a lesson and it makes you stronger. Never compare yourself to your peers as you don’t know their struggle, all the hard work you put in will always pay off even if you don’t see it straight away. Find true happiness within yourself, and most of all love yourself..” Esperenza Dube: 21, Global Head hunter, Black African
“Do not compare your beauty; we are all the same, from the same background. Discriminating within our race is destroying our unity and culture.”
“Educate yourself on your history. It’s not only interesting to know but it’s also inspiring to know where you came from and the struggle.
- Yasmin Mensah, 20, Events Management Student, Black
I think as black women we’re always going to have to fight that bit harder to get recognised for our talents and accomplishments but as long as you stay true to who you are and focus on what you want then your colour won’t even come into the equation.”
African
- Mali Campbell, 19, Musician, Black Caribbean and White
“Be proud of who you are. There’s no point in competing or comparing because every body has their own unique beauty and beauty is in the eye of the beholder - Hazel Haze: 30, Psychologist, Irish, Spanish, Black Jamaican, Black Ghanian
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something or be someone. Lastly do not forget who you are, be proud of your background and were you come from.” - Hudda Abdi: 20, Social Health Student, Black African
“You can achieve anything in life if your put in the work in and you remain positive. Do not let negative stereotypes or labels affect you from achieving your dreams. As a Black women we all need to empower one another and support each other to get where we need to be in life. Weather it be through applauding people on their achievements or learning more about your background and where you originally came from. You will find a lot of inspiration from this Do no let anyone’s ignorance make you question yourself or your identity. Do not compare yourself to anyone else because are special and individual in your own right. Never let anyone tell you can’t do 32
“Walk in your true identity and never see yourself as inferior to others because the truth is, you are not. Don’t let these predetermined stereotypes about black women, make you think that, that’s what is real or the norm. Just be you and be proud.” - Shanice Blisset: 21, Professional Dancer, Black Jamaican
“Never forget your self worth or be ashamed of your colour Black is beautiful.” - Tanya Stewart: 18, Sales Associate, Black Caribbean
“Realise your beauty, realise your talents, realise your worthiness. Don’t measure yourself against the unrealistic views of other people around you. Realise that you yourself are enough and more, we are not competing.” - Jasmine Brown, 26, Marketing Assistant for Universal Pictures, Black Caribbean and White
“Advice to all black women would be to keep going and follow your instinct, not the masses! Self confidence is key!” - Anna Okieimen: 49, Community Support Officer, Black African
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a letter from the curator The Women In Colour exhibition is all about the empowerment of Black British women.
effectively destroys any awareness and action that might help to change that climate’. Kilbourne (1990)
No longer should we feel irrelevant, discriminated outcasted or prejudged.
Arguably we can criticise the media for how they portray Black British women and the negative stigmas that collide alongside them.
‘There is the real tragedy, that many women internalize these stereotypes and learn their “limitations,” thus establishing a selffulfilling prophecy. If one mythical images, to actualizes
accepts these and degrading some extent one them.
By remaining unaware of the profound seriousness of the ubiquitous influence, the redundant message and the subliminal impact of advertisements, we ignore one of the most powerful “educational” forces in the culture -- one that greatly affects our selfimages, our ability to relate to each other, and
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However until Black women take action in recognising the importance of making a stand for their rights and start to engage with women around them. We can go on to empower future generations to come.
thank you. -
Jsaunders 35