Thank you for this post Gina. At age 89 and having lived for most of my life in Trinidad where I was born and the Uk. where I studied nursing in the late 50’s. I have now lived in Canada for over 60 years. DNA shows that I am 40% Nigerian and 60% white, primarily Scandinavian , Iberian and some Scottish and Irish, quite the mix. By some strange quirk I have never experienced racism in anyway. Only a few years ago I first heard about the Windrush generation. In school in the Caribbean. we studied only British and European history. Our educational system was based on the British system we learnt nothing about African or West Indian history. Black History never registered in my consciousness. I never thought much about black artists. I never related to being black. When I discovered that I was part Nigerian, I started taking an interest in all things Nigerian. I did not identify with the country but I became and still am a huge fan of Chiamanda Ngozi Adichie. Because of your post I am now very open to learning as much as possible about black artists, including artists from the Caribbean. Strangely enough in the Caribbean we tend too refer to ourselves as “mixed” rather than black as they do in the US. I believe in Africa they do not refer to their skin colour but rather as to their tribe. This is all very interesting and eyeopening to me on many levels. Thank you Gina as always for your very interesting and thought provoking posts.
What a fascinating heritage you have Marilyn and it gladdens me to hear you haven’t experienced racism and I wish we could all live together in harmony where nobody has to experience hate, prejudice or racism.
Thank you for taking the time to share your story and experiences
Another interesting and well researched post Gina. Thank you for introducing us to these artists, the Barbara Walker drawings are quite exquisite, I had not heard of her before. I find the painting The Dream hauntingly beautiful, I actually wouldn't mind going back to look at it again, a little more carefully. I so admire you for visiting all the places you do, it makes me feel incredibly lazy! Thank you for the mention. x
Thank you for this post Gina. At age 89 and having lived for most of my life in Trinidad where I was born and the Uk. where I studied nursing in the late 50’s. I have now lived in Canada for over 60 years. DNA shows that I am 40% Nigerian and 60% white, primarily Scandinavian , Iberian and some Scottish and Irish, quite the mix. By some strange quirk I have never experienced racism in anyway. Only a few years ago I first heard about the Windrush generation. In school in the Caribbean. we studied only British and European history. Our educational system was based on the British system we learnt nothing about African or West Indian history. Black History never registered in my consciousness. I never thought much about black artists. I never related to being black. When I discovered that I was part Nigerian, I started taking an interest in all things Nigerian. I did not identify with the country but I became and still am a huge fan of Chiamanda Ngozi Adichie. Because of your post I am now very open to learning as much as possible about black artists, including artists from the Caribbean. Strangely enough in the Caribbean we tend too refer to ourselves as “mixed” rather than black as they do in the US. I believe in Africa they do not refer to their skin colour but rather as to their tribe. This is all very interesting and eyeopening to me on many levels. Thank you Gina as always for your very interesting and thought provoking posts.
What a fascinating heritage you have Marilyn and it gladdens me to hear you haven’t experienced racism and I wish we could all live together in harmony where nobody has to experience hate, prejudice or racism.
Thank you for taking the time to share your story and experiences
Another interesting and well researched post Gina. Thank you for introducing us to these artists, the Barbara Walker drawings are quite exquisite, I had not heard of her before. I find the painting The Dream hauntingly beautiful, I actually wouldn't mind going back to look at it again, a little more carefully. I so admire you for visiting all the places you do, it makes me feel incredibly lazy! Thank you for the mention. x
Thank you Lindsey. It felt quite difficult to write about this it a way that gives the subject the acknowledgment it deserves