Belinda Kae

My name is Belinda Kaye, I was born in Wolverhampton. I am a Finance Professional & Singer, Songwriter, Performer. I would say I am a vessel of various heritages. I would start with Caribbean heritage, due to the placement of my parents being in Jamaica. I have beliefs and traditions, cultural influence, familial and cultural cuisines and societal dynamics which are West Indian and British. My grandparents were invited here during the 1950’s/1960’s to help rebuild Britain. My parents were left in Jamaica until their parents could send for them and bring them here.

At around 5 years old, I registered an encounter with racist language. My little brother ran home crying and shared that he had been called a “Blackie Stanie” by someone who he was playing with. I felt the hurt of seeing my brother affected and feeling like we were different and in a negative way to others. I have felt like an “other” ever since.

I am ignored when I speak up about mistreatment or having been exposed to racism. I have been overlooked for jobs, and promotion in my career. I have been shouted at and demeaned because I am not wanted in “their” space. I have been ignored and not believed when I have shared my pain or sickness in the work place. I have been fired due to having a bubbly personality and laugh. I have been fired after having a gynecological operation and on another occasion attending to my daughter after she was hit by a car. I have been mistrusted even when working over and above the productivity of my nonblack colleagues. I am disheartened in the work place, in this country. Fighting to prove I’m trustworthy, capable, smart, able to learn, intelligent, nonviolent, non- savage, non-threatening. 

I do not feel represented in this country, I do not feel welcome even after 42 years. To feel or be represented would be something positive to look at, or something to give hope and acceptance. Since being a young girl watching TV, there weren’t any W.O.C (Women of Colour) to look at and feel an affinity with, to feel represented, to feel valued. I recall Lenny Henry and Desmond’s being the only Black entertainment shows and Trevor McDonald and Moira Stuart were the news anchors I saw. They were a novelty but still unattainable.  

Racism in Britain is ingrained in the flag, the national anthem, the media, the police system, business, finance, hospitality, religion, sport, retail and its entire political structure.  I feel that racism went through a stage of being disguisedwith the Equality Acts, and Race Relations laws but it never died. Its roots remained and its vines spread into different ways of resurfacing. The shouts across the street or from a passing car quietened but it came back in institutionalised racism in corporations. Even if you manage to survive racism in the work place, you have to jump through many hurdles to even get to present a court case.

I hope that the continued reporting of these issues will change laws for the better so our children and grandchildren don’t have to suffer as we do and how our ancestors did.