My personal documentary is about my experience as a black child, growing up in predominantly white schools and how I had to conform to whiteness. I speak about the process of owning my blackness and learning to accept the colour of my skin, my features and all the things that make me who I am. I often felt ostracized and never felt a sense of belonging, because I always had to pretend to enjoy certain things in order to fit in with the majority. I had almost experienced racism on a daily basis, and that affected my identity and the way I would see myself.
At this point in my life I have no shame in being black, and am completely owning my blackness and my culture and my heritage. These are all the factors that make me who I am, a black, African woman.
A documentary that explores a personal journey of overcoming fear.
Production by Zandile Hlabangane
School of Journalism and Media Studies, Rhodes University
