Nocturnal Issue IV | Page 98

HAIRITAGE CAST

A — AISHA SANYANG MEEK

A — JENNY BUI

A — ADE BELLO

A — ASHA JOHNSON GRINHAM

A — LOIS BRYANT

WHAT MISCONCEPTIONS ARE THERE OF YOUR CULTURAL OR ETHNIC BACKGROUND?

That we are introverts, good at maths, won't defend ourself, boring and traditional.

Moving to London, most black people around me were Nigerian. I was surprised at the stereotypes some of the older generation held about Jamaicans. One of my friend’s mum thinks Jamaican women "carry knives in their boots" ...maybe some do but no one I know does that hahaha

HAVE YOU EVER FELT CONFUSED ABOUT THE ACTIONS OF SOMEONE FROM ANOTHER CULTURE?

When hear about people perform rituals such as FGM, personally I think it wrong but i am confuse how people may think such activities are right.

There are some aspects of other cultures I find slightly odd, I read an article recently about a culture who preserve their dead loved ones and dress them up every year and take them for a walk around the town. I did find this pretty confusing, but I think one thing that is uniform in nearly every culture is the respect we have for the dead (dressing them up at a funeral, taking flowers to the grave.. walking them around the village)..

WHAT IS YOUR CONCEPT OF PERSONAL SPACE? WHAT IS CONSIDERED

APPROPRIATE TOUCH?

My concept is personal space is trying to be aware of how I feel engaging with the person I’m talking to and how I interpret them to be feeling through their body language and eye contact. If I’m with friends what’s appropriate to touch changes to when you’re with strangers or people you're meeting for the first time. However, no matter who it is I think it’s important to speak when you’re feeling uncomfortable, when you feel your personal space is being disrespected. It’s your body and everyone has a right to protect themselves against any unwanted touch.

When it comes to stranger, 10 inches is close enough. People am familiar with, a hug is fine.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE MIGRATING TO THE UK FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES?

Keep an open mind and do not be judgemental. Definitely to not cause conflict through contrasting values and beliefs and don't force your beliefs onto another.

Know your history! It pretty much shapes everything you see now in some way

MEET THE ARTIST: CAST OF HAIRITAGE

beliefs onto another.

Know your history! It pretty much shapes everything you see now in some way.

GOT A CREATIVE IDEA? COULD YOU MAKE IT A FILM? FIND OUT MORE ABOUT RANDOM ACTS | @CTSDOFILM

"ONE THING THAT IS UNIFORM IN NEARLY EVERY CULTURE IS THE RESPECT WE HAVE FOR THE DEAD"