Black History Month
Black History Month
Feature
Content warning : This article will discuss the author ’ s experience of racism and racist / offensive language / slurs , which some readers may find shocking . The decision to share this has not been taken lightly , but it has been included to provide an authentic description of the author ’ s lived experiences . This was a considered decision reached in collaboration with the author .
Operating in multiple roles
Sherrille Adwoa Tayson talks about her life as an occupational therapist , research assistant and occupational activist .
M
y name is Sherrille Adwoa Tayson and I am a Christian Black female of Ghanaian heritage , born and bred in Tottenham , North London .
My primary meaningful occupational roles are as a wife and mother of two beautiful little girls . I am an occupational therapist and a passionate activist , who is heavily involved in anti-racism within occupational therapy .
Initially , I was more involved in creative subjects , such as music , fashion , photography and the performing arts . My first degree is in Digital Photography , however despite having such an artistic background , I have always had a heart for supporting people ’ s development and their wellbeing .
Growing up in an environment such as Tottenham , which was predominately Black , I had never experienced racism – probably colourism , but not racism .
However , at a young age my family had to move to Cambridge because of my father ’ s job . My parents also realised that they didn ’ t want to continue to raise their son and daughter in the estate we were living in , as there was a lot of crime .
Moving to Cambridge – an environment that was predominantly white at the time – around the age of 11 was a new experience for me and it made me realise very quickly that I was minoritised . I still held my head up high and was always proud of my roots .
Being reborn as an anti-racist activist
When I attended primary school , I remember being targeted by a white girl , Samantha , who disliked me for being able to make friends quickly , some of whom were her friends .
She would shout in the playground : ‘ Why would anyone want to be friends with a black monkey ? Your mum is a black monkey too !’
We got into physical fights over racial abuse such as this , even though I knew fighting was wrong , but as a child , the injustice felt too much from her words . One day , after school , I was Sherrille Adwoa Tayson walking home ( my house was approximately three minutes from my school ) and I decided that day to go around the back of the school to go home .
This route was a little longer . Earlier that day , I was told that Samantha and her big brothers , who had been excluded from nearly every school in the area , were waiting for me , because I fought with their sister .
Nevertheless , they found out that I was taking a different route home and laid in wait for me behind the school . I was ambushed by them on their bikes , and they threw racial slurs at me , while coming closer to me .
One of them pulled out a knife and told me that today would be the last day my parents would see my ‘ nigga face ’.
I remember looking over their heads and seeing my parents and little brother playing in the front yard in the distance ; my eyes welling up , because I believed it was going to be the last time that I would see them .
But I was ready for these racist thugs and didn ’ t want them to see me cry . Suddenly , my headteacher burst through the doors and ran towards us and they all scattered .
He was watching on the school camera and ran to my aid before something fatal happened . He kindly walked me back home and told me to tell my parents , but I didn ’ t . I just ran into their arms and sobbed ; they couldn ’ t understand , but I was delighted to see them again .
34 OTnews October 2023