To live is to choose . But to choose well , you must know who you are and what you stand for , where you want to go and why you want to get there .”
That was the first time I had experienced racism , among many other following times . So , you could say I grew my activism from that day and continue to raise the injustices Black and minoritised people experience . I continue to work towards disrupting this toxic , dehumanising construct that is racism .
Occupational real model
One of my biggest motivations is my two baby girls . I strive to be a real model to them ( that is right , a real not a role model ); that as the Black women of the future they have an equal space and opportunity to become who God has destined them to be .
For us as a family , it is paramount for them to have their faith as Christian children , to help them develop assertiveness and confidence in who they are as Black powerful women to be , and to embrace their Blackness unapologetically .
As a Black mother , it is my job to ensure that they know who they are and to own it . Black is beautiful , Black is strong , Black is feminism , Black is for community and benefit of society .
My occupational therapy journey
I stumbled on occupational therapy , as I had never heard about it until my Uncle Richie , who is a mental health nurse , noticed that I had a love for supporting , developing and caring for people and their wellbeing , as well as being very creative .
He mentioned that occupational therapy may be ‘ up my street ’, so , I carried out some research and decided to shadow an occupational therapist for a day to determine if this would be a career worth pursuing .
Let ’ s just say that , from that day onwards , I was certain that I would be an occupational therapist .
I loved the autonomy and diversity of the profession . Most importantly , I decided to study occupational therapy because of its promotion of social justice and person-centred approach to enabling individuals to thrive in their everyday lives , using meaningful activities and environmental changes as treatment for change , recovery , and wellbeing .
In my final year of the PGDip Occupational Therapy course , as a consequence of the murder of George Floyd , the activism within me was brought out again .
I was encouraged by my then lecturer and now friend , Musharrat Ahmed-Landeryou , to pursue this within my studies and external activities . I started to develop an understanding that I could use my past experiences as a way to investigate the ( in ) competence of occupational therapy in matters of institutional racism and discrimination .
To live is to choose . But to choose well , you must know who you are and what you stand for , where you want to go and why you want to get there .”
I became involved in BAMEOTUK , as well as becoming an alumni member of an affinity group in the university called RACEg ( Race and Cultural Equity Group ).
BAMEOTUK is a collective of volunteer Black and minoritised occupational therapy students , staff and educators , campaigning to address racism in the professional body , profession , practice and education .
RACEg is a collective of Black and minoritised AHP students and staff coming together to discuss experiences of courses and university , for support and advice , and to then feed upwards any action plans for change .
The focus of my role as a research assistant was part of a study on the importance of Black and minoritised occupational therapists having mentors from the global majority and also in senior positions within occupational therapy . I help a large NHS foundation trust in London to develop its equity , diversity and inclusion ( EDI ) strategy .
I have generated and participated in knowledge sharing , through local and national podcasts and presentations , as well as having experience in facilitating EDI , antiracism and allyship work in organisations .
I am a huge believer that the time is ripe now to meaningfully , as a collective of peers and allies , disrupt the status quo of racial inequity in the health and social care profession , practice and education .
My career focus definitely has developed from putting myself through the training to become an occupational therapist .
As Kofi Annan , in the commencement address to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge , on 6 June 1997 , said : ‘ To live is to choose . But to choose well , you must know who you are and what you stand for , where you want to go and why you want to get there .’
Words SHERRILLE ADWOA TAYSON
October 2023 OTnews 35