Being black or mixed race in 1960s/70s Ireland was not comfortable for many children who struggled with a mixed Identity. Wanting to be Irish, born there, but not fitting in and being subjected to daily racism.
Fast-forward to today and #IamIrish founder Lorraine Maher feels that although people may be better at speaking about racism not much has changed. On top of that the Brexit vote has allowed people who have racist thoughts to be empowered to no longer hold back or keep quiet.
So the project was created last year in accordance with Black History Month to try and highlight the black and mixed race Irish.
Here is more about the project from a Mashable video.
And from their GoFundMePage:
My name is Lorraine Maher creator of #IamIrish .
I am an irish women who grew up in Carrick- on-Suir , Co . Tipperary . I currently live in London but love to go home to visit my family as often as I can .
Growing up in Ireland in the 60/70 wasn’t always easy for me ,in my formative yrs I knew I was different but didn’t fully understand howor why . By the time I reached 10 I was fully aware of my my hair grew differently and why my tan never seemed to fade.
I wasn’t allowed to speak about it , everyone knew but it was forbidden , my blackness was taboo and so I leant to blend into the background and not make any complaints.
The current landscape in Ireland is a very different place but on many levels its still the same .In 2016 I still see people blending into the background .
In the last year I have been feeling more and more complelled to do something to raise the profile of Irish people who happen to be mixed race .
There are many reasons but I will just share a couple of examples with you . On 6th June this yr I read in the Irish press that the Mayor of Ennis was going to Muhammad Ali’s funeral because he was one of our own a proud feeling , the very next day on the 7th june I read in the same press 2 black South African students refused entry to a bar in Dublin I dont know how true this is but I felt it was time to be part of a change
Also over the last year I was at a meeting of the association of mixed race Irish in the London Irish centre and saw a beautiful exhibition but didn’t see anyone that represented me . I looked on a few different official Irish websites and still didn’t see anyone who looked like me and so the seed was sown the beginning of #I am Irish .
This is a really exciting new venture for me celebrating diversity. It is in some ways my response to Brexit and the raise in hate crime.
Delving into themes of dual heritage and identity, it’s a landmark project as the first time that the Black Irish experience has been directly represented in Black History Month here in the UK and in Ireland.
I hope this project is part of a solution to opening up dialogue in the hope to raise understanding and to dispel the idea that if you are from a non- white community, you are automatically an immigrant.
The project is a creative conversation mapping the roots, the lives and experiences of Irish people who happen to be mixed race.
There’s been a fantastic response so far and interest in taking the project to other parts of England and over in Ireland.
I want to reach as many people as possible and hope that each person that joins the conversation becomes another tool to breaking down barriers that cause separation ,ignorance and division .
WE need to change how we speak about things we need to move forward together for a more united ireland . For a more Unite Britain for a more United World . I want to be part of a change but I need your help to do It.
#IamIrish – Is a project exploring Identity,Belonging, Culture and Heritage .
We seek to dispel the idea that if you are from a non- white community, you are automatically an immigrant.
#IamIrish is for the best part self funded by me.
This project has gotten off the ground quickly with the help of friends, colleagues and supporters donating time and resources free of charge.
There has been an overwhelming response so far and we hope to replicate the project with more artists and communities to explore Mixed identity elsewhere in the UK and Ireland.
We aim to raise the funds we need to take #IamIrish on tour but also crucially to pay the artists, facilitators and organisers for the time they dedicate to making these activities happen so that as many people as possible can get involved in the conversation .
If this project strikes a chord, please dig deep and give us what you can. We welcome donations of any size to help this project to grow, fulfil its potential and make a really meaningful impact.
Support the cause and learn more on GoFundMe.
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