ou can be half Ghanaian, half Iranian but if you have a Russian passport then my friend, you are Russian.
Growing up in the UK, I was constantly reminded that I’m African. It’s only recently I’ve started feeling more British; our underground music has become more mainstream and our art is being recognised under the ‘British’ banner in museums. Here in the UAE, I’m seen as European because that’s where I physically came from to get here, plus my passport is purple. Race doesn’t really come in to it and I’ve definitely felt more British since moving here.
“Are they racist towards Black people in the UAE?”
This is the number one question Black people always ask me. I’ll repeat, It’s such a shame that in 2019, we’re still having to ask this question.
Local Emirati people are actually a minority here in the UAE. They’re also quite private and conservative people so unless you work with them, you may not interact with them often. However, the ones I have come into contact with have been incredibly friendly and insanely generous (like, on another level).