Pre birth: (1998)
This is an ode; a promise that all the racism to be internalised will eventually be alchemised into love letters of liberation.
Now: (2023)
My name is Naz and I'll be virtually engaging and space-making with you. I'm a queer, neurodivergent and disabled Somali who is always morphing, shaping, moving, evolving, connecting, sometimes grieving, and at times full of rage. I want to have an archival place to exist, deconstruct, unlearn, rekindle hope and express frustration.
Earliest memories: (2005)
My first introduction to racism was the malignant education system. The only black kid in school other than my brother. My primary school couldn't fathom hair that didn't stick down, edges that weren't thin, and curls that weren't wavy. The student teacher grabbed my hair, removed my hair tie, and tried to "fix it". I spent the whole day in shock. For the next few years I changed the pronunciation of my name to fit the White tongue and pretended I was from another culture closer to Whiteness.
From the future: (2087)
Floating and transient I jump from moment to memory; both here and there, years in the past or dreaming of the future. Despite this, the same fire, same power, same love, joy, and blackness soaking up skies continues to exist.
Image credit: @evanmcohen on Instagram
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