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Backstories 2020

Colin Archibald

‘I’m fifteen years of age and I turn to my mother and say, “I wish I was white.”’ Colin shares his experience of growing up in 1980s London as a young black man.

Funded by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Healthway, Act-Belong-Commit, the City of Mandurah and the City of Bayswater, Backstories was a one day multi-sited storytelling festival located in the suburbs of Western Australia held on March 14 2020.

‘I’m fifteen years of age and I turn to my mother and say, “I wish I was white.”’

In this raw and emotional story that sheds light on overt racism, leadership, and the importance of embracing who you are, Colin Archibald shares his experience of growing up in 1980s London as a young black man.

Copyright © 2020 Colin Archibald.

This story and corresponding images have been licensed to the Centre for Stories by Colin Archibald. For reproduction and distribution of this story/image please contact the Centre for Stories.

This story was published on 23 April 2020.

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We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land the Centre for Stories is located on, the Whadjuk people. We respect their culture and the continuing contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.