Questionnaire response
RESPONSES
S.
3 min read
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Where are you from ?
Benin
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In which country did you live?
Benin, France
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How old are you ?
27
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When did you realize that your skin color made you different than others?
At the age of 8, during a trip to France.
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When did this take on a negative connotation?
At the University, maybe even before as part of my student enrolling process.
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Have you experienced episodes of racism against yourself (this varies from micro-attacks to acts of violence)?
a. Yes
b. No
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If you answered "yes" to the previous question, what was the event that struck you the most? (or "the events")
I won't talk about acts or violence necessarily, but you see that look, when you're alone or in a group, that black person(s) who enters a place and is stared at as if they don't belong there, whether it's on public transportation, in a restaurant, at the university, etc. I have never been able to stand that look.
Then there was an episode - when I was working at the cash register in a student job - of a lady of a certain age who took the liberty of finding it odd that as a black person I didn't like bananas. Um...
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What would define your skin color the most among the following propositions: (for lack of adequate words please do not be offended by them)
a. 'Light skin'
b. 'Mixed'
c. 'Black'
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Have you ever witnessed racist acts around you?
a. Yes
b. No
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Have you ever heard 'inappropriate' comments from those around you?
a. Yes
b. No
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If so, it took place within which group (s) among the following? (Many answers are possible)
a. Your group of friends + acquaintances (so rather friends of your friends)
b. Your group of friends
c. Within your family
d. At school / at university
e. At work
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For each of the boxes checked in the previous question, please specify how you felt at that time? Did you react? Yes? No ? Why?
In general, I don't react because they are close to me. I prefer to laugh (sometimes yellow), telling myself that it is more ignorance than anything else. With hindsight, I think to myself that it was perhaps not the right method...
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What is your relationship with your skin color?
Soooooooo at ease !!!
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Has your relationship to your skin color always been the same? (Whether the answer is yes or no, please explore the evolution of this relationship over time)
Always.
I never felt bad about my "black" skin.
It's true that sometimes it can feel "weird" to be "the only black person" in certain circumstances, but at no time should this prevent us from being ourselves or be a hindrance.
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Do you agree that with age you gain a better understanding of what racism is?
Yes.
Hence it's very important to cultivate awareness - and with the right words - of the children from a young age.
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Over time, do you feel more apt to be against racism or on the contrary less apt? (In both cases, please specify for what reason (s))
Much more able because the world is simply going more and more 'to hell'. People are no longer afraid to call themselves racist, to act as such. It has to stop.
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Do you have or would you like to have children?
Yes
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If so, is the notion of racism something that comes to your mind when you think about potentially bringing into the world / educating another human being and being responsible for it? Why ?
Absolutely. Today, we don't know what kind of world we will leave to our children and that's scary. Simply teaching values and self-love to children is not always enough...
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Where do you currently live?Where do you currently live?
Benin
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Where would you see yourself living? When choosing this place, do you take into account the notion of racism? Yes? No ? Why ?
Benin. This is where I feel comfortable today. That may change, but today, more than ever, my desire is to mature at home and make a contribution. This choice takes into account a combination of factors including security rather than racism I would say.
I don't make it a focus because I think you have to overcome it, and fight it rather than try to avoid it.
Nice questionnaire! It would be interesting to share the information collected ;)