Black History Month: Meet Joanna Adeyinka-Burford
As part of our Black History Month interview series, we were thrilled to be able to talk to Kids TV star, Joanna Adeyinka-Burford, who told us about her early identity formation, the process of finding herself and the power of being encouraged to dream big.
Hey everyone! I’m Joanna
Let me tell you a bit about myself…
My Dad was born in Jamaica and my Mum is half Bajan (her Dad was from Barbados) but her mum was adopted into a Jamaican family…Grandma Lolis was Jamaican through and through! I’m talking rice and peas, jerk chicken and the best ever homemade Jamaican patties you’ve ever tasted. As a kid, I used to look at my Grandma in awe of her long white (well grey) hair and light skin; I thought perhaps when I got older, I’d look like that. Maybe my short Afro hair would grow into long white hair like hers? I was convinced that as I grew old my skin would get lighter too. It wasn’t until years later I realised that, even though she was Jamaican to the core, her heritage was in fact half Malagasy Indian (from Madagascar) and half Scottish! However, she had fully taken on her adopted parents Jamaican traits.
Despite my parents both spending many years living in South London, when I was born they found themselves in a little village in Hampshire; and in the late 80’s… (yeah the 80’s) we were one of the only black families in the area. I’m fact, in my whole secondary school there was one Indian family, one mixed race family…and us! I don’t need to tell you that this came with it’s challenges; the ‘skin coloured’ tights in the shops were too light, they only sold foundation that made me look like a ghost and there were no products in the local shops for Afro hair. School had it challenges too- I was different to everyone else and I felt different. Names were hurled across the playground and although, on the outside, I kept a brave face; on the inside, at night, I was deeply hurt.
Was I enough the way I was? Would I be accepted in this world? Could I achieve the same things those around me could achieve??
The temptation to want to change myself to fit in with those around me was strong… and more than anything I wanted my hair to be straight!
I’m so grateful that, growing up, I had the most amazing and loving family who always gave me permission to be 100% myself and to dream big dreams! I had dreams of dancing on stage and being Kids TV presenter!!
It took me a long time of wrestling with my identity to realise that I was enough and to fully embrace my short curly Afro hair, chocolatey skin and Caribbean heritage; knowing that the way I was made and who I was made to be was just right! There is no one else on the planet who could be me- so I better get out there and be the absolute best version of me that I could be!!
And I wanna say the same to you, whatever stage of life you are at, wherever you live, your skin colour or your background…Firstly, where you start does not dictate where you end up and secondly, there’s no one else in the world like you- you are unique and wonderful. So go and be you, the best YOU that you can be! You aren’t a mistake, you were designed with intention and on purpose, for a purpose.
Everyone at Foster with Bucks would like to say a massive thank you to Joanna for taking the time to speak with us as part of our Black History Month.
If you found this article insightful and are celebrating Black History Month, why not get in touch with us and tell us what you're doing? We're available at [email protected].