"I Will Not Be Erased"
By Gal-dem
Genre: Non-fiction, Identity, YA
Publisher: Walkers Books
"I Will Not Be Erased" is a collection of 14 stories detailing the upbringing of people of colour by Gal-Dem. Gal-Dem is a UK media publication founded in 2015 by Liv Little. The online and print magazine is written by women of colour and non-binary people of colour addressing inequality and misrepresentation in the industry. Basically, Gal-Dem is the shizz-nai-eee (no flies around).
I've always adored how Gal-Dem target a specific target audience, and within that audience cover just about everything. It's easy to have a niche and target, let's say only the Asian girl who lives in London but Gal-Dem has always strived to represent fairly. It's so refreshing to read articles written by people of colour without the focus being solely on their race.
Seasoning Level
CO2 | Salt | Pepper | Mixed Herbs | All Purpose Seasoning
Breakdown
The irony of the book title is that it was a complete nightmare locating this book when I went looking for it in my local bookstore because they housed it in the Young Adult Fiction section. Note to stores, there is nothing fictitious about this book and I should have seen it on the tables at the front of the store. PERIODT.
The stories share a key theme, taking inspiration from something each contributor had written whilst growing up. The manner in which the stories were told was very transparent, and naturally, some parts spoke out to me more than others.
What felt amazing when reading the stories was that even if a story did not resonate with me much I respected it being there getting recognition in a published book. The variety of stories were spot on and I was shocked by some of the stories that were in the collection. Shocked in the sense that some of these topics were things I'd seen talked about amongst a select few trusted people but never mainstream. Talking with zero frills in the following titles "My Virginity and my choice: Dating as a British Muslim" and "From Nightclub to A & E: A Tale about Drugs."
What separates this book from others is that they were not afraid to discuss and enlighten the younger generation about "taboo" subjects. They've skipped the part about caring if people agree with the actions of some and have laid things out on the table covering all realistic angles. A real testament to breaking barriers and encouraging others to speak their truth.
Favourite story
My favourite segment is the second story "It's Pom-Mang-Granate: Be proud of what makes your story different." The author explores her teenager self, feeling embarrassed and annoyed by her parent's Sri Lankan ways and failures to assimilate in a new country with the "perfect vocab". I sat down with my mum and spoke about this topic and we laughed endlessly throwing back and forth words that my mum has either refused or given up on attempting to say in English.
This story took readers on a journey, which didn't feel superficial in any way. For people with British parents, it may have been another funny story but after finishing that section I put the book down and reflected. It made me reflect on how I viewed my mum being "different" growing up, with a strong accent and non-British ways. And like the author, now that I am older I know how immensely grateful I am to have a parent so strongly into their culture, who can pass down recipes and the richness from their country.
Length
207 pages. The individual stories were a good length roughly 11-12 pages each, not too long for the message to get forgotten but long enough to leave an impact.
Who should read it
Mid-teenagers to young women and non-binary people of colour would be the primary benefactors. However, on a wider scale, this book offers a peak into a different lifestyle to those who are not in the primary audience.
3 things I've taken from the book
That anyone can be the rainbow to someone's rain, by genuinely accepting people as their authentic self.
That I need to spend more time with my mum and Ga'mama and learn more about their homeland.
That I need to step out of my comfort zone more because I too have a story to tell.
A letter to my younger self
Inspired by those who spoke their truth in the book I've scribbled out a letter to myself. I immediately thought of 3 topics but one won. "I'll let you get away with it because true say you're a lightie" and " No, my mum isn't from here."I decided to go with...
"I wasn't sure if you was Black until when you started speaking."
Dear fourteen year old me,
I know you think this is a super compliment because you hate having to explain that no you're not mix raced, and yes your dad is black but no your mum isn't white, but it's not actually meant in a positive way.
You'll learn to understand as you get older what people really mean when they say you "sound black." Not because, you are woke or know all your Black history and the likes of Mary Seacole, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, but because of your personality and the way that you talk.
Even though you think you look unquestionably Black many will keep seeing you as racially ambiguous. The ambiguity will disappear as it becomes clear that your traits are what society have and will label as a stereotypical "Angry Black Woman." You're on the loud side, non-conforming and unapologetic in questioning and calling out B.S. All the things that people like your dad have always said made you inquisitive, authority figures, particularly at school, will label as problematic.
Spoiler alert. You'll get kicked out of the "good old Catholic school" but it will not ruin your life. Even though you will have to pretend to your Ga'mama for a year that you still attend that school so your mum doesn't disappoint her. Don't worry in your 20s all will be forgiven and your mum and Ga'mama will brag to their friends about your University degrees even though your mum will keep telling people about the business degree you earned. News flash no you didn't study business. You'll eventually get into a school bursting with diversity, with people from different faiths and ethnicities. And better yet you'll meet 2 of your closest girls at that school and become an aunt to their children!
Now that I've got your full attention I'm saying this with love and no judgment I promise. Please be nicer to your fellow black girls who are well spoken and more reserved, it doesn't make them any less black. I know that popular belief is black people with those two features equals wanting to be white but it's not true. You'll understand as you get older how flawed and oppressive those views are.
I'm sorry to say that even in your 20s you'll still have people that don't view you as being black enough, there will be jibes online and shade thrown. *Boo bring the sun I got your back* I'll keep it all the way real with you though, you will be sad sometimes and cry but you'll also remember that being black does not have a colour chart and you will immerse yourself into your heritage so much that it won't matter what others say. Plus you'll keep using all the boombastic slang that you grew up with. And you'll learn to switch it up when you need to. Honestly, you should really add that to your CV because that right there will be a really useful skill.
Love you always, especially through the hard times.
Frizzy