Black Power

In honor of Black History Month, I wanted to dedicate a post to something close to my heart. As a Black woman, nothing quite prepares you mentally for travelling through Southeast Asia. Travelling was incredible, but it was a stark reminder of how easy it is to take basic human treatment for granted—because, at times, you’re not always afforded it.

Travelling taught me many things, but one lesson that stood out was the painful reality of being “othered” as a Black person. This was especially apparent in Vietnam. I understand that some people might not have seen a Black person before, but the constant stares, the pictures, the videos, the pointing, the whispers, the laughter—it was terrifying for one girl traveling alone.

I could recount countless examples that would make anyone uncomfortable just reading them. I couldn’t sit down for a bowl of pho without someone randomly recording me. I remember sitting on a park bench, and a woman just thrust her phone in my face, no words exchanged, just trying to take a selfie. Another time, a man chased me down the street, frantically fumbling with his phone to take a picture. One woman even lined her children up beside me, one by one, for a photo. To say I was terrified is an understatement. It’s a strange and isolating experience to be treated as an “other.”

What’s even more unsettling is that this same type of “othering” extends to so many different aspects of life. Take my dissertation, for instance, which focuses on addressing the gap in electrode design for EEG systems to accommodate Afro-Caribbean hair textures. Black people have been othered so much that innovation often overlooks us entirely. But just like in music, sports, science, and countless other fields, we rise above. We have to be the ones who say, “Hey, can you stop taking pictures of me, please! ”—because that’s Black power. And we have to be the ones who create innovations that finally cater to our unique needs—because that’s Black power too.

There are so many forms of Black power, and although it might seem like the world is constantly trying to dim your light, we have the remember that Black power  shines from within. So, are you really an “other,” or are you simply so phenomenal that you transcend any category altogether? I remind myself, that If I have the insight to recognise a problem, then it’s also my responsibility to spark change. Here’s to Black power. Happy Black History Month!