Juliet Ibrahim: It’s derogatory to refer me as half-caste

Juliet Ibrahim, Ghanaian-Nollywood actress, says being called “half-caste” is the most “derogatory” term to describe a person of mixed race or ethnicity.

The talented movie star, who was speaking against racism, said whenever she’s among the whites, they refer to her as “a black woman”.

In a lengthy post on her Instagram page, the actress with Lebanese, Ghanaian and Liberian roots, however, wondered why in Africa, she is being referred to as a “half-caste” because of her skin colour.

She said being referred to as a “half-caste” is the “most derogatory” term to describe a person of mixed race or mixed ethnicity.

“I had a random conversation the other day with someone and it was appalling when he mentioned passively to me that he doesn’t see me as a #blackwoman!,” she wrote.

“He argued, you are not ‘black enough’ your skin isn’t dark enough, your hair not kinky enough. And thus my siblings and I do not ‘count’ as black.”

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I had a random conversation the other day with someone and it was appalling when he mentioned passively to me that he doesn’t see me as a #Blackwoman ! He argued, you are not “black enough” your skin isn’t dark enough, your hair not kinky enough. And thus my siblings and I do not “count” as Black. Now this is Exactly, what we are fighting to correct amongst ourselves and the world at large. I am a black woman! When I’m abroad amongst the whites, I am classified and recognized as a black woman, however, right amongst us Africans I’ll be referred to as a Half-Caste! This is the most derogatory term to describe a person of mixed race or mixed ethnicity. We are referred to as mixed race or multi-racial! Mixed race people are no less black than their dark-skinned counterparts. So, let’s all say NO to RACISM, TRIBALISM, COLORISM and SEGREGATION. Let’s teach and train our children to grow up and accept people for who they are and not by the color of their skin.

A post shared by Juliet Ibrahim (@julietibrahim) on Jun 9, 2020 at 9:05am PDT

According to her, Africa cannot claim to be fighting racism when tribalism, colorism and segregation are still holding sway in the continent.

“Now this is Exactly, what we are fighting to correct amongst ourselves and the world at large. I am a black woman! When I’m abroad amongst the whites, I am classified and recognized as a black woman, however, right amongst us Africans I’ll be referred to as a half-caste!,” she added.

“This is the most derogatory term to describe a person of mixed race or mixed ethnicity. We are referred to as mixed race or multi-racial! Mixed race people are no less black than their dark-skinned counterparts.

“So, let’s all say no to racism, tribalism, colorism and segregation. Let’s teach and train our children to grow up and accept people for who they are and not by the color of their skin.”

There has been global outrage over racism against blacks which was triggered by the death of George Floyd, a black American citizen, who died on May 25, after an arrest by a Minneapolis officer, who pinned him to the ground for several minutes by kneeling on his neck.

Like in several parts of the world, many Africans have also condemned the development, taking to social media to advocate equal rights for blacks and whites.