Afreena Azaria Islam

By: Afreena Azaria Islam

I'm Afreena Azaria Islam, I'm 18 from Manchester, a student finishing college but I work part time. I also write for a local paper.

I’m a British Born Bangladeshi and predominantly what defines me is my skin colour, and although I dress in a westernised fashion you can see the influences of my Asian heritage. My relationship with my mum: although I do as I please, I’m still afraid of the 'juta' when I’ve arrived home a little late! Most of my friends aren't Asian but I like the fact I can go to an Asian Restaurant on the Curry mile and say, 'Sweetie that's not Okra, its Bindhi’. Also my eclectic music collection ranges from Juggy D to Sean Paul and from Oasis to Massari, everything about me indicates an open-mind.

I can convey my opinion as a British Asian in my writing, which I do, and this shows that it isn't always a drawback being from an ethnic minority, however, that's not to say we aren't disadvantaged. We always get tagged with the common derogatory term that I don't even need to mention, and working where i do, a few of my colleagues from India have had customer's remark to them, 'Are you SURE you're based in Manchester?'

Saying that, it’s not always people of other races that I have to battle; any Asian girls don’t agree with my lifestyle, purely judging me on the way I dress, the way I have my hair(!) and the people I associate with…

I can only hope that people will open their minds and embrace the positive aspects of Asian people living in Britain; our food, our music, our clothing, our culture.