|
We asked R&B singer Alesha for her Take Of The Week.
I'm Alesha. I am a singer-songwriter. I'm mixed race. My father's Jamaican and my mother is English.
I grew up in a predominantly white area. When I was younger, I did suffer with racism.
But I never saw myself as a victim. I saw myself as lucky.
It was an advantage for me to be mixed-race. I had a black father, I had a white mother and I got to enjoy two different cultures. To me, that's fantastic.
A lot of people are saying that multi-culturalism cannot work. But I think it can. I think that we can make it work by respecting each other and celebrating each other's differences.
School time should be mixed
There's been a lot of talk this week about faith schools. I think it's a fantastic idea to study your religion, preferably on the weekend or at evening classes.
But I do think that school time should be mixed. From an early age, children should learn that in society we have to mix and live together and I think that should be reflected in school life.
Muslims should meet us halfway
There's also been a lot of debate recently about whether Muslim women should wear the veil.
I personally think that they should be allowed to wear the veil. That's their religion, that's their beliefs and we should respect that.
At the same time, I strongly believe that they should meet us halfway.
We live in Britain; they live in Britain; we all have to live together and respect each other's boundaries.
It's up to us
So in situations involving authority like airports, if they're asked to remove the veil, I think they should co-operate. But let's respect their wishes and respect their religion.
In the light of terrorism, I think that the Muslim community has been targeted.
There's a lot of fear spread throughout the country and a lot of distrust. As much as we look to the government to find a resolution and curb terrorism, it's for us as a society to start changing our attitudes so we can start rebuilding that trust and stop living in fear.
|
Home
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~05~RS~)
E-mail this to a friend
Printable version
Children should learn that in society we have to mix and live together.
Bookmark with:
What are these?