100 Voices #AllAgainstRacism: Cherry Dragon – “The kind of racism I experienced was much more covert. Also a lot of it was ignorance…”

Cherry Dragon,
singer-songwriter & producer

Growing up in Ireland, I was lucky in a way. I didn’t experience violent racism or much name calling, which are some of the stories I heard from people who grew up in London. On the whole, I think Ireland has been accepting of me. However the kind of racism I experienced was much more covert. Also a lot of it was ignorance: like being asked by school girls, “Do you burn in the sun? Why does your hair dry so fast after swimming? Why is your hair so frizzy?” Also I was teased, and called Macy Gray when I would walk down the street. But even my own family member, who is white from another marriage of my mother, told me to stop being so serious when I expressed my anger – he laughed with them and said they are only joking. I felt alone a lot and quite ashamed actually.

A very well-known TV and radio presenter in Ireland, who I won’t name, was definitely racist towards me. I had been working in music in the States, going back and forth for about four years at that stage. I performed on his radio show and he asked me, did I “consider myself American now?” I was there with my black guitar-player from the States. My stomach dropped and my body tensed up immediately. I knew this was a dig and a violation, but it was live on air and I didn’t know what to do. I answered, “Of course not, I’m Irish”. He would never have asked a white Irish artist that question. U2 spent half their time in the States, and I can’t imagine them being asked that question. It was because I was of colour. He had a problem with me being black and Irish. So he passively made me aware that he is not considering me a true Irish person live on air.

But I feel a lot of this has passed now. The older generation were more on that vibe. I still feel on the whole, Irish people are some of the warmest out there. In the next ten years, things will continue to grow. The less ignorance there is, the less these situations will occur. So having these kinds of conversation is definitely the way forward.

Read Part 1 of 100 Voices: #AllAgainstRacism, in the current issue of Hot Press. Available to pick up in shops now, or to order online below:

Special thanks to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission for their support in this project.