Petiri Ira
Bio
I am a Race, Society and Culture writer. I write opinion pieces and personal essays on the Black experience in our society. My articles provide readers with actionable takeaways they can take to aim for change and progression.
Stories (17/0)
Here's Why You Should Talk To Your Kids About Racism
“We don't play with people like you,” she uttered. This was in first grade and I vividly remember approaching a white group of friends and asking them if I could join in their games and one of them said this. At 5–6 years old, a statement and having a discriminatory mentality like this is taught and parents have to make an active effort to teach their children to be anti-racist.
By Petiri Iraabout a year ago in Families
Attention, Instagram Will Not Solve Racism
Instagram will not solve racism, and people need to accept that truth. You know, there's something about Instagram that provides an innate comfort and cushioning when working towards ending racism and fighting for change. Instagram is a media platform, and while yes, Instagram does aid in educating people, it does not necessarily mean everyone will go out and do the anti-racist work they repost in the real world.
By Petiri Iraabout a year ago in The Swamp
Why “Everything Is About Race”
Society is in love with saying “everything is about race nowadays”, but little do they know everything has been about race since the 15th century. See, this phrase has undoubtedly become a social refrain and society is glued to using it as a defence mechanism and as a perilous deflection.
By Petiri Iraabout a year ago in The Swamp
Why I Write For Social Change
A young Petiri wonders why people judge her because her skin is brown. A young Petiri ponders on the reason why people alienate her for her tress. A young Petiri thinks about why she started to hate her Blackness as a result of a eurocentric world. She realises that these stereotypes and stigmas have been constructed from the construct of race. She uses this to fuel her ambition to strive for societal change and writing is a medium through which she can achieve this.
By Petiri Iraabout a year ago in The Swamp
Why Are Natural Ethnic Features Only Trendy On White People?
For a long time now natural ethnic features have been looked down on by society, often being described as undesirable. Bipoc have faced tremendous amounts of ridicule and discrimination towards features that they were born with. Despite this, there have been two instances that stand out to me, that show society accrediting non-people of colour for their transformation of these features as a new aesthetic and standard of beauty.
By Petiri Ira2 years ago in The Swamp
Why Calling a Black Person an ''Oreo'' Is Offensive
They said I was Black on the outside, white on the inside. Black but not too black, a perfectly poised token for you to blindly glorify me as. The term ''Oreo'' was assigned to me and lingered on my mind for years. Some may think it's a compliment, when in fact it showcases society's narrow and monolithic view of Black people.
By Petiri Ira2 years ago in The Swamp
Why You Should Stop Whitesplaining Racism Now
Imagine someone correcting you on your own emotions and lived experiences. Denying you of your own feelings, making you feel as though you are in the wrong. They twist your words, jumble them up and tell you that you're ''too sensitive'' and ''taking things too far'', all on the basis of something they've never had to deal with: racism.
By Petiri Ira2 years ago in The Swamp
The Toxic Relationship I Had With My Hair
Growing up immersed in an environment that heavily perpetuates long blonde hair as the pinnacle of beauty can be exhausting, and it certainly was for me. Hearing that my tightly coiled curls made me look crazed, unkempt, and untidy deterred my self-confidence. This brewing self-hatred is what set the long-haul journey of my toxic relationship with my black hair.
By Petiri Ira2 years ago in Blush
The 4 Prominent Layers of Racism
Most people understand racism by looking at it from just one angle and through a narrow lens. Racism is often understood as being an expression of a system of oppression which has its roots in a history of power and the subordination of ”non-white” groups.
By Petiri Ira2 years ago in The Swamp
