Poem that got featured in juice's magazine

                         “What does it mean to be Brown?” Nabilah Patel

Skin colour doesn’t need to define me as a person,

I am a person who needs some respect and some TLC now and then.

People in the world will ‘Judge a book by a cover,’

They don’t take the time to get to know me as a person,

They just take one look at your skin and wonder, ‘what’s she got going for her?’ 

There’s much more when you rip away the layers of pretence and apprehension that will get me out of my shell. 

So, ladies and gents, what does it mean to be brown? 

It means power, pride and beauty. 

What makes us passionate about the things we value,

Our thoughts and opinions.

Our voices are so loud it’s like a lioness is roaring super loudly. 

Sometimes people will want to shut this roar down to a little ‘meow,’

This cannot be tolerated.

Brown people can feel that little spark of courage,

The power to get their say in the world and they shouldn’t be undermined by people in power.

 

As a brown woman,

I am caring, strong, independent, empowered. 

I don’t let anyone stand in my way,

You have to push and shove until you feel like your voice is heard even if you’re stuck with a tough crowd. 

Brown people can make it big.

South Asians are more than just tea drinkers,

Cooks, cleaners and homemakers please their husbands.

This is a stereotype. 

We should really be appreciative of who we are as brown people,

Learn not to care what people tell us,

It doesn’t drag us down,

It will just make us stronger.

If we can take their words and make a breakthrough in the world, then they will be the ones to say, 

‘Sign my shirt. I want an autograph’. 

Don’t include this Rae/rumana: I’ve added it to her other bio Bio about disability (from email, Nabilah has confirmed we can use this)

Basically my disability is part of a syndrome called Bardet Biedl Syndrome which covers visual impairment mobility issues, polycystic kidneys and a heart murmur. A big part of it is Visual Impairment which is where I can see perfectly well in the light but at night time i’m completely blind and I have a thing called tunnel vision where I cannot see anything that is in my peripheral vision. The mobility issues are where I find it difficult to get around and sometimes leads to muscle weakness which makes it hard to walk long distances. Sometimes I have these absences that affect my mobility and these happen rarely and only last for a few seconds. Also I have learning difficulties which make it hard to understand certain things such as telling the time understanding long words etc.

Nabilah’s work is featured as part of Juice’s community accessibility spotlight. Nabilah’s Bardet Biedl Syndrome