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Are you the Nanny? My mission to challenge colour perceptions | Naomi Kissiedu-Green | TEDxStKilda


I want to show you a video scandals

I want to show you a video scandals happen all the time the question is how

happen all the time the question is how

happen all the time the question is how the democracy is finally those animals

the democracy is finally those animals

the democracy is finally those animals and what will it mean for for the wider

and what will it mean for for the wider

and what will it mean for for the wider region I think one of your children is

region I think one of your children is

region I think one of your children is just walked in i mean shift is shifting

just walked in i mean shift is shifting

just walked in i mean shift is shifting shifting sands in the region to the

shifting sands in the region to the

shifting sands in the region to the relations with the north may change I

relations with the north may change I

relations with the north may change I would be surprised to be you know North

would be surprised to be you know North

would be surprised to be you know North Korea North and South Korea’s policy

Korea North and South Korea’s policy

Korea North and South Korea’s policy choices on North Korea have been

choices on North Korea have been

choices on North Korea have been severely limited in the last six months

perhaps some of you seen this video on

perhaps some of you seen this video on social media from 2017 it exposes a

social media from 2017 it exposes a

social media from 2017 it exposes a domestic reality of life as working

domestic reality of life as working

domestic reality of life as working parents but there was a darker side to

parents but there was a darker side to

parents but there was a darker side to the reaction on social media

the reaction on social media

the reaction on social media commentators assumed that Jung a Kim the

commentators assumed that Jung a Kim the

commentators assumed that Jung a Kim the Asian woman who ran into after the kids

Asian woman who ran into after the kids

Asian woman who ran into after the kids out was the nanny and not his wife

out was the nanny and not his wife

out was the nanny and not his wife perhaps some of you has seen that too so

perhaps some of you has seen that too so

perhaps some of you has seen that too so those who thought that Jung a Kim was a

those who thought that Jung a Kim was a

those who thought that Jung a Kim was a nanny it’s worth thinking about why you

nanny it’s worth thinking about why you

nanny it’s worth thinking about why you thought that I’m nya me I was born in

thought that I’m nya me I was born in

thought that I’m nya me I was born in England married an Australian and moved

England married an Australian and moved

England married an Australian and moved to a regional town just outside of

to a regional town just outside of

to a regional town just outside of Melbourne and we have three young

Melbourne and we have three young

Melbourne and we have three young children until 806 so I’m also familiar

children until 806 so I’m also familiar

children until 806 so I’m also familiar with Randy and the children on to the

with Randy and the children on to the

with Randy and the children on to the floor but I’m also familiar with that

floor but I’m also familiar with that

floor but I’m also familiar with that question are you their nanny I was in a

question are you their nanny I was in a

question are you their nanny I was in a shop in City with my son it was a small

shop in City with my son it was a small

shop in City with my son it was a small gift shop in an affluent area and I was

gift shop in an affluent area and I was

gift shop in an affluent area and I was asked the same question

asked the same question

asked the same question are you the nanny no why replies she

are you the nanny no why replies she

are you the nanny no why replies she then asked is he yours at that moment I

then asked is he yours at that moment I

then asked is he yours at that moment I realised I wasn’t in London the perhaps

realised I wasn’t in London the perhaps

realised I wasn’t in London the perhaps exposure multiracial relationships mixed

exposure multiracial relationships mixed

exposure multiracial relationships mixed race or biracial children wasn’t a norm

race or biracial children wasn’t a norm

race or biracial children wasn’t a norm to a lot of people my first reaction was

to a lot of people my first reaction was

to a lot of people my first reaction was to be very defensive because I was being

to be very defensive because I was being

to be very defensive because I was being questioned

questioned

questioned and whether or not there was a mother to

and whether or not there was a mother to

and whether or not there was a mother to my son based on my skin tone I grew up

my son based on my skin tone I grew up

my son based on my skin tone I grew up in London one of the most ethnicity in

in London one of the most ethnicity in

in London one of the most ethnicity in the world and I was surrounded by

the world and I was surrounded by

the world and I was surrounded by different cultures even in my own family

different cultures even in my own family

different cultures even in my own family this is normal but when moving to

this is normal but when moving to

this is normal but when moving to Australia I realised there was a new

Australia I realised there was a new

Australia I realised there was a new normal and I appeared to be a minority

normal and I appeared to be a minority

normal and I appeared to be a minority especially in the affluent areas where I

especially in the affluent areas where I

especially in the affluent areas where I was constantly being asked where are you

was constantly being asked where are you

was constantly being asked where are you from and I reply London then they’ll say

from and I reply London then they’ll say

from and I reply London then they’ll say no where are you really from and I reply

no where are you really from and I reply

no where are you really from and I reply back I was born and raised in London but

back I was born and raised in London but

back I was born and raised in London but then I understood many people in

then I understood many people in

then I understood many people in Australia if they think that your skin

Australia if they think that your skin

Australia if they think that your skin colour defined your ethnicity and that

colour defined your ethnicity and that

colour defined your ethnicity and that British equals white and any variation

British equals white and any variation

British equals white and any variation on that is questioned a person’s

on that is questioned a person’s

on that is questioned a person’s ethnicity say isn’t where we were born

ethnicity say isn’t where we were born

ethnicity say isn’t where we were born my journey into the workplace took me

my journey into the workplace took me

my journey into the workplace took me into child care well my eyes were opened

into child care well my eyes were opened

into child care well my eyes were opened up even more I asked questions like

up even more I asked questions like

up even more I asked questions like because you’re black do you see me as

because you’re black do you see me as

because you’re black do you see me as back when you look at me or are you are

back when you look at me or are you are

back when you look at me or are you are Aboriginal of the TV and can you wash

Aboriginal of the TV and can you wash

Aboriginal of the TV and can you wash your skin so it’s not dirty I made a

your skin so it’s not dirty I made a

your skin so it’s not dirty I made a decision to start taking some sort of

decision to start taking some sort of

decision to start taking some sort of action so I started sending emails to

action so I started sending emails to

action so I started sending emails to childcare centers so we could increase

childcare centers so we could increase

childcare centers so we could increase resources that were more inclusive we

resources that were more inclusive we

resources that were more inclusive we started putting educational books

started putting educational books

started putting educational books directing different families in

directing different families in

directing different families in different race we started putting dolls

different race we started putting dolls

different race we started putting dolls of color in which I had to source from

of color in which I had to source from

of color in which I had to source from overseas it was real easy to find the

overseas it was real easy to find the

overseas it was real easy to find the white princess doll from the film frozen

white princess doll from the film frozen

white princess doll from the film frozen but try and find another doll like Moana

but try and find another doll like Moana

but try and find another doll like Moana and it was almost impossible so our

and it was almost impossible so our

and it was almost impossible so our parents drive in the market demand and

parents drive in the market demand and

parents drive in the market demand and if so why aren’t they buying those like

if so why aren’t they buying those like

if so why aren’t they buying those like milliner or at least both and why did i

milliner or at least both and why did i

milliner or at least both and why did i need to purchase dolls and resources

need to purchase dolls and resources

need to purchase dolls and resources overseas in order to represent an

overseas in order to represent an

overseas in order to represent an Australian family like mine according to

Australian family like mine according to

Australian family like mine according to Australian census from 2016 thirty five

Australian census from 2016 thirty five

Australian census from 2016 thirty five percent of Australians were born

percent of Australians were born

percent of Australians were born overseas and in most states the average

overseas and in most states the average

overseas and in most states the average household had at least one parent that

household had at least one parent that

household had at least one parent that was born overseas and the typical

was born overseas and the typical

was born overseas and the typical migrant moving to Victoria isn’t from

migrant moving to Victoria isn’t from

migrant moving to Victoria isn’t from New Zealand or from England they’re from

New Zealand or from England they’re from

New Zealand or from England they’re from India we live in a very colorful country

India we live in a very colorful country

India we live in a very colorful country and always

and always

and always has but the truth isn’t being exposed

has but the truth isn’t being exposed

has but the truth isn’t being exposed the media paint a picture of race

the media paint a picture of race

the media paint a picture of race khuddam and my children’s heroes in

khuddam and my children’s heroes in

khuddam and my children’s heroes in their books and in a media of Caucasian

their books and in a media of Caucasian

their books and in a media of Caucasian families of all the TV shows that were

families of all the TV shows that were

families of all the TV shows that were produced from 2011 to 2015 a massive

produced from 2011 to 2015 a massive

produced from 2011 to 2015 a massive eighty-two percent of the characters

eighty-two percent of the characters

eighty-two percent of the characters were Caucasian is that the Australian

were Caucasian is that the Australian

were Caucasian is that the Australian that you guys think this is Toit

that you guys think this is Toit

that you guys think this is Toit Australia’s latest contribution to the

Australia’s latest contribution to the

Australia’s latest contribution to the story

story

story [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] play is crucial to every child’s

play is crucial to every child’s

play is crucial to every child’s development and important notice from

development and important notice from

development and important notice from the Australian toy Association there are

the Australian toy Association there are

the Australian toy Association there are so many different people within

so many different people within

so many different people within Australia from so many different

Australia from so many different

Australia from so many different cultures and so many different ethnic

cultures and so many different ethnic

cultures and so many different ethnic groups if you want to see it a real

groups if you want to see it a real

groups if you want to see it a real representation of the Australian

representation of the Australian

representation of the Australian population then hop aboard a tram look

population then hop aboard a tram look

population then hop aboard a tram look at the carriages on the people on board

at the carriages on the people on board

at the carriages on the people on board you will see the real Australia the

you will see the real Australia the

you will see the real Australia the multicultural diverse mix of the

multicultural diverse mix of the

multicultural diverse mix of the Australian population but when you look

Australian population but when you look

Australian population but when you look at our television programs you will see

at our television programs you will see

at our television programs you will see a vastly different cast to the one on

a vastly different cast to the one on

a vastly different cast to the one on the tram why is that the media industry

the tram why is that the media industry

the tram why is that the media industry is predominantly Caucasian and the pupil

is predominantly Caucasian and the pupil

is predominantly Caucasian and the pupil being hired or pretty much all complete

being hired or pretty much all complete

being hired or pretty much all complete Caucasian so how will things change if

Caucasian so how will things change if

Caucasian so how will things change if the industry doesn’t isn’t it’s time

the industry doesn’t isn’t it’s time

the industry doesn’t isn’t it’s time that we start thinking about hiring new

that we start thinking about hiring new

that we start thinking about hiring new generations of diverse cultures for

generations of diverse cultures for

generations of diverse cultures for directors and actors I know things have

directors and actors I know things have

directors and actors I know things have changed and we are taking strides but

changed and we are taking strides but

changed and we are taking strides but it’s just not enough and if I couldn’t

it’s just not enough and if I couldn’t

it’s just not enough and if I couldn’t find what I was looking for then it was

find what I was looking for then it was

find what I was looking for then it was my responsibility to rewrite the story

my responsibility to rewrite the story

my responsibility to rewrite the story my beautiful children shouldn’t have

my beautiful children shouldn’t have

my beautiful children shouldn’t have their hair touched should be wondering

their hair touched should be wondering

their hair touched should be wondering why people look at them strangely and

why people look at them strangely and

why people look at them strangely and shouldn’t be wondering why people are

shouldn’t be wondering why people are

shouldn’t be wondering why people are asking where they’re from when they were

asking where they’re from when they were

asking where they’re from when they were born Australian so I started to write a

born Australian so I started to write a

born Australian so I started to write a book was about my family’s experience of

book was about my family’s experience of

book was about my family’s experience of diversity and acceptance in a kid for

diversity and acceptance in a kid for

diversity and acceptance in a kid for anyway so I started sending it off the

anyway so I started sending it off the

anyway so I started sending it off the Australian publishing companies and

Australian publishing companies and

Australian publishing companies and waited for their response so instead I

waited for their response so instead I

waited for their response so instead I decided not to give up and I started to

decided not to give up and I started to

decided not to give up and I started to fund the book myself and I got it

fund the book myself and I got it

fund the book myself and I got it self-published over the USA and I

self-published over the USA and I

self-published over the USA and I started sending it to educational boards

started sending it to educational boards

started sending it to educational boards childcare centers any place I could

childcare centers any place I could

childcare centers any place I could think of I said to out and then the

think of I said to out and then the

think of I said to out and then the response was positive and I started to

response was positive and I started to

response was positive and I started to get interests people calling me up to go

get interests people calling me up to go

get interests people calling me up to go on to shows and talk about the message

on to shows and talk about the message

on to shows and talk about the message of the book and to come into schools so

of the book and to come into schools so

of the book and to come into schools so when it’s a few schools and I started

when it’s a few schools and I started

when it’s a few schools and I started talking about the book and the main

talking about the book and the main

talking about the book and the main message and the kids were very receptive

message and the kids were very receptive

message and the kids were very receptive and the book was about my family and how

and the book was about my family and how

and the book was about my family and how we may look a little different from each

we may look a little different from each

we may look a little different from each other how our skin colors were different

other how our skin colors were different

other how our skin colors were different or we might have features that look

or we might have features that look

or we might have features that look different but in all our families were

different but in all our families were

different but in all our families were all a little bit different and the main

all a little bit different and the main

all a little bit different and the main thing is that we love each other

thing is that we love each other

thing is that we love each other we’ll all you

we’ll all you

we’ll all you nique and we’re all special in our own

nique and we’re all special in our own

nique and we’re all special in our own way and the kids were so respectful

way and the kids were so respectful

way and the kids were so respectful there are so many questions they talked

there are so many questions they talked

there are so many questions they talked about the book and they’re really

about the book and they’re really

about the book and they’re really interested in the story but the impact

interested in the story but the impact

interested in the story but the impact didn’t just stop at the children and the

didn’t just stop at the children and the

didn’t just stop at the children and the comment was from a mother with her

comment was from a mother with her

comment was from a mother with her blended family she said how her daughter

blended family she said how her daughter

blended family she said how her daughter after reading the book was now embracing

after reading the book was now embracing

after reading the book was now embracing who she was and she could see the way

who she was and she could see the way

who she was and she could see the way her daughter’s thinking and

her daughter’s thinking and

her daughter’s thinking and understanding had changed

understanding had changed

understanding had changed another comment was from a mother who

another comment was from a mother who

another comment was from a mother who said she felt ashamed this is the first

said she felt ashamed this is the first

said she felt ashamed this is the first book she had read to her children

book she had read to her children

book she had read to her children featuring a multiracial family on the

featuring a multiracial family on the

featuring a multiracial family on the front cover books and resources at

front cover books and resources at

front cover books and resources at featuring ethnic or multiracial people

featuring ethnic or multiracial people

featuring ethnic or multiracial people are only for us you know the United

are only for us you know the United

are only for us you know the United States have quotas for racial diversity

States have quotas for racial diversity

States have quotas for racial diversity and they’ve resulted in a record number

and they’ve resulted in a record number

and they’ve resulted in a record number of shows featuring access from all

of shows featuring access from all

of shows featuring access from all diverse backgrounds networks in the

diverse backgrounds networks in the

diverse backgrounds networks in the United Kingdom are also considering

United Kingdom are also considering

United Kingdom are also considering introducing them as responsible

introducing them as responsible

introducing them as responsible all-white cast that that’s happening at

all-white cast that that’s happening at

all-white cast that that’s happening at the moment I think this is something

the moment I think this is something

the moment I think this is something that Australia should also be looking at

that Australia should also be looking at

that Australia should also be looking at because we are still failing to reflect

because we are still failing to reflect

because we are still failing to reflect our multi racial diversity I want to

our multi racial diversity I want to

our multi racial diversity I want to show you something because children see

show you something because children see

show you something because children see want what they see on TV and there are

want what they see on TV and there are

want what they see on TV and there are very few options for us out there the

very few options for us out there the

very few options for us out there the ethnic children might mix race children

ethnic children might mix race children

ethnic children might mix race children minority children we don’t get a say in

minority children we don’t get a say in

minority children we don’t get a say in the media there’s hardly any image

the media there’s hardly any image

the media there’s hardly any image images that are promoting us in a

images that are promoting us in a

images that are promoting us in a positive way and I want ask to feel just

positive way and I want ask to feel just

positive way and I want ask to feel just as beautiful as the children that we see

as beautiful as the children that we see

as beautiful as the children that we see on TV I want people to see that we are

on TV I want people to see that we are

on TV I want people to see that we are just as important as the children and we

just as important as the children and we

just as important as the children and we sit on the TV and we need to fill that

sit on the TV and we need to fill that

sit on the TV and we need to fill that other children see us and they know that

other children see us and they know that

other children see us and they know that we are important and it’s all about

we are important and it’s all about

we are important and it’s all about inclusion when if you seen an advert

inclusion when if you seen an advert

inclusion when if you seen an advert featuring a black child or white child

featuring a black child or white child

featuring a black child or white child holding a black doll or Barbie Hammond

holding a black doll or Barbie Hammond

holding a black doll or Barbie Hammond if you seen that you don’t see that on

if you seen that you don’t see that on

if you seen that you don’t see that on the TV it will see the white doll of the

the TV it will see the white doll of the

the TV it will see the white doll of the blonde hair and the blue eyes and when

blonde hair and the blue eyes and when

blonde hair and the blue eyes and when my child looks at the TV he sees these

my child looks at the TV he sees these

my child looks at the TV he sees these things and he never relates to them he

things and he never relates to them he

things and he never relates to them he can’t write my daughter she wants the

can’t write my daughter she wants the

can’t write my daughter she wants the long hair and the blond hair she doesn’t

long hair and the blond hair she doesn’t

long hair and the blond hair she doesn’t see the children with a curly afro hair

see the children with a curly afro hair

see the children with a curly afro hair or the brown skin on the TV so what she

or the brown skin on the TV so what she

or the brown skin on the TV so what she sees is what she wants we need to be

sees is what she wants we need to be

sees is what she wants we need to be more inclusive I want to show you this

more inclusive I want to show you this

more inclusive I want to show you this photo that was taken by Chris buck it

photo that was taken by Chris buck it

photo that was taken by Chris buck it was featured in The Oprah Magazine

was featured in The Oprah Magazine

was featured in The Oprah Magazine it

it

it makes its readers consider stereotypes

makes its readers consider stereotypes

makes its readers consider stereotypes and this photo reflects what it was like

and this photo reflects what it was like

and this photo reflects what it was like for me and many others growing up and

for me and many others growing up and

for me and many others growing up and why I don’t want it to be for your

why I don’t want it to be for your

why I don’t want it to be for your children or mine

children or mine

children or mine I hope this photo helps you understand

I hope this photo helps you understand

I hope this photo helps you understand how important recitation is if we can

how important recitation is if we can

how important recitation is if we can educate ourselves and our children from

educate ourselves and our children from

educate ourselves and our children from a young age instead of asking are you

a young age instead of asking are you

a young age instead of asking are you the nanny or where are you from they

the nanny or where are you from they

the nanny or where are you from they will ask how is your day and simply come

will ask how is your day and simply come

will ask how is your day and simply come and ask my children to play

and ask my children to play

and ask my children to play multiculturalism is our culture with

multiculturalism is our culture with

multiculturalism is our culture with increasing numbers of blended families

increasing numbers of blended families

increasing numbers of blended families and within different cultures it’s

and within different cultures it’s

and within different cultures it’s important that we recognize this and

important that we recognize this and

important that we recognize this and with embrace it

with embrace it

with embrace it and reflect it in our media to normalize

and reflect it in our media to normalize

and reflect it in our media to normalize this society isn’t it time that we

this society isn’t it time that we

this society isn’t it time that we educate inform and inspire it’s let’s be

educate inform and inspire it’s let’s be

educate inform and inspire it’s let’s be part of the change mix it up Australia

part of the change mix it up Australia

part of the change mix it up Australia [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] you

”

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