"Why are people surprised that I speak Welsh?"
12 Februrary 2020
"Some people react with a slight shock when they hear me speak Welsh."
Port Talbot-born Jalisa Andrews’ first language is Welsh, but she never fails to notice people’s ‘slight shock’ when they hear her speak it.
Jalisa’s mixed heritage derives from her great-grandmother who was born in Jamaica. She went to the Welsh-medium school Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur and grew up speaking the language with her grandparents. Even though Jalisa has been speaking Welsh all her life, she thinks that because she doesn’t look like your ‘typical Welsh speaker’, people make assumptions about her.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily racism, I think it’s more stereotyping. Everyone is used to what they are used to. So, they are used to seeing who they have grown up with in school… who’s in their communities, who’s in their areas.
I donβt think itβs necessarily racism, I think itβs more stereotyping.
“In social situations where I feel like I don’t fit in and I know that people can speak Welsh, it’s my way to be able to connect with other people and a way to be able to make friends a lot quicker as well. By speaking Welsh, you’ve got common ground with someone straight away.
“Putting you into a Welsh school, in Wales gives you so many more opportunities.
“Being a mixed family… I think being able to speak Welsh helped in a way. I feel more connected to my Welsh heritage than my black heritage. But I look more black than I look white. So, I find the whole mixed thing quite confusing sometimes.
“Paid ag edrych arno pobl. Jest meddwl bod nhw ddim yn gallu siarad Cymraeg jest cario ‘mlaen a chael sgwrs ‘da nhw… Don’t judge a book by its cover, basically.”
Why Are You Surprised That I Speak Welsh?
"Some people react with a slight shock when they hear me speak Welsh"
