Author: Jasminder Bahia
These reflections form part of the BAATN Introductory Certificate in Counselling Skills: Decolonising Therapeutic Practice course – Unit 5 of 10
Identity is both a personal journey and a collective pathway—a space where individual narratives intersect with broader cultural and historical currents. In this piece, we reflect on and celebrate the myriad ways in which identity shapes our understanding of the world and our sense of belonging.
Our roots call to us through the whispers of love, the lessons of wisdom, the echoes of history, and the embrace of culture. Our identity flows, rich and steadfast. We learn from the guidance of peers, friends, family, and ancestors, the words of poets, the melodies of singers, the teachings of priests and priestesses, our spiritual guides. They hum within our hearts and souls, their rhythmic divinity guiding our material existence.
Let us not waste a moment. So much nourishes us, inviting us to dive deep into the well of our courage, strength, and profound joy—to embrace our identity fully.
It’s week 6 of our decolonising therapy course, and the theme of identity intricately weaves into our very fabric, seeping into our skin. Gently and boldly, we reflect on who we are. Where did we come from? Where are we heading? The layers of our past and ‘being’ surface in the present moment—complex, beautiful, burdensome, and yet uplifting, mystical, soulful. Embracing all aspects of ourselves allows us to nurture our senses, letting our spirit rise, dancing with our history.
Decolonisation involves reclaiming what was lost or altered by colonial powers, including our cultures, languages, and ways of life. Exploring our identities helps us appreciate our uniqueness and what binds us together. This understanding enables us to see the impacts of colonialism on our ancestors and what influences and shapes who we are today.
Who are we? Two words
Identity ‘is more unstable than ever’: Riz Ahmed on new short film “Dammi” speaks about playing a character with a sharply different background. “You know, we live in an age of identity politics where lines are often drawn so kind-of cleanly in bold print. But I think what underpins a lot of that is people searching for a sense of identity, as identity is more unstable, more complicated than ever. The interconnectedness of different cultures and different sides of who we are, I think, is something that continues to confound us and inspire us.”
“It’s identity used as a kind of political mask for the complexity that lies beneath it. It’s actually a kind of laying bare of the kind of uncertain themes and a journey of identity, the lifelong evolution of identity, and I think that’s something that’s really powerful and I think universal as well.”
Identity is at our core, our essence, our characteristics, our language, behaviour, our choices, our clothes, music, food, poetry, our community. Our identity might shift as we navigate spaces, and as a result show less of ourselves, but not diminish or dim our light. Instead, know that our magic, our true beauty, is seen by the people who awaken to the rhythms of the universe, who value the fullness of what we bring. Our true power is within us, and deep down, we know our identity – from inside out – and the more comfortable we are in our shape and form, the less stress we feel to perform or act a certain way. It’s in our simple brilliance and awareness we shine, we breathe, we flow.
Yet, the physical form we occupy is demanding and worthy to be seen equitably, as our voices keep amplifying. We bask in places of creativity and wellness – in our togetherness, we are trusted and seen. As we reclaim our space, we see others shining and rejoicing in their space. We celebrate and claim space that truly belongs to us – belonged to us. That always belonged to us.
Dawn Butler (Labour MP) shared a photo on social media with the caption “showing off the melanin.” Sharing the love with three photographs, one photo featuring eight colleagues: Kim Johnson, Zarah Sultana, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Apsana Begum, Florence Esholomi, Juliet Campbell, Miatta Fahnbulleh, and Taiwo Owatemi. Journalists share that this post has been reported to the police – from celebrating ‘melanin’ to condemning melanin, where does this sit within white bodies? The invisible line keeps moving to the drum that is trying to drown out and divide aspects of identity.
Where are you really from?
The question of identity is always present in the UK’s political games and media masking, shaping where you fit in, belong, or are cast aside. Without any words, it’s a felt sense of being at home and belonging in our bodies. Everyone seems to have become fixated… or curious about the identity of the men’s England football players. You only need to type Jude Bellingham’s name into a search engine, and the following questions pop up:
- What language does Jude Bellingham speak?
- Is Jude Bellingham Nigerian?
- What ethnicity is Jude Bellingham?
As the England men’s football team reached the final of the 2024 Euros, the continuous commentary reminds us, “It’s the first final on foreign soil.” Players look up at the TV screen, saying it’s an “away game, away from home.” Where is this foreign soil? This territory the players are crossing?
Rio Ferdinand’s social media post boldly declaring and asking … “Where are the racists now???? Probably still celebrating!!!!” (highlighting all five penalty takers are black bodies) – the comments flooding in onto his Instagram feed:
- fairways_aint_4_me 5d replies: Why you gotta stir this up again? Surely, just be happy we won? Skin colour is irrelevant, but these posts just add fuel to the fire.
- Alex Beresford: To the ‘don’t stir it up’ crew, If you didn’t help stir it down at the time, keep quiet.
Some respond with ‘stop stirring, why bring it up now,’ as if things were harmonious and the strategy of pushing things under the rug had been working all along.
On the ride home from the evening’s course, the Pakistani Uber driver and I spontaneously sparked a conversation about identity. He questioned why it’s necessary to know if you are British Pakistani, British Indian, British Bengali… Why do they need to know this?
“You’re British. Your parents are British. Your partner, your children, and most of your friends are British. So why do people keep asking where you’re from? We are a nation in denial about our imperial past and the racism that plagues our present.” Brit(ish) – Afua Hirsch
When speaking about identity, there’s a powerful reflection that Rupi Kaur brings to the table. She talks about honouring your roots through expression, be it art or spoken word. It’s a reminder that we all have a profound choice in how we express ourselves and our identities. How we choose to connect with our heritage, our stories, and the larger world around us can be a deeply personal journey.
When asked why she only uses lowercase letters and periods in her poetry, she explained:
“The only punctuation that exists within the Gurmukhi script is a period – represented through the symbol: |. So, in order to symbolize and preserve these small details of my mother language, I incorporate them into my work. There is no case distinction and only periods. It’s a visual manifestation and ode to my identity as a diasporic Punjabi Sikh woman. It is less about breaking the rules of English, although that’s pretty fun, but more about tying in my own history and heritage within my work.”
Decolonising Identity
Week 6 of the decolonising therapy course began, with what stirs our identity – each participant being invited to share a cultural artefact and stories of what truly spoke to them of who they are, links to their history, and perhaps where the future will take them.
The richness and raw emotions brought out sensations such as ‘power,’ ‘pain,’ and ‘tears.’ The collective experience of bearing witness to each other’s histories creates a timeless connection and understanding, giving rise to a tight-knit sense of community and belonging.
The unspoken phrase, ‘I haven’t been crying, but we have been,’ encapsulated the shared empathy and communal healing that enveloped us all. A sense of release filled the room as emotions surfaced; barefoot, our feet grounding us in this moment.
Throughout the evening, reflections on identity touched on how it’s felt within our bodies, souls, and hearts. The recognition that we are walking through the histories of our ancestors, and acknowledging their presence and ongoing guidance, brings a sense of freedom; the baton is being passed on, we are ancestors, too.
A sense of sacredness, courage, and peace pervaded, with no veils here—nothing was hidden. And in the spirit of Rupi Kaur’s work, there was no policing of grammar—language barriers did not exist within our dialogue. What emerged was a universally emotional connection, transcending any single language or culture, as each person’s sharing took on a globally emotional echo.
As we continue to navigate the layers of our identity, and the wider social and political impacts, we reflect on the subtleties of who we are: intricate, delicate, yet powerful. Reflecting on history and power dynamics, George the Poet’s words mirror with the themes we’re exploring this week
“When you look at the economic logic behind how history panned out, you realise that it’s just greed . . . the economics of greed and the rush of the imperial project.” When asked about any regrets about not being born in Uganda, he shares, “I’m aware of the gaps in my African identity. I’m aware that it’s very hard to fully understand myself without being situated in African consciousness in Ugandan history. But those are things that you can work on. Establishing connections with the people. It’s really the people that make that place. And I’m grateful for the life I’ve had. So, I wouldn’t use the word ‘regret’.”
These reflections remind us that understanding our identity within a decolonised context involves connecting with the cultures and communities that have continuously shaped us—our past, present, and future. George the Poet’s insights reinforce how our sense of self is deeply intertwined with our roots and community.
These reflections form part of the BAATN Introductory Certificate in Counselling Skills: Decolonising Therapeutic Practice course – Unit 5 of 10