India Brown: “Mixed people are people - we shouldn’t be defined by colour”
The actress on positivity, fear and being proud of her self
Hi, welcome back to Mixed Messages! This week I’m speaking to India Brown, who is of mixed-Caribbean and white British heritage. India is a young actress who has appeared in the likes of Netflix’s The Stranger, Apple+’s Invasion and BBC’s Worzel Gummidge. As one of the youngest people I’ve interviewed for this newsletter, I was excited to see how India views her mixed heritage and hear her thoughts on the future for the next mixed generation. Read India’s story below.
How do you define your ethnicity?
I describe myself as mixed-race. My mum’s family originates from the Caribbean and my dad’s family are from England. I’ve never really felt defined by my colour, so I’ve never felt the need to have an issue with my race.
Do you feel connected to your Caribbean heritage?
I’m mostly influenced by my British culture, because both my parents were born in Britain. I try to learn about other cultures, but I don’t feel obliged to learn especially about Caribbean culture. My nan will tell me about Caribbean culture and her family, so it’s nice to have people who I can learn from.
Have you always been so positive about being mixed?
I’ve always been brought up to be proud of who I am, to believe in good people and to look at the positives in life. I don’t like to look at negatives because I’ve been brought up to see the good things. I’ve never been worried or concerned about my colour.
Do you have any mixed friends?
I have lots of different people in my friendship group. My group has always reflected society with different ethnicities and cultures, and I’ve been able to learn from them and see different sides to everything.
Do you look up to any mixed people in your industry?
I’m really inspired by Thandiwe Newton – I’ve found that she’s always been authentically herself. She’s a great role model for me, especially being British and going through an industry I’m in. She’s made her dreams come true, and proven to so many young people of colour that it’s possible to do what you want.
It’s nice to see that the film and TV industry is opening up to more people of colour - it can only get better from now on. Over the years, I hope we’ll see more young mixed-race people coming into the industry and proving that everything is possible.
How do you think people should talk about mixedness in future?
I’d like people to see that mixed-race people are people, just like everyone else, and we shouldn’t be defined by colour. We’re all part of the human race, and if we improve things now for future generations, it’ll be easier for them to follow their dreams. Let’s be positive - we need to come together to combat racism.
What’s the best thing about being mixed for you?
That I see two sides of things, and that I’m proud of who I am. I know what I believe in, I have supportive friends and family around me and by me being a mixed-race actor in this industry, I’m going to prove that it’s possible. I want people to be inspired to follow their dreams.
Does seeing two sides to things help you while you’re acting?
I kind of have two voices or two opinions on the ways you could do things. That helps me build a character, because I’m considering which route to go down.
I do think there needs to be more of a positive outlook for people of colour and our stories. We’ve seen that people have been mistreated, but I think it would be good to see the positive spins on things and not stereotype people for certain roles. My colour doesn’t define me and shouldn’t hold me back. The only thing that can hold me back is fear. So if I combat that, or try to combat that, it can only be positive.
Can you sum up your mixed experience in a word?
Proud.
Next week, I’ll be talking to actress and singer Yasmina El-Abd. Subscribe to get Mixed Messages in your inbox on Monday.
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Mixed Messages is a weekly exploration of the mixed-race experience, from me, Isabella Silvers. My mom is Punjabi (by way of East Africa) and my dad is white British, but finding my place between these two cultures hasn’t always been easy. That’s why I started Mixed Messages, where each week I’ll speak to a prominent mixed voice to delve into what it really feels like to be mixed.