Celebrating What Truly Defines Me

Editor’s Note: In a new series of presentations called “Culture Shares,” Brewster students are encouraged to explain a bit about their cultural background to help build strong cultural awareness throughout the school and give context and meaning to the diversity our community enjoys. In the first Culture Share, Aya Brown ’25, who grew up in London, England, explained how she defines herself and her mixed race identity.  

What does it mean to be mixed race? Well, as rapper Lil Baby once said, “It’s bigger than black and white.” It’s the internal struggle of not knowing exactly where you fit in. When I visit my family in Egypt, I can feel the alienated stares and hear the murmurs about the color of my skin or the sight of my braids. It's not until I say “Fi imoshcella” (which means, “Is there a problem?”) that they look shocked and apologize. Back in my old school, I was always told that I am either too Arab for the Black people or too Black for the Arab people. But I’m not here to victimize myself or focus on the challenges of being mixed race. Today, I want to celebrate how the blend of my two cultures is what truly defines me.

My culture is much more than just having beans on toast for breakfast with a cup of tea, or fish and chips every Friday. It’s not even close. I define my culture by the texture of my hair. At the bottom, I have tight afro curls, representing my Jamaican heritage. My family is from Kingston, Jamaica. While the national dish of Jamaica is ackee and saltfish, I’m not fond of either, so I stick to eating jerk chicken with rice and peas and a side of festival. For us, every day is a celebration. We dance, sing, and drink to the fast rhythms of reggae and dancehall music. We really are island people. It's a beautiful, close-knit community where everyone is somehow my auntie, uncle, or cousin. We greet each other with a “wagwan” and a hug every time. Even though I don’t live in Jamaica, I keep the culture alive. If someone is sick, there is no such thing as medication. Our medication is chicken soup with dumplings and ginger and honey. Here in London, we celebrate Carnival every year, and I continue to carry my culture with me.

As we move upward to the top of my head, I have looser curls, representing my Egyptian heritage. This is where the juxtaposition comes in. Egypt is an Islamic country, and as a Muslim, I follow and respect its norms and values. There isn't Carnival but there are street parties. Sometimes you see people have their weddings in the streets of Alexandria, which is where I am from. Some may see this as restrictive, but I find it beautiful and elegant as we wear our lush abayas with pride, as if we are royalty. Every morning I would wake up to the sounds of chickens and the Adhan calling us to morning prayers at the Mosque. Egypt is so rich in its culture and history, there is never a dull moment and always something to discover. One moment I’m playing football in the streets and the next quadbiking in the desert. And there’s the sense of joy that fills my body when I say “Assalamalaikum” (“peace be upon you”) to people.  My favourite dish is molokiyah and rouse, which doesn’t seem too pleasing but is extremely delicious. When you hear us speak, it may sound like we are arguing with each other when really we are just expressing our love.

There is so much more I can say about both my countries. But I wanted to share with you all that I am more than just the girl from the U.K. Yes, southeast London is where I was born and raised, but my Jamaican and Egyptian heritage is what makes me, me.