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Tag Archives BAME

Black History Month: Why More Black People Should Give Blood

At 17 years old I became a blood donor. I won’t lie and say I wasn’t a little nervous. I had never donated blood before, and the nurse at the time complained she couldn’t find a vein. After my session, I remember feeling like I had done something powerful. I was giving blood which could potentially help someone and save their life.  

It is estimated that only 1% of England’s population that give blood is black. More people are in need to give blood from all communities and ethnic backgrounds, particularly those from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community. 

What is Sickle Cell?   

Sickle cell disease is a group of disorders that affects hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body. People with this disorder have atypical hemoglobin molecules called hemoglobin S, which can distort red blood cells into a sickle, or crescent, shape. 

What is Thalassaemia:

Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder. People with Thalassemia disease are not able to make enough hemoglobin, which causes severe anemia. Haemoglobin is found in red blood cells and carries oxygen to all parts of the body. … Beta Thalassemia Major (also called Cooley’s Anemia) is a severe illness. 

Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell disease is blood conditions that most commonly affect people within the black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. The treatment of this condition is more successful using blood that is very closely matched to the patients. 

Why are more BAME donors needed? 

  1. Many patients receive frequent blood transfusions which require a much close match to their type of blood. 
  2. Many blood conditions, such as Sickle Cell or Thalassaemia, are usually treated by blood transfusions, most commonly affected in BAME communities.
  3. It is also noted that the best match typically comes from blood donors from the same ethnic background.

6 Reasons Why You Should be a Blood Donor As A Black Person:

While people from all communities and backgrounds do donate blood. There was still only an estimate of less than 5% of our blood donors that gave blood, which in the last year were from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. I can imagine you can share reasons on why more people should donate blood, particularly black people, but for now, here are a few below.  

You will be saving someone’s life by giving your blood.  

This is true. According to GiveBloodNHS, it is estimated that 1,000 people in the UK have thalassaemia, and between 13,000-15,000 people in the UK have sickle cell disease.

Blood transfusions are in need, and if you can give blood and save a life. Why not? If you become a blood donor, you will be changing someone’s life.

Every blood donation can save or improve the lives of up to three adults or six, sometimes children.  

There are different blood groups  

There are different blood types, nearly more than 30 different types of blood groups.  During National Blood Week in June this year the letters A, O and B had dropped significantly. 

However, there are blood groups which are particularly vulnerable to shortfall such as O negative. It’s important to note that all patients can receive this blood in an emergency.

It’s for a charitable cause to give blood

Remember my little story where I gave blood at 17 years old? When I gave blood, I had a view that if I gave blood I would be making a difference.

Back then, I hated the idea of giving money to a charity. I had and still have several reasons why, but it mainly involved me not knowing where my money was going. I believed by giving blood I was genuinely making a difference.  

BAME DONORS ARE NEEDED 

It goes back to what I was saying earlier, BAME donors are significantly needed! Conditions such as sickle cell and thalassemia are also more likely to affect these communities with patients requiring regular blood transfusions ideally from donors from a similar ethnic background.  

It’s not as difficult as it sounds  

Although my first experience wasn’t the smoothest, I can honestly say after that it has been pretty straight forward. Giving blood can be quite straight forward if you want it to be. You can book an appointment online and can be in and out in less than half an hour.  

Black Travel Creators are collaborating with NHSGiveBlood for Black History Month

You may already know that October is Black History Month in the UK, so Black Travel Creators have decided to work with Give Blood NHS, to encourage more black people to give blood. We already have a date set for the 27th of October. This is for 15 blood donors, were we hope to encourage more black people to come on the day and give blood.

It doesn’t stop there! We hope to also raise awareness and encourage black people all over the world to register as a blood donor. ✈?

Interested? Then Register your details (if you haven’t already) and email your donor number to – blacktravelcreators@outlook.com We will then send more details for timings etc.

I have a few Black History Month Posts for Reading:

Black History Month: 10 Black Bloggers Making Modern Black History

10 Black History Month Events to Attend in 2019

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The Perfect Tools on How To Apply for a Study Exchange

Are you thinking of applying for a study exchange?

I always say ‘studying abroad is such an amazing opportunity’. You meet people from around the world, embrace a new culture, and possibly even learn a new language. There are so many advantages to studying abroad before you can get to that once in a lifetime experience. I have to be honest and say there is a lot of work to be done. Applying for a study exchange can be daunting, especially if you don’t know where to start.

studying abroad is such an amazing opportunity

I remember the application process being quite long, hard and complicated. However, in all the longness, I still managed to get through the process, and honestly, if I can do it, anyone can.

Assess your degree plan

I didn’t know anything about a study exchange when I started university/college, but when I was told about it, I JUMPED on it like a HULK! If you want to do a study exchange, I would definitely suggest assessing your degree plans. Talk to your tutor/advisor from the minute you start.

You want to be sure that whichever study abroad program you choose has classes that can fit into your degree plan. You don’t want your study exchange to delay your graduation – unless you don’t mind.

Pick the right location for your study exchange

This, in my opinion, is the most essential thing to think about on your study exchange. It can also be one of the hardest decisions you make. I was only given 4 options which where:

  1. Hong Kong
  2. France (had to speak French)
  3. America
  4. Singapore

I originally went with Hong Kong, but changed my mind at the last minute and decided Singapore was the best option. Looking back now, I was grateful I picked Singapore because it was so easy to travel around Asia from. In selecting your location, I would ask myself the following questions:

  • Can you speak the language?
  • Do you enjoy the food?
  • Do you want to travel?
  • How far will you be away from home?
  • Would you be flying back home regularly?

Picking the right type of program

There are many different ways to do a study abroad. I don’t know every single programme and I am pretty sure it’s changed since I did mine. Check out what your university/college has to offer and don’t be afraid to talk to the program advisors! In fact, bug them from the minute you start.

As I said before, I didn’t know about study exchange/abroad programmes, but after speaking to the relevant people, I was confident enough to know what I was doing.

Picking your courses

I’m sorry to say this, but this too can be one of the hardest parts. You want classes that are challenging, yet that you will understand easily. Remember you will be in a new and different country. I picked courses that I felt wouldn’t cause me too much trouble to get into.

Also, check with your university/college on how credits are converted. I was upset when I was told that my grades would be counted as a grade lower than the original grade – for example, an A meant a B for me. This may impact your overall grade, so find out all the small details.

Finally, Apply for that Study Exchange!

If you’ve answered those questions successfully, then you know what you are doing. You may have to get a particular grade to pass for the study exchange, so be sure to study hard!

I hope you find those tools helpful. Have you done a study exchange, or would you ever consider doing one?

Related Posts:

7 Things I Wish I Did Differently for My Study Exchange Abroad

8 Things To Know Before Studying Abroad

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Say my name, say my name: Would You Change Your Name if You Were Asked to At Work?

It’s no surprise to me that Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people are being asked to change their names at work. I have worked in several sectors and my name has always been an issue for my colleagues. I recall working in a high-end department store, where my then-manager insisted on calling me AID instead of Ade. This is pronounced Ah-day (for those of you that haven’t met someone with a Nigerian name before). This manager called me AID for nearly over a year only to stop when a former colleague corrected him. (Which confuses me because during the countless times I did correct him, he continued to say my it wrong!)   

What’s happening…

The whitewashing of BAME names is still happening despite the surge of diversity on our screens. Billions of pounds have been poured into telling stories from minority perspectives in movies and TV shows; a big chunk of celebrity athletes and musicians are BAME people– there is no avoiding us. 

Yet, people still seem to have difficulties with pronouncing non-western names. According to ITVNews more than a third of employees from an ethnic minority background are being told to change their names to something more English.  

I, on several occasions, have had requests to change my name. When it comes to having a supposedly “unique” name, English people, in my opinion, are the worst at even attempting to say your it correctly. I’ ve had people who willfully ignore how to pronounce my name. Telling me: “I will pronounce your name how it’s spelt, darling!”.

Final Thoughts….

It makes me sick because your it’s your identity; if someone can’t have the respect to even try to pronounce your name correctly. It says more about them than you.   

I’m still learning but I have now learned that my name is who I am, and if you can’t learn to give me the common courtesy to pronounce it properly you don’t deserve to speak to me. You should be proud of your name and don’t change it for anyone.  Read – Don’t TOUCH, Ask Q’s About MY HAIR

Have you ever had to change your name for people? If you have, share your story in the comments below. 

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FOR NOW, IN MY OPINION, “SLAVERY HAS NEVER BEEN ABOLISHED”!.

Such a bold statement: yet once you have read my article and watched this powerful documentary, you will most likely share the same opinion. In the light of Black History Month and with the American (USA) elections approaching, I recently decided to take some time out and watch a documentary called 13th (only shown on Netflix as far as I am aware – do correct me if I am wrong). One thing I did learn immediately was that Slavery was and has never been abolished – yes in my opinion.

Carry on reading why I believe slavery is still alive.

Director Ava DuVernay produced the documentary called 13th. It challenges and even dismantles the collective idea that we as a world believe in the word “progress”.

How does one define progress?

The 13th amendment: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States.”

What does this mean?

The definition above gives the assumption that American citizens are protected under the Constitution – yet when you watch this powerful documentary you begin to understand that really and truly, slavery was and has never been abolished in the USA! It has quite simply been amended to fit into the purpose of the people in charge of the so called free world.

A chilling fact is that the USA is home to 5% of the world’s population; yet 25% of the world’s prisoners are in the USA, with an even greater percentage either on probation or on parole! And guess what colour the vast majority of these prisoners, etc are? The percentage of black people, compared to their total population in the USA – men and the  poor in particular, who spend their lives in prison, on probation and on parole, was and is still horrendous. Simply put, the number and proportion of Black people imprisoned, on probation or on parole is higher than any other ethic group – even though Black people are less than 20% of the total population of the USA!  Some of the more damaging effects are that large numbers of households are headed by single women – resulting in even more children growing up without fathers or father-figures; thus creating the perfect storm for perpetuating more poverty, poor education, lack of upward social mobility and consequent future incineration and recidivism! To think that the numbers are continuously rising is extremely disturbing!

The Documentary

The documentary covers the inescapable and undeniable connections of the legal and political systems to the mass incarceration of black people. It goes far back to the time of slavery and up to where we are now – with civil rights for black people. While it’s fair to say that the system appear to have changed, with you begging to under the use of language like you learn that there hasn’t been any real change in that the essentials and spirit of the legal and political system are still very much the same – keeping black people as “criminals”, and in chains! Its only more complex now; but the historical examples of slavery are still happening today! You and I still live in an era of slavery!

13th goes deep into breaking it down as to why this still happens and what the benefits are to the community of captors. One word – and that is profit! Which is exactly what it was all about during the era of slavery. The present private prison system earns millions in profits for its shareholders, simply from the head count of prisoners. So, its in the interest of the managers, shareholders and other beneficiaries to lock up as many people as possible – be it Black, Hispanic or anyone else who doesn’t fit “the real American agenda! “

13th is not just a documentary, but a demand. It is demanding that we know what has happened and how much our world hasn’t changed. Like I said in my last article, black history month: what for? With the American election fast approaching (on Tuesday November 8, 2016), it doesn’t matter now who you vote for; the constitution and laws still stand!

Unfortunately, our history is still exactly the same, only now just a different use of language!

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