Do you remember that word you called me?
I wrote this book because of you.
My Skin: Brown is @studentAsim's 4th title. It is based on his childhood encounters with racism. It is set in Toronto, Canada, where he grew up.
Why I wrote My Skin: Brown
It was a typical weekend morning in the fall of 2017, about 10:30, 11 am. I was casually sitting on the couch and then I just felt something. My Skin: Brown came to me and I instantly wrote it down. It was subconscious, probably years of feeling othered finally needed a voice...
Growing up as a child of Pakistani immigrants, I felt no different than anyone else...that is, until I was branded with "names" (the colon in the title symbolizes this). I remember being called names as young as 4 or 5, and in particular, one specific name.
For me, My Skin: Brown is sensitive because I had to revisit difficult racist incidents especially from childhood, to produce this story and artwork. Undoubtedly, the work is a living feeling and reflects my entire life. This project is an important statement. It shows how lives are affected by racism, often, forever.
My Skin: Brown explores racism in South Asian communities, brown, and black communities.
My Skin: Brown stands with Brown and Black Communities and solidarity movements that fight racism and White Supremacy.
My Skin: Brown shows what racism (in pictures) looks like beyond the initial incident.
My Skin: Brown is set in Toronto, Canada.
My Skin: Brown explores the harms of racism.
Ayden Khan is the main character in My Skin:Brown, child of Pakistani immigrants.
My Skin: Brown shows the harms of racism in pictures beyond the initial incident.
Features of My Skin: Brown
Explores racism in South Asian communities, brown and black communities.
An ambassador and a voice for communities who face inequities based on race (and/or bigotry, hate, and fear).
A tool that explores racism as a subject. This is relevant to all communities.
Relevant to communities who are looking to learn more about bigotry, hate, and fear.
A Canadian story, set in Toronto, Ontario.
Video Reviews
My Skin: Brown is a Canadian story set in Toronto.
My Skin: Brown Film
I shot The My Skin: Brown film on location in Pakistan. This is a poetic film about people. These people are like you and I. They work like you and I. They feel like you and I. And if they are like you and I, then why the racism? Just because their brown...?