Jackie Muthee
- Joey O'Kelly
- Aug 4, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 25, 2020
Name: Jackie Muthee
Age: 16
Hometown: North Kinangop, Nyandarua County, Kenya
Current Town: Liberty, MO
School: Liberty High School, looking forward to being a pediatrician
What does being Black mean to you?
“Being Black means being unique and special.”
If you don’t mind sharing, what was your earliest experience with racism?
“I don’t think I have ever had any experiences with racism before, but there’s a certain way people look at you or treat you.”
What do you want non-Black POC and white allies to know right now?
“I would like non-black POC to keep fighting for justice and fighting for us.”
Want to share a story about race, racism, colorism, prejudice, etc.?
“I don’t have a story.”
Have you had any experiences with systemic racism (in school, work, etc.)?
“I haven’t had any problems with systematic racism anywhere.”
What societal pressures do you feel from moving from Kenya to America?
“Fitting in and balancing between two cultures.”
Why did your family choose to come to America?
“My family chose to come here so that we could be together as one and for better opportunities.”
What surprised you most about coming to live in America?
“I was surprised by how much freedom there is compared to Kenya and the school system.”
What do you miss about Kenya?
“I miss family, friends, food, walking around the city.”
People tend to have their ideas of what Africa is like, so what do you want to tell Americans about life in Kenya?
“Life in Kenya is really fun, though the media shows there’s poverty, no water and electricity. It is actually a really good place to visit and very nice people there.”
What kind of racism or other prejudices exist in Kenya?
“In Kenya, there are a lot of tribes, so the main thing is tribalism. It’s mainly caused by the competition on who’s better and who gets to rule the country.”
How can white people and non-Black POC support their Black friends?
“White people and non-Black people can support their Black friends by signing petitions, supporting Black businesses, and continuing to fight for justice.”
How much does being African affect your everyday life?
“It affects me a lot when I am at school. The teacher talks about slavery or about African-Americans, and all heads turn to me, making me feel uncomfortable. Or just when I’m the only Black person in class.”
How do the politics of Kenya differ from the politics of the U.S.?
“Kenyan politics are different from the U.S. because there are many parties and many people run for election.”
What are you passionate about?
“I’m passionate about kids and having fun and playing with them.”
What inspires you?
“I’m inspired by what is going wrong, knowing that I can make a change, and fighting for the right thing”
Who do you look up to?
“I look up to my siblings, my parents, and everyone that puts their life out there to protect others.”
Here is an organization Jackie would like to promote!
African Children’s Initiative: https://www.acinow.org/
Here are 20 of Jackie's favorite songs!
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