Racism in Sidmouth – A mixed-race resident's story

A mixed-race woman living in Sidmouth has spoken out about her experiences of racism in the town after being given the confidence to do so by the Black Lives Matter event held in the town at the weekend.

Helen Matthew moved to Sidmouth from Essex in January 2017, since arriving in the town Helen, an out of work social worker, says she has been shocked by the everyday racism she has encountered in the town and until recently was considering moving away.

Helen, the daughter of a White British woman and a Black Antiguan father, recently finished a degree in social care and is now looking for a social worker position.

She spoke to Nub News today about the 'undertones' of racism she was so shocked to see upon moving to East Devon.

While the level of prejudice she says she has experienced has taken its toll on Helen and her family she is now committed to becoming part of the Sidmouth community thanks to the efforts of those behind the town's Black Lives Matter movement.

Helen told Nub News: "I thought when I first moved here in 2017 that Sidmouth was a very beautiful and picturesque place to raise my family. After a while I began to feel some hostility towards myself.

"If I was to walk down the High Street or through The Byes I would get stares and glances.

"The older generation has been very outspoken. I've been asked, 'Why are you here? You're not from round here.'

"People seem to think that it is fine to ask those questions outright. I found that quite shocking and very odd behaviour.

The type of racism Helen has experienced here is quite different to the type of racism she experienced in Essex and London.

"The racism I experience here is much worse than I experienced in London. I think that's because people in this area feel more entitled to ask their horrid questions, because I stand out.

"London is so much more multi-cultural, racism exists but it is nowhere near as socially acceptable as it is here."

While Helen says she does feel safe in Sidmouth she does not feel welcome.

"I do feel safe, I don't worry that I'm going to be physically attacked but I know that if I go out I'm likely to be verbally abused, people will ask questions about the parentage of my children.

"I feel singled out, that I'm not part of the community to certain people."

Helen told Nub News that she feels racism has gotten worse in the UK in recent years and that a rise in fascist and far right groups has given a platform to racists.

"Generally I think racism has gotten worse. Police brutality has gotten worse, I've seen that in my own family.

"I think in London you can be in situations where you are targeted, the person is not hiding their intent but in Devon it's more racist undertones. It's a lot of, 'I'm not racist but.'

"People know what they are saying and they should own it. The Black Lives Matter campaign is often criticised by people saying, 'all lives matter'. I find that incredibly frustrating, no one is disputing that but you're life is not at risk of police brutality, racism, prejudice, no one is coming for you.

"Black Lives Matter because we are at risk, you're son isn't going to be stopped and searched due to racial profiling. You don't know what it is like to be targeted because of the colour of your skin.

"I think what has upset me most is when people see incidents of racism in front of them but choose to do nothing and watch. It's painful and humiliating.

"The BLM movement is so important. I was a little girl when Stephen Lawrence was killed and nobody was held accountable, now decades later George Floyd's death shows how little progress has been made. The BLM movement has a peaceful message and I'm proud that it is a multi-cultural movement."

The Black Lives Matter event held in Sidmouth on Saturday, June 20, was an important moment for Helen. She had recently discussed moving away from Sidmouth with her husband because she felt uncomfortable and not welcome.

"I would like to say it makes me smile with tears of joy that within the seaside town I reside in after encountering racism whilst living here, finally I can see a group of people that are against all of the experiences I've endured whilst living in Sidmouth. I thought the majority of people in the town, through my own experiences, would feel the same way.

"I wasn't expecting to see this here, it's made me reconsider moving away. Now I feel there are people in the community who are like minded, against racism and will stand by me. I don't feel so singled out any more."

Helen has compiled a list of the worst discriminatory/racist experiences she and her family have faced since moving to the area:

-I was thumped on the back by a man while in line at the doctors surgery, when my name was called out. It was witnessed by other patients, but no one said a word! (2017)

-I asked to use the toilet after collecting my child from an after school club and was told that I couldn't because they had just been cleaned. The next day my husband collected our child and asked to use the toilet, after they had been cleaned, and was granted use of them. (2018)

-I was on Sidmouth Beach with my children and was approached by a man calling me a 'Mother F****** Black B****' and to go back to my own country'. (2018)

-I was told on a bus full of passengers, 'am I going to shut her up' referring to my child who was having a mini melt down. (2019)

-The incident that disgusted me the most was a local business man! He was in a van on a particular zebra crossing in Sidmouth and I had stood at the corner of the crossing to speak to a neighbour and gestured the man in his van to continue, as we were not crossing. The man began verbally abusing me. I reported it to the police! (2019)

-A woman asked me if my daughter was mine as she's so beautiful. Then stated, 'Well I can see why your son is yours, he is darker'. (2019)

-My eldest son was stopped and searched in his school uniform at 13 in London before we moved to Devon because he fit the profile of a man who had robbed a corner shop. My son was humiliated and afraid for his life. Since moving to Devon he was stopped and searched again at 18 after fist bumping his friend, it was interpreted as a drug exchange. He was rushed at by police officers at Exeter bus station.