What’s up guys, it’s Sussan Mourad here with Clevver Music, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock
has taken to Instagram to share her personal experience with racism.
On Friday, Leigh-Anne posted a very powerful video in which she spoke about her experience
being the only Black member of Little Mix.
In the video, she mentioned that she felt forced to quote “work 10 times harder”
because she’s the only Black member of the girl group.
We’re going to share what Leigh-Anne had to say in her powerful message in just a second,
but first, we’d like to congratulate the singer on her recent engagement to longtime
boyfriend Andre Gray.
Leigh-Anne took to Instagram last week to announce the happy news, sharing these adorable
engagement pictures and writing, “Guys.. wtf has just happened...
He bloody did it, and I said yes.
I'm marrying my soulmate, the man of my flipping dreams...
I am lost for words, so I think I'm just going to go cry some more @andregray_ I love you
so much.
My world is literally complete.”
We couldn’t be happier for the glowing couple and we’re wishing them a lifetime full of
health and happiness!
Of course, the world has been in mourning following the tragic murders of George Floyd,
Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others who have lost their lives to racial
injustice and police brutality.
Since then, protests have been ongoing in the United States and worldwide.
Many celebrities have also opened up about their experiences with racism, and now, Leigh-Anne
has shared her own thoughts in a 5-minute Instagram clip.
Along with the video, she posted a caption, in which she wrote, “Like many of you, I
have been feeling really heavy with everything that we are seeing online and hearing on the
news.
In the past I have mentioned some personal experiences that were triggered due to my
race.
More than ever I felt like it was time that I was completely open and honest with you
all because finally, the world is awake and people want to listen, help and understand.”
The singer continued to explain her motives for posting the video, writing, “I'm not
doing this video for sympathy or for you to watch and then go about normal life.
I'm doing it because enough is enough and hopefully from sharing this we can all do
more to understand the racism that takes place.
In doing this we are able to approach the bigger issue and break down systemic racism.
All we want is equality and justice for our black community.”
Leigh-Anne opened up the video by sending her condolences to George Floyd as well as
all others who have lost their lives due to police brutality and racism.
She then proceeded to read aloud a message that she wrote down in order to express her
own experiences with racism.
Leigh-Anne also referenced a previous interview in which she opened about her race, and explained
what happened after the interview aired.
She said quote, “Some people sympathized, some said nothing, but one thing I took from
that experience was that the world did not care enough about race.”
And she also went on to say this.
“At this moment I feel for the first time in my life, racism is the topic of conversation.
We have the world’s attention.
We cannot see this as a moment.
This has to be a movement until the system designed to oppress us is no more and we are
seen as equals to our white counterparts.”
Leigh-Anne continued to express that change will not happen overnight, as Black people
have been oppressed for over 400 years.
And she shared her family history and how having a mixed race family has, in her case,
never caused her to view race as being a limitation as to what she could accomplish.
“Both my grandfathers came to England and both married white women in a time where interracial
relationships were extremely frowned upon.
Growing up, me and my sisters never saw race being a limitation on what we wanted to achieve.
Because if our grandparents could raise mixed race children in the 60s, we could do anything.”
But Leigh-Anne also noted how one thing her and her sisters were doing was sleeping on
racism.
“Too often, Black people are reminded how far we have come as opposed to how far we
can go.
In doing this, we sleep on racism.
Think about it, do you ever hear white people having to be thankful about how far they have
come as a race?
There comes a point in every Black human’s life, no matter how much money you have or
what you have achieved, you realize racism does not exclude you.”
Then Leigh-Anne began to explain how 9 years ago when she joined Little Mix, she had quote,
“the biggest awakening of her life” when famous director and choreographer Frank Gatson
told her this.
“When we were filming ‘Wings,’ we worked with Frank Gatson.
He said to me, ‘you’re the black girl.
You have to work 10 times harder.’”
Leigh-Anne went on to say that never in her life had anyone said to her that she’d have
to work harder because of her race.
But she discovered later on that what Frank told her made sense.
“I learned that the dream of being in the biggest girl band in the world came with its
flaws and consequences.
Consequences such as knowing about the existent underlying racism in the creative industries.
You learn to understand you can’t be seen to be too loud or too opinionated, otherwise
you’re deemed a diva or aggressive.”
And Leigh-Anne further explained what she learned, giving examples such as when walking
into a room as a Black woman in the industry, she would instantly be categorized as quote
“unapproachable or off-ish” before anyone had even approached her.
And she explained the challenges she has personally faced as a Black woman in the industry, saying
this.
“You learn that by voicing your opinion about the lack of diversity within the industry
is like smashing your head against a brick wall.
So at events, ceremonies, you learn to take great comfort from grand moments when you
meet Black creatives who understand this feeling or misplacement that you have inside.”
Leigh-Anne elaborated on these sentiments, adding that for a moment when bonding with
other Black creatives in the industry, the dream is alive, but that reality quickly hits.
In her case, the reality was the loneliness she would feel while touring in predominantly
white countries.
“I sing to fans who don’t see me or hear me or cheer me on.
My reality is feeling anxious before fan events and silence because I always feel like I’m
the least favored.
My reality is constantly feeling like I have to work 10 times harder and longer to mark
my case in the group, because my talent alone is not enough.”
And Leigh-Anne continued to illustrate her reality in this powerful statement.
"My reality is wanting to see other artists who I know are so talented but will never
get opportunities I have had because to the industry, they are not marketable, but they
will get behind someone else with the aspects of Black culture the world wants to see, but
will leave behind the aspects they feel make them unmarketable.
My reality is all the times I've felt invisible within my group, part of me is fully aware
that my experience would've been even harder to cope with had I been dark-skinned."
She concluded her video by encouraging people to put an end to their silence and not be
afraid to speak out against racism.
"Our reality is no matter how far you think you've come, racism exists.
It exists in sports, in the creative industries, in politics and policies, in the streets,
and in the hearts of racist individuals.
We are no longer in a position where we need to be quiet on this matter.
So let’s all continue to speak up on racism and keep this movement going."
The comment section of Leigh-Anne’s post was filled with supportive messages from fans
and artists alike, with one person writing, “Spoken from the heart as always.
Keep breaking barriers and never let them break you.
You’re a true role model for many.
We got you!”
Another fan wrote, “you were always my favourite little mix girl!
I love you thank you for being so strong you’re a really amazing role model.”
And we are so supportive of Leigh-Anne and thankful that she is sharing her truth and
spreading the message on her platform.
So now I want to know what you guys think of Leigh-Anne’s message.
Were you surprised to learn about her experiences, and what was the most important message you
took from the video?
Comment down below and let us know your thoughts.
And to learn about why the Black Lives Matter Movement is so important to us here at Clevver,
please click right over here.
I’m your host Sussan Mourad, thanks for watching Clevver Music.
I’ll see you soon!