In honour of Black History Month, Young Partner Louise shares her experience with us as a Black woman growing up in the care services.
Growing up in the care services, I didn’t always feel proud of who I was. I didn’t always feel seen. As a Black woman, I experienced racism in ways that were both loud and quiet through words, through silence, through systems that weren’t built with me in mind. There were times I disliked my skin. Times I wished I could blend in, disappear, be someone else.
But over time, I’ve come to understand that my skin tells a story. One of survival, of strength, of beauty. It holds the legacy of my ancestors and the love I now carry for myself. That journey from shame to pride hasn’t been easy, but it’s been powerful.
Now, I stand firm in my identity. I am a care-experienced Black woman. I am a mother to a beautiful mixed-race daughter. And I am proud of every part of me.
My daughter has helped me see myself through a new lens. She asks questions about her heritage, hair, and skin. And I tell her, with certainty and love that being Black is beautiful. Your culture is rich. Your history is powerful. You are enough.
Black History Month is a time to reflect on those truths. It’s a moment to honour the achievements of Black individuals past and present and to recognise the resilience that runs through our communities. But it’s also a reminder that this celebration shouldn’t be confined to one month. Our history, our contributions, our brilliance deserve recognition every day.
Identity is complex. It’s shaped by experience, by perception, by culture. And for those of us who’ve grown up in care or navigated systems that didn’t reflect us, it can take time to feel at home in ourselves. But there is power in reclaiming that space. In saying I am proud of where I come from. I am proud of where I’m going.
Being Black is not just about resistance it’s about joy, creativity, and community. It’s about knowing your worth and refusing to let anyone make you feel less than. It’s about standing tall, even when the world tries to shrink you.
This Black History Month, I celebrate the journey. The healing. The pride. And I reaffirm what I now know to be true:
Black is beautiful.
Black is powerful.
Black is me.
As Louise has described so beautifully, it can be difficult to feel at home in ourselves for those who have grown up in care of navigated support services that did not reflect us. At Peer Power Youth, we support Young Partners to celebrate their identity, articulate their growth, and recognise their strengths and the value of their lived experience because all of those make them ‘them’.
If you would like to know more about how we work with young people like Louise with care and youth justice experience or want to get involved, please reach out to rociocachoorts@peer.power.org.uk
Peer Power Youth is a youth led charity working with young people aged 10–25 who have experienced trauma, including abuse, neglect, exclusion, and injustice. We are an empathy-driven organisation working to transform services by inspiring young people with lived experience to have a voice.
Since we began in 2016, Peer Power Youth has supported over 1,000 young people and 7,000 professionals, helping to embed youth voice at the heart of care services.
Our goal is to transform services so that they meet young people with empathy, equity, and care – not control. We want services to support children and young people early, to prevent harm from escalating.
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