MIXUNDERSTOOD

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Stories of Mixed identity! A conversation about the multiracial and multicultural experience with Hanna-Lee Sakakibara and guests!

Episodes

Tuesday Jun 18, 2024

Ep 22: Wholeness and Inclusivity: A Children's Book for Mixed Kids with Shola Oz

Tuesday Jun 18, 2024

In this Episode we're spotlighting Shola Oz, the author of the children’s book “I am whole”

Growing up as a first-generation immigrant in the bustling and diverse city of London, Shola learned early on to embrace and celebrate people from all walks of life.

Shola's path to authorship was anything but conventional. Motivated by the lack of positive representation for mixed-race children, she was inspired to write "I Am Whole" after persistent, rhyming lines kept appearing in her dreams. This passion project transcended her immediate circle, resonating particularly in the US, and underlining the global hunger for inclusive narratives.

Inspired by raising her own multicultural and mixed-race daughter, "I Am Whole" aims to take away the focus on color and identification with one culture over another by focusing on language, family and traditions.

join us as we dive into Shola's personal journey and the heartwarming stories from her mixed family, From navigating the pressures of conforming to beauty standards in a predominantly white corporate world to embracing her natural hair, Shola's story is one of empowerment and self-acceptance. We explore the cultural significance of Nigerian naming traditions and the heartfelt desire to reconnect with her roots. Shola's journey is a testament to the power of authenticity, resilience, and the importance of celebrating one’s identity.

Show notes:

Three fun facts about Shola - Horror, Thai & Moulin Rouge…
Shola’s unexpected inspiration for her Children’s book
Insights from “I am whole book” which focuses on embracing multiple cultures through language, family, and traditions rather than solely on skin color
The experience of writing a children's book for mixed-race kids by a mother who is not mixed race herself.
Shola’s personal experiences in an interracial and intercultural relationship, highlighting conversations about race and micro-aggressions with her Italian English husband.
Shola’s mixed family experience in England vs Ital.
Shola’s experiences as a black woman in London vs Overseas.
Shola shares about what she did to assimilate as a Black woman in the corporate world particularly the pressures to conform to certain beauty standards.
Why did Shola change her daughter’s name when she was 2 years old.
The meaning behind her daughter's name.
The cultural significance and traditions surrounding naming ceremonies in Nigerian culture, particularly for twins.
Shola’s sense of home vs her mother’s sense of home as a Nigerian immigrant.
Writer’s block and Hanna-Lee’s pitch for a second book.
Shola’s book recommendations
A special impromptu song from Shola…