Scottish-Nigerian actress Carolyna Hutchings has shared her experiences of racism while growing up as a mixed-race child in Nigeria.
In an interview with Arise TV, Hutchings revealed that she faced bullying and discrimination in primary and secondary school due to her skin color and hair texture.
She also recounted instances of racism in the workplace, despite her strong academic credentials, which include an MBA, an MSA in international law, and a Doctorate.
She noted that as a striking mixed-race woman, she frequently faced judgment and stigma, especially in light of her status as a divorcee.
Nevertheless, Hutchings underscored that she has cultivated resilience and has managed to overcome these adversities.
Hutchings said: “As a mixed-race living in Nigeria, who was brought up by her grandmom, I faced a lot of racism. The colour of my skin and the texture of my hair were a big problem for me. I was bullied all through primary school to secondary school. So I had to learn how to defend myself.
“I also suffered racism at my workplace. I’m such a scholar. I have an MBA and MSA in international law. I have a lot of professional certificates from Lagos Business School from Unilag. I have a lot of certificates. I have a Doctorate as well. So when you speak and you’re a beautiful mixed-race woman, you tend to get bashed. In this society, I went through that. I also faced the stigmatisation of being a divorcee. I have built a thick skin for myself.”
