Responding to racism: 3 Black writers on being othered

This Black History Month, Rev Isaac Lawrence looks to the Bible and three famous Black figures for wisdom in creating a less divided world

About 17 years ago, I was standing in a queue in Nottingham city centre, waiting for my turn to enter a store. I was the only Asian person in the queue, which, on most days, wouldn’t have mattered at all. However, on this day, it marked a moment when I felt profoundly othered. 

As I stood there, I noticed a woman approaching each person, attempting to catch their attention and ask if they would like to purchase a copy of The Big Issue. However, when she reached me, something inexplicable happened. She completely disregarded me, moving past without even acknowledging my presence. I felt a wave of emotions crash over me. I felt invisible, as though I didn’t belong or matter in that space.