Black New Zealanders on how hip hop finally gave them a place to belong | Third Culture Minds

“When I was growing up in primary school, they weren’t used to the African face or the African features. The only people I saw who looked like me or who I felt I could relate to were the Black Americans on TV.”
“It was a little bit of a dissonance I was facing because I was like, why are they cool, and I’m really not cool? These people on TV, everyone would want to be like them, dress like them, talk like them. But when it came to an actual African diaspora here, it was like ‘oh you've got juju lips, you've got a big nose.’”
Mazbou Q joins fellow Black New Zealanders and hip hop artists JessB and Mo Muse to talk about how their art, race and mental health intersect, whether that's not wanting to burden your refugee parents with your mental health experiences, or trying to find acceptance in Kiwi culture through playing netball, which "for a girl is one of the most Kiwi things you can do."
Third Culture Minds is a mental health series exploring the experiences of New Zealanders from migrant and refugee backgrounds, hosted by Guled Mire.
Made with support from the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.

[@jadeburling1061]

Cuzzy I Maori we all go through that shit youz are Africans kings and queens honoured to have you here

[@erenathompson9228]

So true we don't have enough awareness or acceptance of our Black Kiwis / New Zealanders. I say this with personal awareness as Tangata Whenua, racism and colorism is rife here. Funnily enough when I was growing up as a Maori Tongan teen it was the Black American culture that I was exposed to on TV, Movies and in Music that I could resonate / see myself in too. And more than anything being shown to me from very pakeha dominated NZ media.

[@MrAddisam1]

Thank you for this video. As some one who grew up in nz late 90s I know how important representation is. I am glad to see you guys representing.

[@secularsekai8910]

I’m gonna check out all their music

[@ivoryroxanneminimita-tapar1457]

me too

[@alterego924]

this video said everything Ive never been able to say

[@gmdthinkalikepodcast]

Bro, have been cool the whole time! Keep up the great work and I hope things improve for the community 🙏🏼

[@marcbrooks3423]

i loved this video. big props and love to all of you. i am an african american man. one thing i know about is racism and self hatred due to conditioning from the american slave trade. we have been taught to hate ourselves and our skin tone by white people. that we are dirty and under them. this is not the truth. african is the motherland for all homo sapiens. the wotld was populated out of africa to cover the globe. white people desend from neanderthal DNA. they were not classified as humam. they intergrated with the 2nd or 3rd migration out of africa more than 100,000 years ago. they bred with us in caves under jeruselum. you can research this and be proud of who you are and where you come from. racism is a white construct to keep others onder foot and seperated. light skin black or dark skin black or brown is still just that to the white people in charge. love one other and teach one another. much love and respect to all people.

[@MrAdal206]

It’s funny because many Samoans and Polynesians have big lips and big noses and African features.

[@bigbillybadass]

right but our world says its wrong

[@marcbrooks3423]

indeed. this is due to migration and breeding bro. Samoans and Polynesians are black people from a genetic stand point. facts.

[@JohnWick-jv3xl]

I had a big crush on her in highschool 😂😂

[@adrianrayofsunshine]

Very interesting video thank you for sharing

[@cocoaorange1]

Interesting video, I am not too familiar with the African -New Zealander communities.

[@nataliegrayhandle]

Relatable

[@donflux9330]

Your white lol stfu