People assume I can't speak Welsh because I'm not white
Summary
A black Welsh presenter, Seren Jones, says people often assume she cannot speak Welsh because of her skin colour. Census data shows more people from Asian, black, and other ethnic backgrounds are speaking Welsh, but some still face bias and surprise when using the language.Key Facts
- Seren Jones, a black presenter from Cardiff, often encounters people switching to English assuming she doesn’t speak Welsh.
- She grew up in a Welsh-speaking home and has worked on Welsh media like S4C podcasts and documentaries.
- The 2021 census showed a small increase in Welsh speakers among Asian, black, and other ethnic groups in Wales.
- White Welsh speakers decreased slightly from 19.5% in 2011 to 18.4% in 2021.
- People unfamiliar with Seren often doubt her Welsh language skills because she is a person of colour.
- When Seren spoke Welsh to a hotel receptionist in North Wales, the receptionist was surprised but happy.
- Race Equality First emphasizes language should be inclusive and free from racial bias.
- Actress Mali Ann Rees said inclusivity helps encourage more people from diverse backgrounds to speak Welsh.
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