Samia Egeh speaks at TUC Cymru Black History Month Event
Her commitment to fighting for workers' rights and her focus on representation within the union highlight the importance of building networks of support and solidarity among marginalized groups.
She openly spoke about her own experiences and feelings on the development of her activism and her thoughts on TUC Cymru’s new Anti-racism in the workplace toolkit at the launch event in the Pierhead, Cardiff on 2 October 2024.
Here is what she had to say:
I have been part of the Black Activist Development Programme for around six months. When I first saw it advertised, I knew this was something I could benefit from. I have always been part of a union and understand the importance of them but more recently due to other priorities I was unable to get involved.
This course came at the right time in my life where I knew I wanted to get active!
The programme has given me a strong foundation.
I have never been on a programme where many of the other participants have had similar journeys to myself. Usually, I am the only black or brown person in the room and sometimes feel I am unable to share my experiences.
The programme has given us a safe space to share our lived experiences and journeys together.
We will ensure we keep going.
In recent years, we’ve witnessed the ugliest forms of racism re-emerge, targeting anyone perceived as "not white."
The summer riots left many of us in shock, confronting the harsh realities of prejudice in our society. For me, they were a wake-up call and stirred deep emotions.
I found myself numb and heartbroken, thinking about my children and future generations.
These events triggered painful memories of my own childhood — wounds I’ve spent years trying to heal.
Growing up in the 70s and navigating my teenage years in the 80s, I endured direct and indirect racism. The fear of being chased and harassed by skinheads was a daily reality. I was the only Black, Muslim girl in my year at Cathays High School, after my father made the well-intentioned decision to transfer me from my local school in the hopes of providing me with a better education and brighter future.
Little did he know, I would face systemic racism within the education system. I constantly had to prove that I was as capable as my peers, but I was never given the same opportunities to thrive.
I was treated as "other," denied the right to a fair education and to reach my full potential.
Although those childhood traumas remain with me, I’ve chosen to turn those painful experiences into a force for positive change. For years, I carried anger, but that anger evolved into passion —into standing up against all forms of discrimination.
My journey in activism unknowingly began during my high school years, though I only recognised it in my late 20s. My professional career started when I was 19, working in the third sector with Newemploy Wales, a charity dedicated to serving local ethnically diverse communities.
It was there that I found peace, knowing that I was not the problem, that racism was real and that my work was helping to heal some of the pain I had experienced.
Now, 27 years later, I continue to stand as a voice for those who face racism and discrimination in all forms. TUC Cymru’s Anti-Racism toolkit is a vital step toward in holding employers accountable and ensuring a fair and just society for all.
Racism, whether direct or indirect, leaves lasting scars.
It affects not only individuals' confidence and well-being but also their health. I believe this toolkit will be a powerful resource for those who seek to combat racism and build a more equitable future.
“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.
The time is always right to do what is right." Martin Luther King, Jr.
