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For mum-of-three Ayofemi Holloway, growing up in Ceredigion as a black woman was hard.

After moving to Aberystwyth from Barbados aged six, she faced daily battles because of the colour of her skin.

Teachers, potential employers and even strangers discriminated against her.

Even today her three mixed-race children face hardship for no other reason than their race.

(Image: Robert Melen)

The 30-year-old decided to write about her experiences after headlines were made by a group of men from her adopted home who caused controversy after they ‘blacked up’ as characters from the film Cool Runnings at Aberaeron Carnival.

Ayofemi, who now lives in Swansea, was left stunned by their actions and by those defending them.

This is her story about what it’s like to grow up in West Wales as a black woman...

(Image: Robert Melen)

"Growing up in Wales had its ups and down.

"My family and I moved from Barbados when I was six, so it was a big culture shock when we arrived.

"From the weather to the culture, everything was different.

"As a child being the only black person in my class I found I struggled with the bullying not only from my peers, but occasionally from my teachers.

'I used to cry myself to sleep wishing I was white'

"One occasion that stands out is when a teacher made me stand up in front of my whole class and repeat the words 'I’m stupid' just because I didn’t know the geography of Wales.

"His actual words were: “What are you, stupid? Say it!” I was forced in front of every one to repeat “I’m stupid”.

"I always felt I didn’t fit in or didn’t belong and used to cry myself to sleep wishing I was white so I could fit in and look like everyone else.

"As a parent things haven’t changed much. Even at my children’s school.

(Image: Robert Melen)

"When my daughter was four she came home and said to my husband and I that “white people are more important than black people, aren’t they mummy?”

"I couldn’t even give my daughter an answer. My husband had to explain that simply isn’t true.

"As children we are always told that education is the most important thing in the world and that we must work four times as hard to get the same job as our white counterparts.

"This is drummed into you every day from the moment we start school.

"I thought that after moving to a bigger town this wouldn’t happen.

'Once they saw my face, I was told there was no job for me'

"But a few years ago, after having a phone interview and getting the job, on arrival, once they saw my face, I was told there was no job for me and was asked to leave the premises.

""I previously have also had a job in Llanelli where my role was to hand out leaflets to the public.

"I was approached during one of my shifts by a gentleman asking me where I lived saying he knew me.

(Image: Robert Melen)

"I clearly didn’t know who he was, but he kept insisting he I must tell him where I live.

"Shortly after the gentleman left, I was told by another leafleter to be careful with what I say to the gentleman who was questioning me, because he is an active member of the BNP and was a known racist.

'I still experience ignorance'

"It has even come to the point where my husband, after a night of visiting friends, was told by a taxi driver that we were lucky he got in the car as if it was a black person on their own, he would leave them in the middle of nowhere.

"I still experience ignorance even though I now live in a more multi-cultural town.

"I’ve had people say to me 'you’re the lady with the coloured children' when I am out.

"What difference does it make what colour they are – they are just children.

(Image: Robert Melen)

"As I have grown I have learnt not to let people comments affect me and it takes a lot to offend me.

"But when the carnival was brought to my attention and I was shown the Facebook post of the Cool Runnings float , I was absolutely stunned by the fact people thought it was okay to “black up”.

"I am up for a laugh and enjoy fancy dress as much as the next person but just don’t 'black up'.

"The history of 'black face' has always been offensive, not to mention what is going on in the world, in places like the USA.

'I was stunned that people thought it was okay to 'black up'

"As time goes by it feel as though we are going backwards socially.

"I don’t feel the boys should be made an example of, but I do think that we need to educate people on the history of slavery. And it should start from school.

"Racism is taught, no one is born racist.

"We are taught about the great battles and achievements but never the indiscretions and indignities of British history.

"Society doesn’t learn from the mistakes of the past."