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When Miyo Padi sat breastfeeding her two-week-old baby in Margate, she could be forgiven for not noticing the group of teenagers approaching her.
But she was very much in their sights, and in a horrific display of hatred, the gang hurled racist slurs while she clutched onto her newborn daughter. No one stepped in to help.
Two years on from the shocking incident, the 33-year-old journalist, who moved to the area from London in 2017, admits that sadly it wasn’t a one-off and racism is still prevalent in Margate.
From sickening language shouted at her in her car, to Swastikas and White Lives Matter graffiti defacing road signs near her home, overt racism is something she comes up against.
“I think it’s very easy coming from London to believe that everywhere is diverse, but that’s not the case,” she said.
“I would say that there is a definite problem with racism in Margate, but it’s historic, it’s nothing new.
“It’s ingrained but times are changing and so is the demographic.
“Racism has also come into the public consciousness more in the last year.”
Mrs Padi’s experiences have now become the driving force behind an inspirational campaign to bring diverse and inclusive story books to all primary schools in Margate, Cliftonville, Garlinge and Westgate.
She has joined up with Isla Aitken to launch Margate Books for Change and they have raised almost half of their £3,000 target in just five days to pay for the project.
The books will feature diverse characters of different races and celebrate LGBTQ+ lives, different bodies and abilities, and the strength of women.
Mrs Padi says there needs to be more representative books in schools and that bookshelves need to help open the minds of predominantly white classrooms.
“We’re passionate about representative books and making these accessible to children,” she said.
“By the time children reach adulthood and are out spraying racist graffiti it’s too late.
“It’s how to impact kids when they’re young.”
Mrs Padi admits she has at times questioned raising her daughters - Opal, two, and Melody, six - in Margate when she has come up against racism.
Most recently, it was the graffiti and stickers put up near their home.
“I was out with my daughter in her buggy and my older daughter and as we turned the corner I saw the White Lives Matter graffiti,” she said.
“I was so shocked I stopped in my tracks. I thought, ‘what kind of place have I brought my children to to be raised?’. This was so close to us.
“When I got home I was so shaken and tearful.
“I wanted to do something so I got a scrubbing brush but my husband warned me that sometimes razor blades are put under the stickers and he said I just needed to leave it.
“I felt under siege in my own home so I wanted to do something, but something impactful.”
It was from this upsetting experience that Margate Books for Change was born and it has already won the support of the community and teachers.
“We want our children to grow up to be anti-racist and pro-equality, to grow up understanding that ‘normal’ is different for everyone,” said Mrs Padi.
“We need children to understand and celebrate diversity and to see themselves represented in all aspects, and at all levels, of society.
“Inclusive books remind children that there are many different normalities beyond their own. They can inspire confidence, excitement and a sense that any child can achieve their potential, regardless of the colour of their skin, their gender or their background.”
To get involved click here.
