Strictly Come Dancing sensation Judi Love first experience racism at seven-years-old and had to have a heartbreaking conversation with her own son at the same age
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During her time on Loose Women, Judi Love has been open about her struggles with prejudice and racism.
The popular panellist, who is starring in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, has been heavily praised for bravely discussing her own experiences on the ITV daytime show.
Sadly, first experience with racism was when she was just seven-years-old alongside her mum – when a stranger shouted sickening racist abuse at them in the street
“I was tying up my mum’s shoelace on a high road, sunny summer’s day and someone shouted out, ‘Yeah, you do that’… and they used the N-word,” explained Judi on Loose Women last year in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in America.
She continued : “Growing up, there’s knowing that you won’t get certain positions because you’re more qualified than the other people that have applied for the job.
“Seeing the police, I have my licence, I have my insurance, everything, but seeing the police and driving with the police behind you.
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Heartbreakingly, the mum opened up about the conversations she has had to have with her own son about racism.
Judi said: “As a black parent, having the have that conversation with my son at seven years old and explaining to him, ‘you’re a young black boy, and you might be put in a situation where you are judged solely on the basis of your skin’ is heartbreaking.
“You see this young child’s eyes change, this child who has friends from so many different backgrounds and now have to take this on.
Judi said: “As a black parent, having the have that conversation with my son at seven years old and explaining to him, ‘you’re a young black boy, and you might be put in a situation where you are judged solely on the basis of your skin’ is heartbreaking.
“You see this young child’s eyes change, this child who has friends from so many different backgrounds and now have to take this on.
“So I feel like there’s three white women on the panel, but you’re willing to have this conversation about something that’s so needed, and I feel grateful that I can share my story.
Judi has always said she is encouraging her children to never allow statistics or stereotypes to stop them from achieving their dreams.
During last year’s Black History Month, Judi received a round of applause from the Loose Women panel after giving a passionate and powerful speech about her experience as a black person.
While speaking with Kaye, Stacey and Nadia about the October celebration, Judi explained how a focus on historical racism can lead to secondary trauma for younger generations of black people.
She also explained why she believes we should be celebrating black culture beyond Black History Month too.
“I don’t want it to be just a month”, she said. “I’m not black for a month I’m black all the time, so let’s use the month to celebrate.
“Let’s talk about the young writers, the actors, the producers, the people who don’t get the opportunity because sometimes there is racism. Let’s not make it a token gesture, let it be something that is more of a long-term factor.”
*Strictly Come Dancing airs tonight on BBC One at 7.05pm
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