City Libraries, City of Gold Coast

Maybe I don't belong here, a memoir of race, identity, breakdown and recovery, David Harewood ; foreword by David Olusoga

eng

autobiography

platesillustrationsportraits

no index present

non fiction

Maybe I don't belong here

David Harewood ; foreword by David Olusoga

a memoir of race, identity, breakdown and recovery

'As a Black British man I believe it is vital that I tell this story. It may be just one account from the perspective of a person of colour who has experienced this system, but it may be enough to potentially change an opinion or, more importantly, stop someone else from spinning completely out of control.' Is it possible to be Black and British and feel welcome and whole? Maybe I Don't Belong Here is a deeply personal exploration of the duality of growing up both Black and British, recovery from crisis and a rallying cry to examine the systems and biases that continue to shape our society. In this powerful and provocative account of a life lived after psychosis, critically acclaimed actor, David Harewood, uncovers devastating family history and investigates the very real impact of racism on Black mental health. When David Harewood was twenty-three, his acting career beginning to take flight, he had what he now understands to be a psychotic breakdown and was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. He was physically restrained by six police officers, sedated, then hospitalized and transferred to a locked ward. Only now, thirty years later, has he been able to process what he went through. What was it that caused this breakdown and how did David recover to become a successful and critically acclaimed actor? How did his experiences growing up Black and British contribute to a rupture in his sense of his place in the world?

A letter to the reader -- There ain't no black in the Union Jack -- Just like that -- The play's the thing -- Things fall apart -- 'A' for Actor -- An actor's life for me -- The building that will change my life forever -- The collapse of the young black boy -- The ward -- The dreams of the young black boy -- Go west, young black man -- Bright lights, bit city -- On the other side of the storm -- The large black man -- Going public -- Epilogue: the suble misconception

adult

Maybe I do not belong here