Andre Williams

"I hope that Sweden will be a place where everyone has the same opportunities"

- I see it as natural to get involved. Not just for us who are here today, but also for those to come in the future. It’s so that we can all get better. Sweden may someday become a country that’s moved beyond racism, but right now it’s not.

- I went to Skurup Folk High School's film program between 2017 and 2019. As a final project, I made a documentary. In it, I show everyday pictures of Afro-Swedes’ lives. Among other things, I follow Maria Dexborg from the Afro-Swedes' Forum for Justice.

- I wanted to do something that could help create opinion and address Sweden's share in colonialism and in the global oppression of blacks. Many teachers in the school were not aware of that part of Swedish history and how it still affects Afro-Swedes today. We need to raise awareness in society about Sweden's role and that the philosophy that made blacks enslaved still exists here.

- A large part of society supports us, but we do not receive the same support from official Sweden. The authorities show time and time again that they do not want to improve the living conditions of the Afro-Swedes. Precisely because Sweden has the wrong self-image, it often becomes difficult to talk to some people. You are immediately met by them saying that we have no problems here. But people are treated differently based on skin colour. There is, quite simply, a great deal of ignorance about it.

- Racism against blacks occurs everywhere in society and affects Afro-Swedish men, women, and children. Every second of working towards this is rewarding. Every opportunity is important to raise awareness about the Afro-Swedes' situation and history among other Swedes. The law says that everyone is equal, in reality that’s not the case. I hope that Sweden will be a place where everyone has the same opportunities.