'We were taught that you are different': The reality of growing up as mixed race in Wales

Three brothers from Chepstow have spoken about why the Black Lives Matter movement is important, not just in the USA, but all over the world.

Micah, Josiah and Judah Chudleigh say they have become "used to" seeing footage and incidents like this after growing up with an awareness of race from a young age.

They say more can be done to change common views in society.

All over the world the Black Lives Matter movement has been gaining momentum, with millions of people joining the protest and campaign.

It comes after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, USA, last month.

"I can probably name five incidents off the top of my head right now where something similar has happened," Josiah continued.

"I think you could have this interview with millions of other people who would give you similar stories and answers to the ones we can give you."

The brothers believe they have become used to seeing similar incidents, but they all agree this time the response is different.

Josiah's words were echoed by his younger brother Micah who said "I think it is different, it feels different anyway.

"I think that other factors come in to it but everything that has built up has now come to a head and people have grown tired of injustice, we need to make the world a better place."

"There is only so many times that you can be surprised to see that this is happening," Judah continued

"It is still not a nice thing to think about but I know that it is my life. I wouldn't change the way I have grown up or the way I have lived for anything in the world.

"We have had to consciously think about what our image looks like and how we are portrayed when I know a lot of our peers will never have faced that."

The family say Chepstow is full of lovely people, but they also spoke about some instances where they have felt singled out because of the colour of their skin.

Josiah discussed a time when he was eight-years-old and he was told by a fellow classmate that black people were ugly inside and out.

"I felt uncomfortable in school, I didn't feel like I belonged there. I had to deal with that when I was younger," he continued.

"We say hello when we see each other now but it made me feel like there was a microscope on me here. I felt shocked, I thought I was lesser than everyone else."

Micah also recalls a time where he was stopped by police whilst walking home from a supermarket.

"I was walking home from Asda with my hood up at around 1AM, it was late but I was at uni and I couldn't sleep," Micah explained.

"A police car pulled up next to me and asked me what I was doing, they asked me a lot of questions that I didn't think were relevant at the time.

"When I got back to my room I started to think about what people have to deal with every single day."

The trio discussed how their mum, Jennifer, had a talk with them about how their life would be different when they were young.

"I knew that there were things that we couldn't do when we were growing up," Micah explained.

"From a young age we're taught that you are different, a lot of the rooms you walk in you are going to be the only person that looks like you in the room."

"It is definitely different, we have grown up in a predominantly white area. I can't explain how it is different because it has been my whole life.

"We had a conversation with our mum when we were younger and it has made us think about how we act, how we behave, how we dress. It makes you second guess yourself."

His brother Judah also described how the conversations he had growing up helped prepare him for his later life.

"A lot of black families could tell you that they have had these conversations but it doesn't make it any easier," he said.

With a number of large protests expected to take place across Wales over the coming days, the brothers have had their say on what they want to see happen to help change the way in which people think in the 21st century.

Micah said "I don't want to make out that Chepstow is a racist place because it isn't it is a nice place full of lovely people, and I think one thing we can say is that there are a lot of really great, socially aware people in this country.

"We need people to see colour and change their second and third thoughts on people, maybe it is time for people to be honest and have a conversation."

Watch the full report here: