I Am Not What Is Broken (IANWIB) is a textual and visual collection of first-hand accounts from and for the Black, South Asian and Muslim diasporas about overcoming traumas and Mental Health issues. The videos are featuring and the essays have been written by contributors on the frontline: they are students, parents, journalists, artists, teachers, activists or media personalities sharing their journey, struggles, tips and hopes for the future.
Facing various challenges ranging from racism to criticism for their professional choices, opinions or sexual orientations, or trying to express trauma through arts, they have been able to clearly articulate their struggles, navigating between cultural, religious, social and economic expectations – and how articulating trauma within faith and culture can be a pathway to healing.
The project has three aims:
The project is edited by William Barylo and Javayria Masood for Light Inc.
Javayria Masood
Javayria Masood has a background in youth work and outreach and works currently at the University of Surrey in the Widening Participation team. Through her work as a manager for The Challenge (National Citizen Service), a major national youth charity, issues of mental health and well being have been central to her professional career. Javayria has a keen intellectual interest in decolonial studies, south Asian history and has taught postgraduates at SOAS University about community leadership and organising. Javayria’s own experience of mental health and mental health services has inspired her to help document and further raise the profile of mental health in different communities.
William Barylo
William (PhD., EHESS) is a researcher in Sociology focusing on the articulations between diasporic cultures, religions and hyper-modernity from a decolonial and restorative perspective. He is an awarded photographer and film-maker having directed the internationally released documentary ‘Polish Muslims: an unexpected meeting.’ He is the author of ‘Young Muslim Change-Makers’ (Routledge).