‘I Am Who I Am’ is a short film by Jordan Rita Seruya Awori (JRSA) that explores the expression of Blackness and the consequences of suppressing it. The work examines the complex relationship between visual representation and verbal articulation in understanding this experience.

Drawing from her position as a Black Kenyan woman who had recently moved to Germany, JRSA uses a simple filming format—shot with a camera phone—to engage with this nuanced subject matter. The film reflects on how recognition and perception of race are culturally specific, acknowledging that skin color holds different meanings across various contexts, and the language to articulate it often resists direct translation.

The piece underscores that cultural difference should be unapologetically acknowledged and celebrated as a visible distinction, rather than being suppressed or ignored. In the context of Western—specifically German—society, JRSA highlights how conversations around race are often avoided or sidelined.

The artist created this film with one central message: the lived experience of being Black is not something to be avoided or diminished. It must be named, asserted, and confronted—particularly in response to the ignorance and prejudice that often fuel its suppression.

Ultimately, I Am Who I Am serves as a bold declaration of presence: a statement of both singular visibility and the complexity it entails, demanding recognition and celebration.