I believe that underneath her fiery exterior lays a calm, determined and resourceful woman who should be setting a better example for young black females.

Like many African Caribbean immigrants who came to Britain in the fifties, my late mother had strategies for coping with the racist name-calling that was more common in the seventies and eighties than it is today.

As the youngest of five children, I enjoyed the love and security that comes of having older siblings and numerous cousins who I spent a great deal of time with. But as a child, I lived up to the fiery and strong-willed nature of my birth sign - Aries the Ram – and my dear mother knew that as well as always having an answer for everything, if provoked I would not hesitate to use force in retaliation.

I remember that as a teenager encouraged to take up sports in secondary school as many black girls were, (they usually collected all the school trophies on sports days) in addition to netball, gymnastics and contemporary dance, I was also a fine sprinter. My closest rival, a slight white girl called Beverly was always frustrated at never being able to beat me at 100 metre races and one day vented her anger at me – at her peril.

“You black bitch!” She shouted, after the race in question, to which I screamed in reply: “Don’t you ever call me a black bitch again,” whilst at the same time slapping her extremely hard on her right cheek, which turned bright red. To my surprise, Beverly immediately apologised profusely and admitted that it was unbecoming, not to mention, unsporting of her, to be a sore loser.

In truth, we had always got on well and although the word ‘racism’ was not in common use in the seventies, I knew deep down that Beverly did not really harbour prejudices against black people, but just wanted to say the most hurtful thing she could to salve her wounded pride at losing the race. So we shook hands and the incident was forgotten.

But in relaying the incident to my mother, far from the pat on the back I was expecting (my siblings always told me to stand up for myself), my mother reminded me of the saying: "Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me.” She told me that not every battle needs to be fought with fists, as if this was the case then everyone would be fighting all the time. As a devoted Christian, my mother always advocated peace.

I understood the wisdom of my mother’s words, and whilst I had no intention of letting my guard down, I resolved not to raise my hands in anger again or to resort to violence unless in self defence – and I did not break my promise. At stake was not just my mother’s trust, but family pride and the ever present expectation of “holding your head up,” meaning, maintaining a certain standard of behaviour and self-respect, not only for yourself, but for your extended family and wider community.

Hearing Naomi Campbell’s claims of being called a “supermodel golliwog” reminded me of my childhood knee jerk reaction to being called a black bitch. Clearly both insults are unacceptable, but Naomi’s long and colourful history of violent outbursts which includes throwing mobiles at staff plus the fact that she stands accused of calling a former maid a “dumb Romanian,” is hardly going to evoke sympathy for her predicament. Clearly, it doesn’t take much to rattle her cage!

Personally I have suspicions that Ms Campbell is suffering from a borderline personality disorder, which has hitherto gone untreated. According to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research: “More women than men develop borderline personality disorder,” and “people with personality disorders have traits that cause them to feel and behave in socially distressing ways.”

Doctors have grouped personality disorder into three clusters, but interestingly: “Cluster B personality disorders are those defined by dramatic, emotional behaviour, including histrionic, narcissistic, antisocial and borderline personality disorders,” which sounds worryingly like some of the characteristics displayed on occasions by our troubled Naomi.

I find it disconcerting that a beautiful young woman who has worked hard to carve out a successful career as model has made herself more famous for her many tantrums than for her catwalk prowess. This is indeed a shame when so few black models have managed to follow in her footsteps – an issue that Naomi herself has sought to address. Whilst I am full of admiration for her stand against racism in the fashion industry; clearly, if she is going to “cry race” every time she lashes out in anger, then this will only weaken her campaign for race equality in her chosen profession.

I believe that underneath her fiery exterior lays a calm, determined and resourceful woman who should be setting a better example for young black females. I therefore offer these humble words of advice to a stressed out sister who has seemingly lost her way:

Remember the saying: “sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me” and “hold your head up girl.”


Deborah Gabriel is Editor of the Colourful Network, a lecturer in journalism and author of Layers of Blackness: Colourism in the African Diaspora.