Race questioned: Welsh language fluency doubted

A black journalist and presenter has voiced her dismay at having her Welsh language abilities questioned due to her race. Seren Jones, originally from Cardiff and now residing in London, shared that some Welsh speakers default to English when they encounter her, a bias she suspects is experienced by other people of color in Wales.

The 2021 census data reveals a demographic shift, with an increase in the number of Welsh speakers identifying as Asian, black, or from other ethnic backgrounds. Specifically, the percentage of Welsh speakers among those of black, black British, Caribbean, or African heritage rose from 5.6% to 6.1% between 2011 and 2021.

Jones recounted an incident where hotel reception staff in North Wales spoke Welsh to others but switched to English for her, only to be pleasantly surprised when she responded in Welsh. While this reaction was celebrated in Wales, she finds the underlying assumption tiresome and a hurdle to navigate.

Actress Mali Ann Rees echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that unconscious bias has no place in encouraging Welsh language speakers. She noted that her own family, consisting of white Welsh speakers, is often addressed in Welsh, while she, despite being a fluent Welsh speaker, is sometimes spoken to in English.