Every time I talk about my experience as a Black person living in Finland, someone in the comments feels the desperate need to tell me I’m wrong.
They try to qualify my words:
“Yes, yes, I’m happy for you… BUT…”
Some call me a traitor. Others claim I’m invalidating the experiences of other Black people in this country.
There’s a certain ideology — especially in some activist and political circles — that seems determined to paint Finland and its people in the worst possible light. But here’s the truth, based on my lived experience:
There aren’t many places on Earth as unfazed by the colour of your skin as Finland.
Of Course Racism Exists — But Let's Be Honest
Let me be clear: I’m not saying there’s no racism here. It exists. It always will. This isn’t heaven.
But compared to most places I’ve lived or visited, the barrier racism creates here is low. You can live peacefully in Finland — regardless of your skin color.
And yet, you wouldn’t know that from the narrative pushed by some people.
“Finland Is a Racist Country”?
I saw this narrative up close during my campaign for Helsinki City Council.
Two Members of Parliament ran on the message:
“Finland is a racist country.”
This messaging shocked me — and frankly, it irritated me.
To me, that kind of framing is extreme, destructive, and disrespectful. Yet many people eat it up. Some seem to want to believe it. That racism is everywhere. That it’s hidden. That you just can’t see it — but they can.
Apparently, some people have developed the ability to see into the hearts of strangers.
And it worked. They got elected. So there are clearly people in this country who truly believe that message.
But from my perspective, it’s a narrative that’s completely detached from everyday life.
You’d think being Black in Finland means dodging stones in the street or being targeted by racist laws. It’s not just inaccurate — it’s unhinged.
In response, a friend of mine — who was also running — posted a simple message:
“Finland is a wonderful country.”
The reaction was overwhelmingly positive. People were relieved to hear someone with darker skin say something they felt but were afraid to express. Because these days, if you’re white and say you’re not racist, apparently that just makes you extra racist.
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I Came Prepared for Racism
I moved to Finland in mid-2019. I didn’t know what to expect.
I watched hours of YouTube videos to prepare myself. But let’s be honest — you can’t fully understand a country or its people from YouTube.
Still, I came ready. I knew I was walking into a new, unfamiliar culture. And I was prepared to face racism. I’d seen it. I’d lived through it. I was ready to weather the storm.
Life in South Africa
I grew up in South Africa — a beautiful country still haunted by the legacy of Apartheid.
In my view, one of the reasons it struggles today is its inability to stop looking backward and start building forward.
Race was everywhere. It was often part of conversations — serious or joking. It shaped how people saw the world, how they treated each other, and how they lived their lives.
I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. My family fled when I was a baby. I grew up in South Africa — and for some people, that didn’t matter. Xenophobia was real. I remember violent anti-immigrant riots that left people dead. Thankfully, my family was never directly affected. But the message was clear: racial and ethnic tension was normal.
I learned early that survival meant growing thick skin. I trained myself not to look for racism in every interaction — because if I did, I’d find it. Still, I had amazing friends of all races. I loved my life in Cape Town.
But race was always in the room. That was just how life worked. And I dealt with it. I wasn’t a victim — and I didn’t want to live like one.
Then I Moved to Finland
A nearly all-white country. I expected suspicion. Side-eyes. Store security following me. Maybe even biased systems.
But what I found was completely different.
My skin colour played almost no role in how I was treated.
It was like I’d been holding my breath my entire life — and finally surfaced for air.
It reminded me of a moment from my childhood. I was struggling to see the board in school and slowly moved closer and closer to the front. Then one day, my sister let me try her glasses. I was stunned. For the first time, I saw every leaf on every tree. The stars weren’t blurry blobs — they were crisp, distinct points in the sky. That moment blew my mind.
That’s what moving to Finland felt like. I didn’t know what it was like to live without racial tension until I did. It wasn’t the absence of people — it was the absence of suspicion.
That freedom — the freedom to not have to think about race — was the greatest gift I didn’t know I needed.
Speaking Up — and Getting Backlash
So I started making videos. I spoke about my experience — from a place of joy.
I wanted to shed light on what I’d found. I thought it was amazing.
But something happened I didn’t expect. Some people got angry. They still are.
People told me my experience was invalid. That I was betraying some unspoken narrative.
One of my most viral videos on Instagram and TikTok triggered that exact backlash. Some were outraged that I had the audacity to say good things about a country that’s mostly white.
But here’s the thing: Finns don’t see themselves as white. They see themselves as Finnish.
Their skin color didn’t give them historical privilege. What built this country was values — and courage.
The Demoralization Campaign
Today, I see a dangerous push to demonize Western cultures from within — not just in Finland, but across much of the Western world.
Voices like mine — voices that celebrate what works — are not amplified.
Negative stories spread faster. They attract more clicks, more outrage, more airtime.
But where are the stories of people like me saying:
“I love this place. It gave me peace. It gave me dignity.”
There’s a campaign of demoralization — and Finland must not fall for it.
I’m doing my part to make sure it doesn’t.
I’m About to Be a Dad
Soon, I’ll be a father. My child will be born in this country — and I’m so grateful for that.
I’ll teach them to have thick skin. To recognize that there are shallow people out there who judge based on appearance. But I’ll also teach them to find peace. To surround themselves with good people. To seek dignity and live with courage.
Finland isn’t perfect. No place is.
But it’s worth protecting. It’s worth being proud of.
This country wasn’t built by accident. It was built with intention — through hard work, unity, and shared cultural values.
Final Thoughts
So no — Finland is not a racist country. Yes, there are racist people — just like everywhere else. But Finland is my home.
And I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
We can always improve things. But let’s never forget what makes this place so rare:
Trust. Order. Peace. Culture.
And yes — pride in what came before. That doesn’t require shame. Even as a foreigner, I can say that with love.
