Is the call coming from inside the house...? - By Manuelah Baagala

Written By: Manuelah Baagala

Category: Essay

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, Manuelah Baagala presents an evocative essay titled "Is the call coming from inside the house...?" within the Essay category. This thought-provoking piece delves into the complex theme of internalised racism and its profound effects on personal and collective identity. Baagala's reflective narrative invites readers to examine how ingrained societal norms and historical legacies shape perceptions and behaviors, urging a closer look at cultural heritage and self-awareness.

About the Work

Manuelah Baagala's essay is a poignant exploration of internalised racism, highlighting its roots in historical oppression and societal conditioning. Through personal anecdotes and cultural observations, Baagala eloquently examines the dissonance between cultural heritage and adopted societal norms. The essay challenges readers to reflect on the importance of embracing one's identity and heritage, urging a re-evaluation of ingrained biases and the celebration of cultural diversity.

Is the call coming from inside the house...?

Original Submission by Manuelah Baagala

Is the call coming from inside the house...?

When I was younger, back in my final year of primary school, a lot of my fellow students begun to act precociously. You know how kids who feel grown can be, breaking rules- growing hair when it was not allowed, specifically black kids were not allowed to.

I remember one morning when I was 10, a teacher in my class begun an argument with a certain girl, claiming that she was to be caned, defiant for growing her hair.

Now as kids, we ALL feared canes and the embarrassment that came along with it. And so rather than rebutting the teacher, this young girl quietly mumbled, "why do the white ones get to keep their hair” I wasn’t really much interested in disobeying rules in order to grow my hair, but it had me thinking, are we really segregated for being black?

Growing up, I was raised in a privileged environment. In that environment, we were "taught" to be sophisticated, I was bullied for the lines along my neck. In my culture known as "ebiseera" defined as natural necklaces in English. The beauty of a woman. To my ancestors, it was a beauty standard. All the grannies adoring me saying that they wish they had a neck like mine. But to the modern generation, a disgust. Funny names they’d spit at me; fat neck and goitre (we had freshly learned about deficiency diseases)

Now you might be a bit confused as to why I might be saying all this, but I’m not here to discuss my childhood insecurities or disobedience in school. What I’m here to discuss with you is the conditioning of internalised racism and white supremacy within our society and its consequences.

But before I get into that, what is internalised racism? Different studies have different definitions but they all have one common ground. It’s when people of colour believe derogatory ideas of race that seem real but are instead constructed-often affecting their self-perception and community dynamics. It’s often rewarded by non people of colour, leaving within our people a deep sense of gratitude and validation. (conditioning)

We’ve seen so many of these instances before, but let me not go far, let me begin with my own country. In many Ugandan schools where using your cultural language (vernacular) is highly frowned upon. The repercussions of it in mild cases is a "mere" beating and peer shaming, but in extreme cases is suspensions from schools. Any verbal or written language used in school must strictly be English.

Can we see the problem yet? That right there is our reality, we’ve programmed our society to degrade its own identity as we uplift that of the white community. Then we wonder why our country’s current generation is filled with so much national apathy. People will know what the US president’s daily meal looks like before they even know what the UG president said in a consensus.

Do we see the problem now? Africans have been raised to undermine their own heritage and ancestry, "Why is she speaking Luganda?? That is so ghetto." A statement I’ve heard way too many times from our country’s "Kampala kids". But what we don’t realise is that the more we delve deeper into their lifestyle; how we talk, how we act, what we consume, even how we dress, the more we shall lose and forget who we originally were, our identity.

But as I speak, I’m not trying to blame you, no. Rather, I intend to open your eyes and mind to a living, reoccurring reality, for many generations within our community. For when I hear the colour of one’s shining dark skin being used as an insult against them BY another African, or when I hear girls as young as 8 going to salons to relax their hair for, "it’s too difficult to manage" or when I see a child, refusing to wear their traditional style to an event, grumbling that they want jeans instead.

Not only do I see, but I also hear a tale so old that it has become our normal, a tale we need to kill. We’ve folded ourselves up neatly into a box, for the white community to enjoy and deploy at their leisure.

We claim to be intellectuals and wise as we ignore the things that have built us into who we are, that are unique to our people alone.

Do not mistake my words for hate, I’m aware that so much has been done and given to our society by that same white community. But although right now, I might speak from a privileged angle, I also speak from a victim point of view.

Cause from that environment, was I able to attain this perspective. To see with my own eyes what this "privilege" really is.

But can we really claim to be "intellectuals" and "advanced" if we deny our culture, our people, shaming those who are connected and indulgent in their culture as though they were a pig rolling in mud? Can we truly claim so? We choose to revel in a way of life, which does not recognise you and denies you. And Yet we cast away one that knows us so intimately?

The beliefs of internalised racism do not form spontaneously- rather they are moulded into us from long histories of oppression, systematic inequality, and continuous exposure to messages that devalue our heritage. Can many of you truly claim to be proud of their ancestry and heritage? Without any desire to change it?

Admitting these problems, can help us understand that the problem isn’t who we are, but instead what we’ve been taught to believe. But in order to overcome it, we need to know where it stems from, and how we can reflect on it in order to normalise our cultural practices and beliefs without our community that are not at all related to a white dominant culture.

Getting rid of this narrative is not an overnight action but rather a gradual process that we have to be willing to heal from and to change. But in order to heal ourselves fully, we need to begin from our roots, our children, as we heal within ourselves.

In many African schools, white history is taught as the default. Their accomplishment and achievements, the highlights of our history textbooks, while glossing over the contribution of the African community, within their own country! This entail a quiet but powerful message in whose legacy matters and whose is to be ignored.

From many psychological studies, we know that from an early age, children are able to recognise race. Now if we decenter our education from that of the white community and focus more on our African history and their achievements.

When only do we begin uplifting our heritage, our beauty, our ancestry, shall we then combat this problem with success.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, is a prestigious platform that celebrates literary excellence across various genres. This competition invites writers from around the world to share their unique perspectives and creativity. Participants engage with a global audience, contributing to a vibrant exchange of ideas and cultural narratives, fostering a deeper understanding of diverse experiences.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Manuelah Baagala for her insightful contribution, "Is the call coming from inside the house...?" to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her essay offers a powerful examination of internalised racism and cultural identity, resonating with readers on a profound level. We appreciate her courage in addressing these critical issues and her commitment to fostering a greater awareness of cultural heritage.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.