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About Me — Clare Xanthos
A scholar, writer, author and researcher whose writing is informed by racial equity and health justice
I have never been one to fit into society’s boxes. Those who have met me or viewed my videos may have been puzzled by the combination of white British accent, Greek surname and West African features. Let me explain: I was born to a white mother (English and Greek) and Black father (Nigerian). They married in Ibadan, Nigeria at the University of Ibadan’s Chapel of the Resurrection in June 1969, remaining together until their divorce 26 years later. Shortly after their divorce, I made the decision to change my surname to Xanthos, my mother’s maiden name, because of the intense discrimination I was facing in the UK due to my Nigerian surname.
Early Years
While I was born in the UK in a small city called Stoke-on-Trent, I grew up in three countries: the USA (ages 1–5); Nigeria (ages 5–11); and UK (11–18). I feel fortunate to have lived in…
