If your parents are of different races, how do you define yourself?
| My friend called me ‘grey’ once. She said: ‘Your mum’s black and your dad’s white, so you’re grey.’ |
According to previous national censuses, mixed race people don't exist
However this year a new category of 'mixed' will give those of dual or multiple parentage their own box to tick for the first time. Supporters of the move say our diverse society should recognise people of mixed origin and that the census provides important information for government to target social policy.
However, some say the term 'mixed race' suggests that 'pure' races have been dirtied with integration and question whether a group whose 'mixes' are so diverse can all be lumped together. Below are interviews with five young people of mixed parentage who tell us what they think.
Cere Ebanks, 9
Parentage: African-Caribbean and English
What do you describe yourself as? I don't really think about it, there's not a time when I sit down and say what colour am I?
What do you think of the term 'half-caste?' I've heard of it, I don't know what I think of it.
Do you feel more accepted by black, white or doesn't it matter? No, it doesn't matter.
What's the best thing about being mixed race? It means I get two different cultures, which makes life a bit more interesting.
How do you feel about the new census? I don't think it's important. It doesn't matter to me but I would feel left out and lonely if I wasn't counted.
Chris Ainoo, 17
Parentage: Chinese and Ghanaian.
What do you describe yourself as? Mixed race
What do you think of the word 'half-caste?' I didn't know it was a bad word until my dad told me it was. I did used to call myself half-caste when people asked me. It's a harsh word, which people use without thinking and it can be really offensive in the sense that it suggests that you aren't a whole person but two halves.
Did your parents face any hassle when they got together? Recently I found out they did experience negativity from their own families, they didn't want them to get together.
Do you feel more accepted by black or white people? I think both groups equally accept me. Usually they see me as a person and not as a colour. As I live in the UK our cultures aren't that different for them to feel they've nothing in common with me.
How do you feel about the new census category? I think it's a good thing. All figures are interesting to me, but can all mixed race people be represented by just one group? A lot of us have different backgrounds.
What do people usually assume about you? People usually assume that my dad's Jamaican and my mum's white and she's is a single parent living on a council estate and I only see my dad once a year.
Elly Ama Gordon, 14
Parentage: Ghanaian, Hungarian and Polish
What do you describe yourself as? Mixed race
What do you think of the term 'half-caste?' It's kind of offensive because it's saying you're half of this and half of that. Why can't people just accept you as not black or white, but the colour you are.
What if any names have you been called? I've been called quarter-caste, because my mum is mixed race and my dad's white. So people will say: 'does that make you quarter-caste?' It's like saying I'm a quarter of something and not a whole person. For example, I've a half-brother but I don't go around calling him that.
Did your parents face any problems when they got together? No.
Do you feel you ever have to prove your blackness? People in my school think there are certain words for black and white people. They think there are some words only black people use and if people say them they're like, 'don't try to be black.'
How do you feel about the new census category? Before it was like we didn't exist. I'm glad that there's a section now. I think mixed race people would like the idea.
Loui-Marie Ebanks, 12
Parentage: African-Caribbean and English
How do you describe yourself? Mixed race
What do you think of the word 'half-caste?' I don't really know where it came from. Most people call me mixed race not half-caste.
Have you encountered racism because you're mixed race? My friend called me 'grey' once. She said: 'Your mum's black and your dad's white, so you're grey.'
Do you feel more accepted by black or white people? I don't think it really matters. I have lots of black and white friends and I like them just the same. I feel accepted with both groups.
Did your parents face any hassle when they got together? I don't think so.
How do you feel about the new census category? I think it's very good, I don't know why they didn't have it a long time ago. Maybe mixed race people will fell more accepted now.
Sekai Makoni, 14
Parentage: Zimbabwean and English
How do you describe yourself? Mixed race
What do you think of the word 'half-caste?' I don't think it's very nice, I don't know what it really means but it's an offensive word to mixed race people.
Do you feel more accepted by black or white people? Because I'm young I don't think it really matters. Young people don't really care.
Did your parents face any hassle when they got together? When my mum found out she was pregnant, people were a bit shocked but once I was born it was just accepted.
Have you encountered racism because you're mixed race? Once at primary school new girl joined our class called Zeta. I said she could sit at our table but my classmate imagined that she'd be black and said: 'I don't want another one like you at our table.' It was quite funny because when she arrived she was actually white.'
How do you feel about the new census category? Before you probably just had to tick 'black other' so it's good that they are recognising that there are mixed race people in Britain.
About the team
This article was produced by Chris Ainoo, 17, and the Children's Express members quoted above. It was published as part of Teen Talk, the Children's Express page in New Nation.
