Adekoya is a Nigerian Polish man, married to a Nigerian woman, and who identifies strongly with his Christian faith too. These identity factors are important to him, he tells his readers. He sets out to investigate and tell the story through the voices of many mixed race Britons, from the ages of 6 to 73. The first part of the book is about those who are black and white mixed. The second half about Asian and white mixed. And the third part about all other types of mixed races. Although this book is about mixed race identity, class and geography are huge factors intersecting with the race experience, and this is a book which is firmly grounded in Britain; mixed race people in other countries may have very different experiences. This book is a social commentary of how Britain as a country engages with (or fails to) with its mixed race people. It is not just ‘Britain’, but even broken down into how different cities (London, Liverpoo, Sheffield, etc) and rural spaces, and Wales, Scotland, Ireland, all yielded quite different experiences for mixed race people. It runs the gamut of mixed race Britons who identify primarily as British, to those who hardly notice they are British at all.
The first part of the book had a lot to say about ‘white passing’ – meaning mixed raced people who were light skinned enough to pass as white. Although the stories ranged from those who were darker skinned to those who were mistaken as Swedish and Danish and blue eyed and blonde, it was clear that those who were lighter were treated better in general, and the White Privilege was very much in effect. Of course, that in itself does not then assure mixed race white passing people of their social identities, which can still be fraught and compromised.
The book contained many stories that told of many types of racisms, from white people being racist, to black people also displaying many kinds of racism (such as expecting mixed race people to automatically identify as black, or else it was assumed they were ashamed of their black identities), to Asians and Middle-Easterners being equally racist in their attempts to dominate others and belittle others. Racism was often conflated with class and affluence, which are clearly factors which temper one’s experience of race in Britain (and perhaps in most places too). Accent also plays a part in British racism, as does what school one has attended.
Some of the interesting insights the book draws out was not just that mixed race people may have the privilege and choice of belonging to more than one ‘group’ or culture or tribe, but that sometimes, it is not their choice at all, and they may well end up belonging nowhere and to no group. In ideal situations where both (or all) sides of their family are welcoming and supportive, they feel lucky to have their diversity and richness of identity and experience. In less ideal situations, they may cleave to the side that is more welcoming or less hostile at any rate, and if neither are particularly open to them, they could end up feeling lost and confused.
One thing which stood out was that many mixed race stories in this novel seemed to be saying that they experienced the Britisn as more tolerant and politically correct, than they may expect of other nationalities in other countries. Some even came out and said if one is born mixed race, Britain is probably the best place to be born because although there is racism, it is not as overt and acceptable in Britain. This is very interesting, but it must be kept in mind these are opinions of those who, although mixed race, hold British passports and nationalities, and are thus protected to a large degree by this status, and may feel a commonality with fellow Britons. It would be been fascinating to explore how mixed race people who are not British, are welcomed or otherwise, in Britain, but that was not within the purview of this book.
Some stories told of how other identity characteristics were promoted as a compensation for the lack of monolithic race – such as prowess in football, interpersonal skills, Islam as a uniting culture and practise for people of many races but who are Muslims, etc. Identification with other countries and cultures also helped some mixed race people feel a greater sense of self worth and acceptance, and through which they can claim value, via external affiliations.
The author puts forward the theory that whiteness is at the top of the social pyramid, with blackness at the bottom, and every other colour in between, because of economics, because of how wealth is distributed in the world (which he does point out is a legacy of colonisation and slavery). He extends this theory to argue that measuring the world’s success by affluence and wealth is why Africans end up at the bottom of social and cultural and racial hierarchies.
There is of course also a gender element to racism; in cases where the otherness was perceived as desirable, attractive, sexy, alluring, the mixed race people were pleased to stand out; and when it was the opposite, then they longed to conform and be like everyone else. Black/Afro hair was flagged up as a big deal and a key issue for mixed race girls, just as it is for black girls, and many of the narrators spoke of wanting straight hair that would ‘swish’. Many girls of colour also perceived that boys (of all colours) preferred white girls, which was upsetting to their self-esteems. Many also pointed out they perhaps got off easier being lighter skinned than black girls, who were treated the worst, many testified.
Most of the stories testified that Britain is improving in terms of being less racist (compared to say the 1970s), but the Brexit referendum made racism rear its ugly head again, leading them to conclude maybe Britain had not become less racist, just, people have learnt not to show racism as openly as before, but still were holding onto deep rooted racist feelings and view points. However, there was also a clear pattern of mixed race people sharing a perspective that things are improving for mixed race people, in Britain at least, and that more and more people like them will increasingly populate the world.
An interesting read, very valuable to have so many different voices from so many different mixes telling their stories. Ultimately, one takes away the message that mixed race people want to be given the space to self-define, not to be lumped together as one homogenous lot, and not to be forced into choosing allegiances.
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