mixed race Britain... anyone watching?

[falasportugues]

i've missed the first bit, but it looks interesting.

[caramelwaffle]

Absolutely fascinating. Wish I had recorded it!

[caramelwaffle]

Mixed-race President of America. Mixed Race president of Botswana. I wonder which other Presidents (or Leaders of other countries) are mixed race (?)

[crazynannawitchbitch]

British Monarchy I'm sure I read has black ancestry.

[caramelwaffle]

It'd certainly be interesting to have an in depth look at the Monarchy's history in that sense.

It's also be good to have more programmes like this looking more specifically at British/Irish mixed race history as it is different from the oft' shown American History; legally, physically, finically, genetically, socially....etc

[caramelwaffle]

*financially

[falasportugues]

it's painful to see how restrictive life for mixed race people has been in certain places and times. I am so thankful that we are not living that experience now, and hope that there are so many of us now.... we can never go back to that.

[caramelwaffle]

Yes. Very painful watching.

But very uplifting stories also.

[maypole1]

Yes quite some of it I just couldn't believe my hand was over my mouth the whole time



The one aBout the twins were very sad as the ones who looked more white had awful time people being very negative about black not thinking that the twin was actually mixed raced and know doubt people commenting about how pretty the light one is ECt I find it sad when even white mothers of mixed children do this


They say thank god she is not darker or yes he skin is so lovely. And light

[Trying2bgd]

Yes watched both programmes and am fascinated. I'm in a mixed race marriage but luckily living in west London which seems full of mixed race couples and kids so I have not faced any problems or negative comments. I really felt for those early couples that chose love despite of all the obstacles and outright hostility - it was uplifting but also shocking watching. And my heart sank when that mother mentioned how someone told her to give up her 'white' twin to a White family so he could be brought up properly!!! Some people are awful.

[caramelwaffle]

"Mixed Brittania" on BBC2 now.

Utterly eye opening. It is like learning British History for the first time.

Black/white marriages outlawed in America. At the same time it was not illegal in Britain. Very interesting when the American GI's came to serve on/from British soil.

[giveitago]

When is this programme on? Very interested to see.

On another note for those of you also from mixed race and religion - if your kids go to so called multicultural schools - do these school resonate with your experiences?

The reason I ask is because ds is at a school where the parents' buzzword is multiculturalism - it doesn't resonate at all with my experiences. Just wondering about yours.

[caramelwaffle]

There is a whole month of programmes on television - as part of "the mixed-race season" (telly speak)

Different channels, I believe. However, it may mainly be C4/BBC.

I think "multiculturalism" as a buzzword is probably brought up as a word in schools where there may be one dominant ethnic group - and a smattering of "others". It just wouldn't come up as a deeply considered word (in general conversation) at our - my child's - school.

I think I am with you in that the jargon simply does not resonate.

[giveitago]

Caramel - with you - it's got every child from all over the world. But it's the parents when they say 'i'm so pround my child has friends from x culture or y race' that I find particularly very bloody odd. If these very experienced parents from the great city of london talk like this I feel very marginalised as I don't feel bloody anything that my kid has friends different from him Nothing at all.

Really - as I grew up outside london in the 70's and 80's and my parents didn't feel proud (or ashamed) of my (their) differentness or my different friends. I find it disappointing and very unmulticultural but I guess this is modern day multiculturalism. But I really am not part of it and resent being judged on how it plays out is schools now.

[falasportugues]

must watch mixed britannia on catch up tv. I was shocked by the twins experiences.... it made me see again how hurtful labels can be, and thankful that my daughters' different looks have not caused any internalised sense of difference yet, Although I have been asked on occasion if they have the same dad!

[falasportugues]

Isn't George Alaghiah great. I loved the clip which states, in very English tones, look at these West Indians play cricket... they can't be inferior if they play cricket so well..... the original cricket test, hey!

[caramelwaffle]

George Alaghiah is great.

Watching some of those old clips has me alternating between and

[caramelwaffle]

They ask if if they have the same dad? Oh my.

[falasportugues]

Just watched the 2nd mixed britannia, and i agree, the clips are contrived, patronising, and have that 'this is normal' tone of commentary, when the very fact of the clips of a mixed couple having a cup of tea together making the pathe newsreel shouts out 'this is not normal'.

We do not live in a multi cultural area, so some older people think its ok to pass comment. My dc are quite close in age,so they must think i am a swift mover if they really gave the comment any thought....

[falasportugues]

anyone know whats on next? I like watching documentaries with the kids, but none of what's on so far has been what I want to watch with the kids....

[caramelwaffle]

I'm going to look at the tv guide and make a note of the programmes.

[RnB]

This sounds interesting. I am going look out for the programmes. DP and I are both mixed race.

[falasportugues]

Paid Servant an interesting radio play, the sequel to ToSir With Love by E H Braithwaite.

[falasportugues]

Mixed Britannia Has one more episode left, about the seventies, and it looks like that is it, from bbc anyway. Not sure when it is scheduled for.

[crazynannawitchbitch]

Will watch that one,as DB is mixed race and was born in 1970. Interesting to see if their experiences mirror ours.

[falasportugues]

I think the series so far gives a bit of different perspective on history from what you normally get on documnetaries. and that. but i don't know when the 70's started counting as history!