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Original poster

Could we have an "interracial" talk topic?

169 replies

toky · 28/10/2004 14:33

I would dearly love to talk to other mums in mixed relationships, about all the issues of mixed-race kids etc. I know I could start a general mixed race thread (and will do if this request is turned down), but there are so many 'sub-threads' I'd have to end up starting, from the thorny political issue of mixed-race hair to in-law (in)sensitivity, etc etc!

OP posts:
suzywong · 31/10/2004 13:34

no I wouldn't be good as a Mod!
It's almost 24 hours since you naughty young ladies suggested this, and I'm 8 hours ahead of you lot now.

and I'm leaving ..

Doh! Wrong thread

Original poster
toky · 31/10/2004 13:15

The more I think about it the more I like "multicultural families" as a title, precisely because it's as far away as possible from what SHR's worried about: the term "MULTI" is as inclusive as you can get. The whole point of multiculturalism is that it is AGAINST segregation.

OP posts:
Original poster
toky · 31/10/2004 12:48

Very well put hester. And yes, the HAIR issue, KM!!! Dying to get started on THAT one ......

OP posts:
KatieMac · 31/10/2004 10:28

Yes the difference in colour between me and my DH is often the least of our differences

eg getting the ears of our 5 day old DD peirced....No way says me.....But everyone in my family did says he (I won)

and me washing baby dd's hair everyday and making it fall out - apparently once a week is too much for types of 'black/mixed race hair'

hester · 31/10/2004 10:00

SHR, I don't think you've understood the purpose. It isn't 'for' people of a different 'colour'; it's for everybody who wants to discuss issues around multiracial families. It's just focusing on a topic, not defining a membership. It's no more exclusive than many other MN topics that allow people with a particular interest to get together, like Conception or Special Needs...

And you'll be very welcome to join in

motherinferior · 31/10/2004 09:51

I don't think of it as a colour thing specifically, SHR. In fact my big issue is that I am white despite my mixed origins.

SecondhandRose · 31/10/2004 09:50

Sorry, but I don't agree with this at all. There shouldn't be separate topics for different 'colours'. What next religion? Will we have Jews only? Whites only?

I am 1/16 Italian so where do I stand? Sorry, don't agree at all. Won't be baited into a row, sorry.

SoupDragon · 30/10/2004 14:23

And she can make brownies.

lou33 · 30/10/2004 14:04

and she has a head girl air about her

SoupDragon · 30/10/2004 14:03

... and Suzy would be a good moderator because of the time zone. Most trolls come out at night

SoupDragon · 30/10/2004 14:02

Personally, I don't see that having a separate topic would make it more attractive to trolls. You'd get them whether you posted mixed race questions under Health, Parenting or anything else. A separate topic is a good idea in my very humble and completely irrelevant opinion. Unless you count the fact that DH is 1/2 Welsh...

lou33 · 30/10/2004 13:44

Go on suzy, you know you want to

suzywong · 30/10/2004 01:24

OK then is that all in favour of Multicultural Families then

so who's going to be the mod? We need a responsible adult

suedonim · 30/10/2004 01:09

I think I'd be interested in this topic, too. My ds1 is married to an American girl, who is Jewish and about to start training as a rabbi, while ds2's girlfriend is a French/Algerian Muslim. So, lots on issues for me to get to grips with, as you may imagine. It's been quite a learning curve for us all and I hope to take on board more next week, as I'm off to Los Angles to stay with ds1 and dil.

hercules · 29/10/2004 22:39

You offering?

nikcola · 29/10/2004 22:21

i cant wait either but your right about a troll we need a modorator x

Original poster
toky · 29/10/2004 22:15

Yes, I'm dying to get going - I have a whole list in my head of threads I want to start!!

OP posts:
yingers74 · 29/10/2004 21:36

hey all,
So when will it be up and running?

Original poster
toky · 29/10/2004 20:53

Me again - happy to see all the support and lack of rancour. A very good sign. Multicultural families / parenting is fine by me. I'd also be happy with interracial families / parenting.

OP posts:
marthamoo · 29/10/2004 19:58

Me being nosy again! Multicultural families sounds good to me. And as far as I can see - that can mean whatever people take it to mean. If they feel that it includes them, then it does - and it doesn't really matter about "credentials.".It can be all inclusive - like the other boards on MN. And I'll come and nosy on it and stick my oar in like I do everywhere else (dh is Welsh - does that count ?)

sallystrawberry · 29/10/2004 19:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

motherinferior · 29/10/2004 19:06

I'm never sure what we are, to be honest. Because if we're both the same sort of mixed race - but he looks one thing and I look the other - does that make us the same? Oddly enough we have LOTS in common precisely because of our origins

LipstickMum · 29/10/2004 18:52

I am fine with 'Multi Cultural Families' too.

Shimmy21 · 29/10/2004 16:59

It's me again! The name dilemma seems to be going round in circles but actually everyone agrees that a thread is a good idea and that we don't want to exclude anyone who feels that this relates to them in some way. How about we have a vote on the names suggested so far and say for example by the end of today or tomorrow just go for the most popular??

After mature reflection my vote goes to....

'Multicultural Families'
(thought it covered most people with least ambiguity.

Suzywong, I agree that this area could be a potential target for ignorant trolls who want to stir things up but I think the chances are that we'll find less of that sort of nastiness here because people here will be more aware of what they're saying. Just look at how worried the posters on this thread have been about not offending each other!!

hercules · 29/10/2004 16:38

My mums American and father English. I was brought up here. DH is Srilankan.