Is this a racist thing to say - (...not by me.....)

[WhatThePuck]

“Generally Mixed race children are the most adorable”

There is a "snow bunny" thing where white women fetishise mixed kids with being aware of the responsibilities of raising them, sort of reducing them to the appealing archetype of a light skinned, curly haired, blue eyed angel.

It's fetishy more than racist.

@astericia The term Snow bunny is 100% sexual and not about kids. It's white women who fetishise black men, their sexual prowess and penis size.

Yh I find it racist but usually said by people who mean no ill intent. I have had it said to me by a neighbour when we moved into our house. She incorrectly assumed the kids dad is white because they are both very light skinned and have light brown hair and that I must be mixed race too ( actually asked if it was my mum or dad that is white, neither are). I didn't like the assumption that they could only have light skin and eyes if they had a white parent, south east asians come in all shades, my dh has green eyes! If she had seen my dd as a newborn she wouldn't have believed she was my husband's as she was blonde but her hair has now settled as a chestnut brown. My babies are fully Asian and beautiful.

It's not something I would say, but yes, I've often thought a lot of mixed race children are beautiful. They seem to take the best from both races/heritages. Maybe it's nature's way.

Ive seen it used about women who fetishise mixed babies as well so maybe the meaning is changing.

Yes it's racist. It's as offensive as saying "generally white children are the most adorable."

Also, "mixed race" is an outdated and offensive term in itself - it belongs in the same category as "mulatto" or "quadroon" and shouldn't be used nowadays. You should use "of diverse heritage" or "multiracial" or "BAME" to describe these people.

I can imagine it had no negative intent behind it but I do find it a bit racist.

Many people with white skin think they look more attractive with a tan - hence sunbathing/fake tan to alter their skin tone.

I have a mixed race DD (white and black Caribbean) before me and DP even had her, even when we first got together, people would say “oh you’ll have beautiful babies with blonde hair and olive skin!” When I was pregnant they would say how lucky DD would be to have a year round tan and curly blonde hair (I have very blonde hair and DP has a black Afro) I didn’t find it really offensive but I must admit I found it unsettling as to why they were so focussed on my baby’s looks.

When she was newborn she was really light skinned and everyone (literally everyone) commented on it and said “I’m sure she will colour up in the next few days with a lovely tanned look” I mean it when I say people were obsessed with her bloody skin colour! Me and DP really didn’t care what colour she was!

DD was also one of these bald babies who literally didn’t grow hair until their first birthday, when the very first hairs started to grow, people would comment on how it was dark blonde and “oh dark blonde ringlets imagine! How lucky” I agree with a previous poster that it makes me and DP feel like show ponies

Also I occasionally people I went to school with/uni with etc (always the same few people) post those pictures of a little boy or girl with and olive/light brown complexion and piercing blue eyes, and curly light blonde hair, they will caption it something like “I want mixed race babies!” Like they are fucking objects or something

The interesting thing is most people are taking multiracial to mean black+white. In some countries, you have different indigenous races in the same countries but often living in different cities.

Its difficult. My ex was black and people described him as "cool" and "modern" all the time, which sounds harmless but he was neither of these things. It was a weird way of seeing the change in how people perceived him because he was black.

People werent being mean but it just showed to me how much people were looking at him as my "black friend" rather than a "friend" if that makes sense

Its the same with calling mixed race kids cute, its a sense of othering. Lumping all people that look the same into one group. In the same way as saying a certain group is all hard workers, or all Swedish people are hot. Its sort of deciding that they are all swedish first, that theres no diversity within that and its a stereotype. Even if its meant to be a nice one

I work within learning disabilities and theres a sense of trying to stop people with the blanket all kids with downs syndrome (for example) are angels and sweet and loving. As if they are some form of other type of human and more like a puppy.

@Pinksunday1210

WTF? That's such a creepy thing to post (your friends not you obviously).

It isn't racist but it is exoticism

My kids are mixed race, obviously I think they are gorgeous, because I’m biased 🤣

It isn’t racist, but it could definitely be construed as weird, the amount of headspace given to what someone else’s child will look like, especially if you’ve never given it a moment’s thought yourself.

It's "othering" and putting the subject on some sort of pet-like adorability pedestal. Objectified. It's in the same general category as touching/patting ethnic minority hair. 🤨

It's invariably said by the same sort of white person, a bit racist but desperate to not be racist and desperate for other white people not to perceive them as racist ...and wanting to appear "inclusive". Yick.

I have found many mixed race children particularly cute. I also like red head children and long eyelashes on children.

The same I like mars bars and not snickers.

Sorry if that offends, I can’t help what I like. The same way I find blonde men attractive and don’t like muscles

It’s just as offensive as saying ‘Generally white children are the most adorable’.

Not racist in my view but more of fetishisation of mixed race kids. I think it is pathetic and all babies can be adorable or cute no matter the racial background.

I think you have to look from all sides imagine having a mixed race child and somebody saying black children are beautiful. It’s become a “thing” as many people have said it so we all know what it means. It’s like when somebody says something indirectly or the expression on somebody’s face “if looks could kill”

THIS IS A ZOMBIE THREAD!

Microagression

It's no wonder I'm getting a sense of deja-vu here then.

It's not racist. I think Far Eastern babies look really cute, but that doesn't make me racist. White babies generally look like Winston Churchill or ET.