AIBU To ask if the term Mixed-Race is outdated

[CambridgeEntry2022]

I don't want to cause offence by using outdated terms. Would it be more appropriate to use the term multi racial?

@SerendipityJane

We're all some bloody size, the inherent insult in "person of size" is hardly less offensive than "overweight".

We are also all some sort of color ... so wtf does "person of color" mean ? Apart from a person of that color ?

I don't know, really... Is it a term we're allowed to use? On the face of it, no, it makes zero sense. I never use it, and am certainly not advocating for it's use.

Is it a term we're allowed to use?

Allowed ? By whom, pray tell ?

Person of colour is an Americanism. I'm not sure why we started using it here. We have a different culture here and different issues around race.

@SerendipityJane

Is it a term we're allowed to use?

Allowed ? By whom, pray tell ?

I meant is it considered acceptable, why the snippiness? That kind of nonsense is exactly what I mean by "allowed". Can you use it (just as an example, I never use that term in practice) without getting your arse handed to you and told to educate yourself?!

@SerendipityJane

Is it a term we're allowed to use?

Allowed ? By whom, pray tell ?

Well yes, it does irk me when white people (and I am white btw) pretend that they are terrified to utter a word and that if they do, they'll be attacked and penalised for it.

Oh right, so no one takes offence ever at terms that are considered non pc. Good to know.

@GreyhoundG1rl

Oh right, so no one takes offence ever at terms that are considered non pc. Good to know.

Well just use your common sense. I manage to get through my day without offending anyone

So do I 😂. But this thread... 🤦‍♀️

@Runningupthecurtains

it's a thread about race so I mean racially mixed Which is why I said in lots of circumstances no but just mixed on its own doesn't work in some contexts - mixed age, mixed ability, mixed sex are all mixes and in some circumstances mixed race needs the qualifier of race to clarify what is mixed.

This makes no sense. As I say, we're not talking about sex, so why is that relevant. We're literally talking about the appropriate terminology for mixed people (and some white people going on about political correctness)

I don't get what your point is-
If someone says to me "you're very pretty where are you from" and I say "I'm mixed" there's no ambiguity. If someone describes me as "mixed" nobody thinks " oh she's mixed sex"...

We are talking about race, what's there to be confused about...

Also mixed and mixed race are the same thing, it's just a shorter, more informal version. So...

We used mixed race. I would never refer to my children as dual heritage as both their parents are English.

I like Bame as it encompasses all the races not just Black.
It's hopefully a good title to fight racism too.
As more is learned about all races and just how similar we all are when it comes to discrimination, Police kneeing people to death, and socital racism.
I would never use the term "half caste" as it's deemed racist, but for kids like mine it's the perfect title. Half of their DNA is from a caste system.
Just don't ask me which

It's hopefully a good title to fight racism too.
I'm not being goady, but how would this help? Genuine question.

@ChazsBrilliantAttitude

I don’t really mandated terms and where possible use the term the individual chooses (if it is ever relevant to use it at all). I am white British with an Irish parent so dual nationality/ heritage but mono racial. DH is North African mono nationality, race and heritage (some North Africans eg Berbers may regard themselves as having more than one heritage). We have two different religions & languages. My DC are entitled to 3 different passports. The term dual heritage doesn’t work for my DC as they have 3 different heritages. On forms they often have to tick mixed other as Arab isn’t always included as an option. BAME is such a catch all that it doesn’t really seem to mean much other than can’t tick the white box. For my DC some variation on mixed seems to be the best option whether it’s mixed race or mixed heritage.

Fist bump in solidarity from another "mixed other" (white British and Lebanese in this case - I always have to clarify on forms!) My Lebanese DF would be stunned to hear that some people think he is "black" or a "person of colour"! My siblings and I have always used "British/Lebanese" or "mixed race" if it comes up.

@ElliePascoe why would they be stunned? Would they see it as an insult? Stunned?

Where we need to get to in society is where no race or association with a race is seen as undesirable.

If I were mistaken for being a member of a different race I would simply correct the person but I would not be stunned, maybe curious as to why they thought so.

[quote MrsMayJune]@ElliePascoe why would they be stunned? Would they see it as an insult? Stunned?

Where we need to get to in society is where no race or association with a race is seen as undesirable.

If I were mistaken for being a member of a different race I would simply correct the person but I would not be stunned, maybe curious as to why they thought so.[/quote]
Surely a black person being told they're actually white would be equally stunned? It's about reality, not one or the other being a "preferred" state,

@GreyhoundG1rl Lebanese people can be dark and I wouldn’t have classed a Lebanese person as white.

An obviously black person being called white would be very odd. But we clearly are not talking about such an extreme case. We are talking here about a dark skinned person being mistaken for a person of a black background. Being stunned by that is very curious.

Recently I mistook a Cypriot man for Asian. No one was stunned. I was corrected but everyone else thought he was Asian as well.

Because he thinks of himself as an Arab, not as black, that's why! But people of Middle Eastern origin are always very low on people's radars for some reason.

He knows he's not "white" - he's not stupid . He is happy not being white, and doesn't see it as an insult to be called black. But it's not correct, either. He grew up in a different country, speaking a different language, so for him (I guess - obviously, I'm speaking for him here) that background is more important than his skin colour (which is actually medium brown, since you ask).

I assume that you actually are white, @MrsMayJune (but please do correct me if I'm wrong). All I can say is that it matters to those of us who are not white, and it is really frustrating when white people won't listen to us and our experiences. Like most of the other mixed race people on this thread, that's my preferred term, and well-meaning white people can butt out with their "colour blindness" and their "enriched racial background" nonsense.

Oh, and just to add that some East Asian people are "dark" - presumably it's ok if they are "stunned" to be lumped in with the catch-all term "black" as well?

I'm mixed race and I have no issue with the words. Half caste is a no go. Dual heritage wouldn't bother me but I don't tend to use it. Multi racial sounds odd.

Or are they allowed to be stunned because nobody would mistake a Filipino for black, but all the other Asian and Middle Eastern brown people look the same, don't they? I know that's not what you're saying MrsMayJune but that's a bit how it could sound.

I like Bame as it encompasses all the races not just Black.

All the races ? Are you sure about that ?

OP here. Thank you all for your replies. The thread has been very helpful. DD goes to an International school (based in UK) with most of the students coming from various countries across the globe. Their country of origin is sometimes a talking point for us as it is interesting due to the fact that there is huge variation in the cultures.
DD's best friend has one white UK parent and one black UK parent. I had just been wondering if it would be wrong to describe him as mixed race. It looks like many feel that mixed race is an appropriate term to use however.
Many of you who have correctly pointed out that this isn't something that would crop up in everyday conversation. Therefore, in answer to the question why have I asked, there is no good reason other than perhaps wishing to be better informed.

Dual heritage or Bi Racial assume a mix of 2. I use "mixed race" for my DD as she is a mix of several heritages.