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Black Mumsnetters

This board exists primarily for the use of Black Mumsnetters. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful.

How would we be identified?

21 replies

lifeisabeachedwhale · 01/07/2022 23:19

My husband and I are white.

Our adopted daughters are black.

A social worker wrote a report describing our family set up. She referred to us as one of the following (I'm not going to say which as I don't want to influence responses):

Multicultural family
Multiracial family
Mixed race family?!!
Bi-racial family
Interracial family

Which do you feel is correct, or should it be something else?

Thanks

OP posts:
TokenGinger · 01/07/2022 23:30

The only one that is incorrect is mixed race, as none of you are mixed race.

Multicultural refers to multiple cultures or ethnic groups, so could be correct.

Multiracial refers to people of different races.

Bi-racial refers to something involving two races.

Interracial again refers to something involving two races.

Were you offended by the social worker's terminology?

lifecanbehardattimes · 02/07/2022 01:15

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Starseeking · 02/07/2022 14:14

I'd agree with what token ginger said. How did they describe you, and how did it make you feel?

Orchidflower1 · 03/07/2022 14:56

I agree with @TokenGinger - with the exception of MR. Any and all would fit. The main thing is how you as a family identify.
Also are the girls old enough to have an opinion?

VladmirsPoutine · 08/07/2022 14:42

The one's I'd say are correct are:

Multicultural family
Multiracial family
Interracial family

CheeseandWhine22 · 09/07/2022 13:25

Rather than worrying which response a stranger has decided to categorise your family, I really hope you are immersing your child in her given culture. I say this as someone who was adopted by white parents...

TokenGinger · 09/07/2022 13:36

CheeseandWhine22 · 09/07/2022 13:25

Rather than worrying which response a stranger has decided to categorise your family, I really hope you are immersing your child in her given culture. I say this as someone who was adopted by white parents...

Exactly this. It's so important for the children.

CheeseandWhine22 · 09/07/2022 17:24

TokenGinger, it absolutely is! And it should never be forgotten that the adopted parents chose to have child/ten of a different culture, not the other way around..

aoibhacado · 21/12/2022 19:41

disclaimer: not black, but have an adopted sister that is black
agreed with what @TokenGinger said, all are correct except for mixed race. personally i use interracial.

Delectable · 22/12/2022 13:09

Biracial for me as it's a family of two races only.

Emanresu9 · 22/12/2022 13:15

I would chose inter racial family. As it’s like an interracial marriage. Ie between 2 races.

purpledalmation · 22/12/2022 13:25

I'd say multiracial family. That's the literal truth

purpledalmation · 22/12/2022 13:27

Multi =more than one, racial= defining race. Biracial often is seen as mixed race. Meghan Markle described herself as biracial.

ToBeOrNotToBee · 22/12/2022 13:33

Just plain old "family" will do

ToBeOrNotToBee · 22/12/2022 13:33

Just plain old "family" will do

Maximinimalist · 22/12/2022 13:39

Multiracial

purpledalmation · 22/12/2022 14:52

ToBeOrNotToBee · 22/12/2022 13:33

Just plain old "family" will do

It's for a social worker so probably has a relevance around the adoption and the racially diverse family it's created. It's not a judgement, just a form filling exercise to inform other involved agencies, like GPS etc.

Old thread anyway, so it's done now

Honeybee8409 · 31/12/2022 06:23

Bizarre

aoibhacado · 05/01/2023 19:28

Honeybee8409 · 31/12/2022 06:23

Bizarre

excuse me?

Coucous · 08/01/2023 14:14

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

drspouse · 22/02/2023 12:45

We are White and my DD is mixed (White and another heritage that isn't Black) - I tend to say we are transracial adopters and of the list above I'd struggle to pick one but maybe a "multi-ethnic family"?
DD's other heritage is uncommon in the UK though we try to introduce her to families/cultural events etc. However we could not honestly say we are a multicultural family as we can't accurately represent her other culture - we have to look elsewhere for that.

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