Mixed raced couple looking to move out of London

[sammy90]

Hi, I have two mixed race children and looking to move out of London but want to move to a multicultural area still. Any areas best known? Please let me know thanks

A close friend of mine is in a mixed-race marriage and has two children.
They live on the outskirts of London - around Goffs Oak area. They've not encountered any problems in their immediate area, or where their children go to school (one at primary, one at secondary).

Is OP making assumptions? She's going on the anecdotes of a close friend. I know a local lady who is... 35? She tells the story of moving here from London with a sister who was mixed race & them getting stared at silently on the school bus. "What's the matter with you ain't you seen a black person before?!" snarled the white sister.

Wouldn't that put you off, too, if you had the whole country to choose from, why not go for the easy-life option?

There was another parent on MN recently wanting a white school for her (self-identified as white but actually mixed race) child, mostly for cultural reasons. She got blasted and I didn't agree with her being stomped on like that at all, either.

I have family in Norfolk and it is definitely one of the least multicultural places I have been to. But then until my BIL got together with my DS he had never been outside East Anglia. We need some brave people to go and live there and start a trend.

I live in a commuter town in South East and although largely white area (plus significant Asian population), black and mixed race families are common enough for it to not be an issue worth commenting on - but not so common for me not to be easily able to tell you the number in my kids classes - two in DD's , none in DS's, probably about 20 in a school of 400.

I suspect that any mid to large town in commuting distance of London would be a safe bet.

Absolutely, go for the easy life option, who wouldn't. Seriously.

But just don't assume that everyone in Cornwall would call your children "blackey".

I don't see wants wrong about wanting to live in a diverse area, assuming this isn't a wind up.

Oh gawd, I was having a conversation at work today about Norfolk ppl who say "ooh, I went to London once."

Kind of a black hole place. And let's not get into NFN. I really like it here, but I soak up multiculturalism when I occasionally manage to escape.

Ah I missed a post.

I can see all sides. I'm white, living in a white area (Devon) but in a city which manages to be multicultural these days (& I have a black/mixed race ancestry). I've also lived in rural Japan where I stood out like a sore thumb.

I think wherever you go in the UK now the vast majority of people will not be racist. You may get more daft & tedious comments in some areas than others but I'm fairly sure anywhere could produce racist nastiness - just pot luck of encountering someone vile.

I can understand someone not wanting their child to stand out although I have to say despite being London born but Devon bred my sons are pretty much colour blind. It's not something they notice. That doesn't mean your children wouldn't notice being in a minority but for their classmates it will probably be irrelevant.

Hope that makes sense.

Haven't people ever heard of the slient racialism? Where people can smile and say hi and bye but it still doesn't effect the fact by no racist comments. Ignoring people because there are another race can still count as racialism without the verbal abuse.

Seriously, why would you want to be some sort of pioneer if it meant gambling your children's happiness? I wouldn't. I don't blame the OP for trying to play it safe.

Monte - reading threads like this makes me wonder have we have avoided racism all these years.

Perhaps the OP's posts wouldn't have annoyed me so much if she had stated the positives of a diverse area. Instead she slated the type of place where I live. I LOVE where I live.

It's sad that the OP feels this is an issue. I hope one day threads like this can just ask where in the country is a good place to live as a family.

Honestly sammy90 I can't think of anyone I'm friendly with here who would ignore people or be vile. I do mix with guardianista types admittedly - people who are well travelled and who have lived elsewhere.

Actually that's not true a friend did have some idiotic comments directed at her by someone trying to be funny, but they were notable in being unusual.

I understand why you would want to choose somewhere multicultural but I think if you stick to cities you can pretty much choose anywhere in the UK.

Well this is a difficult one.

While I agree that bringing your children up in a multicultural and diverse area is a perfectly reasonable choice I do think you were a bit with the statements you made.

I live in Leeds and I find this a massively multicultural city with the gorgeous Yorkshire countryside a hairs breath away.

Gamer is in part correct, had someone posted a thread stating they would not wish for there child to go to a predominantly African/Asian school (which Leeds/Bradford has quite a number of as well as many diverse schools) the poster would have been deemed racist and booted of the thread.

In truth OP I do not think there are many state run schools these days that do not have a mixed group of children attending. I suppose you will need to do your research on the area of your choice before you move, just like anyone would really.

Should be okay in most large cities, would avoid the south west based on what I experienced.

I know what you mean OP.
I can't believe the "everywhere is pretty multicultural" comments. You are joking?

We live an hour and twenty minutes outside london- by train. I got rid of our gardener because he asked me if I'd "seen the darkie in the pub on Saturday" ignorant fucker. He's not the only one who speaks like that either. Our house is on the market and I can't wait to move to somewhere a little more enlightened. (And me and DH are white)

I think the difference is the op wants to live in a ethinically diverse place which includes white people. She wants to live with people from all different backgrounds, she is inclusive rather than exclusive.

I've seen more racism in multicultural Oldham than I have in rural parts of where I live now.

Thank you for messages but I don't see the point in moving from me city to another city. So it looks like my choice may have to be London because living in a village seems impossible as people will just ignore us and when when other children play with mine it would just be out of curiosity and people like gamerchick and her followers come on a thread like this with out any knowledge or understand as to why someone who post this. And for montegomgoose maybe you should talk to your family and maybe the secrets of their real feeling will come out. Please report me for talking about a real life topic. That's what happens with people like you just sweep thing under the damn carpet and say this country has no racialism. Thank you to the people who have responded correctly. Ps..... Trolls are on every social network these days too!

When I posted my comments just vanished and I can't face retyping it all... In summary: Try Herts, it's nice. Mixed is not necessarily least racist. Best of luck.
To those who think it's a racist thread, look at the intent not just the words.

Blimey - I honestly don't think your children will be ignored anywhere just for being mixed race anywhere in the UK.

Cities do tend to be more diverse than rural areas - but that doesn't mean all rural areas will be racist.

Good luck with your move.

Sorry OP but simply cannot go make sweeping statements like that. You have not visited any villages nor have you lived in one so you are being very insulting.

You can live where you like and most people moving somewhere new tend to do their research.

Find a small town/village you like then have a look at the figures for how cultural it is/race hate crime numbers/ethnic diversity of the schools. That would be the intelligent way to find out if that area would suit you and your family.

I in know way accept racism from anyone regardless of which race it is directed at.

I think you would be fine in a village like ours Sammy; my lad plays with his mixed race mate because he's his mate, not out of curiosity. And his family are pretty popular.

But we are a nice, middle class educated sort of place. Lots of people have probably ended up here after moving around and seeing a bit more of the world. The village a couple of miles down the road....I don't know. Like people have suggested, you'd need to really do your research.

I do have knowledge and understanding. I find it pretty insulting that you see fit to dismiss this.

My husband is black. The only black person where we live. My DS was the only non white child at his primary school. I will say it again - we do not encounter racism.

Maybe you should visit some villages Sammy, and see what you think.