Where's his father from?

[1Micem0use]

I have a very cute little baby. On our daily exercise people coo at him from a safe distance.
9/10 times they ask where's his dad from? Baby's a light golden brown colour, and I suppose it's not obvious to all that hes white and black.
His dads from the great melting pot of Canada, which doesnt answer their real question. What do other mums do when this gets asked? Just say hes black? He's black from X country? Hes from X country?

Say "Mars!"

Or "Bradford"

It's none of their bloody business! It's such a nosey, prying question. They're just trying to ascertain your son's race...which has NOTHING to do with them.

Tell them what the childs ethnicity is.
His dad is actually Canadian of X heritage.

The thing is, people will always always notice ethnicity and colour, even if they say nothing they subconsciously do it. Nothing bad is meant from it but it is ignorant, intrusive and impolite. Human nature for you.

I'd stick with Canada. Its correct, it's polite. If they want to push it then they have to be more honest with what they're asking.

The correct response is Canada. Their "real" question is downright intrusive.

These people are just passing the time of day on their walk. They're maybe a bit insensitive but they don't mean to offend. The real racists would shout abuse or walk on and not say anything.

Just say Canada.

I don't think it's rude to ask, but it's also not rude to give a non-answer.

People pick up on obvious things like that, of course they do, it's not racist to be curious for god's sake. It's up to you how much you wanna share or not.

I get asked where I'm from frequently because I look foreign (I am), and I'm not offended. If I don't want to say I lie (potential security issues) but most of the time I just answer the question.

Yeah just say Canada, that’s the truth. If they keep pressing, you have to wonder why!

I got this question all the time growing up (not so much now). People would keep asking, “But where are you from REALLY?” which is like saying “You couldn’t POSSIBLY be British like ME!”

In short depends how they ask. Then again I've had a life time of it.

Long answer is if they are rude give them a rude answer, if they are polite give them a polite answer. You will soon learn the subtle difference.

I have a mixed-race child - adult now.

I never had a problem telling people where his dad came from. Often it would result in interesting conversations - "Oh, I had an uncle who lived there"/"Friend of mine travelled there and loved it" etc.

Of course you should only be open with people you feel comfortable with. Anyone else you can remain vague with.

I actually met a lovely guy hanging out with my partner at NYE who was from Canada, but originally from Djibouti.
Having been to Ethiopia it made me read up about Djibouti again.

You owe it to your child and partner to have their heritage recognised and honoured.

The thing about having a mixed-race child is any racists will show their true colours. Great!
Cos you don't want those people in your life anyway, eh?!

A Canadian however would answer with the distant history.
A typical Canadian would say; French ancestry from the 1600’s or Italian immigrants in the early 1900’s or second generation Portuguese.

Ugh, I'm of mixed heritage and I hate this question with a passion. I usually just say the country / city where I grew up. Some people have occasionally gotten angry with this reply, as if I'm deliberately being obtuse by not answering their (real) question. Asshats.