Mixed race children

[Lovefashion]

My parents were born in Pakistan. My dad came to the UK when he was 7 and my mum when she was 18. My grandma has lived here for 64 years. I was born in England, my husband is white British and our son was born here too.

Lately I have been struggling with a real sense of fear about where this country is heading. Recent elections have shown how much support right wing politics now has and it feels like the country is becoming more divided and hostile.

I know people will say not to read too much online, but when the conversation around immigration and identity becomes so negative, it is hard not to take it personally when families like mine are part of that discussion.

I feel scared for my son, my niece and my nephew growing up in a country where people may look at them and see them as less British or less welcome, despite this being the only home they have ever known.
I do not know if anyone else from immigrant families feels this underlying anxiety at the moment, but I cannot seem to shake this awful feeling.

Nobody prepares you for these conversations as a parent.
My son recently asked me what would happen to mixed race children if Nigel Farage ever became Prime Minister. Hearing that come from a child completely broke my heart.
How do you answer that without passing your own fear onto them? How do you reassure them when the public conversation around immigration and identity already feels so hostile?

My son (and one on the way) are mixed race. They’re Afro Arab (husband) and white British (me) and we’re a Muslim family also which seems to make it worse since the hate is often centred around Muslims these days. We don’t live in the UK but wanted to come home since we hate living away from our family. As much as I miss the UK, our supermarkets, our family/friends, I’m genuinely worried about my children growing up here. We’re currently visiting and I miss it so much but hear from friends kids and cousins kids that racism is rife in schools as young as 6-8 years old. My 8 year old cousin asked me ‘why is he brown’ about my 2 year old son. I was livid. When questioned by my auntie, she said she heard kids in school saying they won’t play with ‘brown’ children. I was mortified. Can’t think of anywhere good to raise kids right now though 😕

I’m white but my husband isn’t and our children are mixed race. I feel incredibly sad with the way it seems acceptable for people to be so openly racist now. The thought of a government under Farage is terrifying for financial, NHS and human rights protections anyway, but the racism element and the talk of deporting 2nd generation immigrants is wild. How have we got here?!

I really do hope the tide turns but if he became PM sadly we would be looking at relocating to another country. There’s no way I’d want to be here to first hand experience the destruction he would cause.

My feeling is that the reform wins are protest voting. The concerns are real however there is racism in every country if you are the minority. If you’re a Muslim of ethnic heritage you still face racism in Dubai (just an example) regardless of it being an Islamic country. Where are the countries with little racism?

As a country we counter the racism better than other European countries. Right now the wrong voices are leading, we need to ensure that the voice of equality and tolerance is louder.