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It was to be fair. My daughter became quite withdrawn and we knew that we had to do something about it, ended up pulling her out of the school and homeschooling. Thank fuck that we got back to London before this whole corona thing, she is back to her happy self now. Hindsight is great but perhaps I should have been more skeptical of the home counties. My wife grew up in Jamaica and didn't have many clues about the English countryside and how things are out there.
The black lives matter movement has helped my daughter realise that there is a wider issue that many people experience prejudice and she wasn't alone her thoughts and feelings, I am thankful for the conversations that are opening up over race. Also thankful for this here thread.
Like yourself I am also mixed (Dad European-Mum Ethiopian) and I grew up in suburban Birmingham my mum taught me not to pay attention to race and not too 'see it' something that I don't particularly wish to teach to my kids, she almost had to disguise many parts of herself in order to I guess pass in her communities, didn't teach me her language (Tigrinyan) as a child and its something I've had to learn as an adult. I don't blame her though as arriving here as a black woman in the 80s must have been fraught with many more challenges. I am adding this back story as a point to not assume anything about people, language predetermines perception. My father went to work in Ethiopia where he met my mum and when he wrote a message home to say he had met an African woman his parents were so narrow minded they told him if he did marry her they never wanted to see him again, so I never had any contact with the European side of my family growing up, I've tried to change this somewhat now my grandparents from his side have passed away.
Sorry for my waffling post I guess it can be summed up by saying don't assume. Sounds like we have much in common, come to the bridges ride and we can chat shit.
Haslemere is now know in our house as 'stink-lemere' great for riding but IMHO that is about it.
Settle-
@Settle thanks for sharing your story. I might not have all the answers, but it is good to talk, share experiences, gain understanding and importantly encourage young people like your daughter to develop self worth, sense of identity, be respectful, yet confidence to confront racial bullying. In the short time I have been with my GF I have learnt so much about being black and born in Britain. I am in awe of GF resilience yet staggered by the extent of prejudice that exists today even in London.
almac68
@Settle your story and experience sounds harrowing and traumatic. As a mixed race guy with a black GF I can’t imagine living outside London or any large city in the UK, of course I have always loved cycle in the Home Counties and beyond but living there and feeling welcome.. no chance.