the rise of the mixed race majority
by cameron blue on may 16, 2003, 14:31
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during the last general election in the uk, john townend, at the time a representative of the conservative party, suggested that britain was “in danger of becoming a mongrel nation”. a nail in the coffin for the party during that election at least. by his comments he was implying that britain’s “homogeneous anglo-saxon” society was being undermined by immigration. a typical hue and cry ensued, the mp fired and the party lost the election.
around the same time black orientated radio station choice fm along with various print media such as pride and the voice ran their frequently separatist angle on the perils of dating outside your “race” with all the usual arguments about cultural identity issues and blah blah blah…
however, walk around a park or even a supermarket in south london and you will see the shifting visual demographic that offers a window to the future of urban cities not just in the uk but everywhere. within half an hour during a mid-week shop in a south london supermarket i lost count of the many mixed couples most with children. practically every variety was to be seen in this benettonesque landscape, west indian with chinese, white british with african, pakistani with jamaican, indian with white french and so on.
during a study published by the observer it was reported that 54% of people interviewed (from a cross-section of british society) would consider marriage with someone of a different colour. in the same report it was shown that 18% of people had been or were in a mixed marriage and that 53% would consider having sex with someone “outside their race”.
despite the fears of “mass racial interbreeding” voiced by racists (from various cultural groups) during the 1950’s, britain now has the highest number of racially mixed relationships in europe. today, one in eight children under 5, born in britain, are of mixed race. given the cosmopolitan nature of london, where according to the national office for statistics 47% of britain’s ethnic minorities (!) live, one can confidently expect a browned skinned majority in the not too distant future.
so what does this mean, apart from great looking kids with difficult to manage hair?
well one can hope for a more tolerant society but let’s leave that for the political pages. in many ways, the uk has already seen the benefit of a multi-cultural society. the rebirth of london cool and the political notion of “cool britannia” had more to do with the fusion of ideas and experiences from the many cultures represented there. the style, music, design, art and modes of expression emerging from london and other urban centers in the uk have clearly demonstrated an amazing cross-pollination of talent.
whereas, for example, new york’s urban culture might be identified thru hiphop or r’n’b, london might be identified thru drum and bass, uk garage or ragga. in the us the word “urban” seems to be a code word for “black” but in the uk it tends to have a different interpretation more inclusive of the cultures it represents. proper uk garage or drum and bass can’t really be described as music of any particular colour or race.
looking at london it’s clear that the influence of a mixed-race society is being felt on the shop floor of retail. the notion of beauty and how it is represented is challenged by the population that it is aimed at as are the range of product offerings.it would be wrong to assume that the uk, or london specifically, is a jewel in the crown of racial harmony. the far-right british national party scored a higher than expected number of votes in government elections and there have been many atrocious incidents of racial violence. with the western political world’s preoccupation with right wing politics who knows what might happen in coming years?
one would hope that the influence of the cultural convergence occurring in london and other urban centers will serve to make the world a better, more stimulating, place. to paraphrase a mobile phone companies slogan:
the futures bright, the futures brown
originally published in trace magazine
comment in citizens forum
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