a story from the weekend
I was outside Land Rover in Solihull with the greenpeace team, we were trying to encourage the public to stop buying from them because their cars only do like thirteen miles to the gallon, and are contributing hugely to climate change.
anyway, even though I wasn't doing anything (particularly) illegal, a policeman came over and said he needed to take everyone's details.
The other greenpeacers standing with me were white, as was everyone (except one italian man) that day. The policeman was lovely, he was very polite and happy, he guessed my height as being 5ft6 (I'm a lot shorter that that) which made me happy.
Then he asked what my ethnicity was, and naturally I said "no comment". I've got into the habit of never telling anyone what my exact ethnicity is, as people always try to judge me. Occasionally, on pointless forms I'll lie, and claim i'm half Korean, half polish, or something.
The policeman was fine about it, he had a box on his form to accomodate me ( "not stated") and he carried on taking details.
Later, once he'd gone, one of my friends turned to me and said "what was that all about?" He found it strange that I wouldn't give out something so seemingly obvious as my ethnicity.
I can see his point, I suppose. He thought I was just a "normal" mixed race/dual heritage/bi- racial girl. Actually all my grandparents were from different places, and one grandparent was sort-of mixed heritage anyway. Generally, when I've tried to explain this to people they only hear the "interesting" races, and focus on those.
Some people treat me like a spokesperson for all races; if anyone's even slightly prejudiced against any other race, they apologise to me!
So generally, I tell people I'm mixed race, or half caste. But lately, these haven't been working. People start asking questions. People make assumptions. If you're mixed race, then you're dad's black and your mum's white, and your dad doesn't live at home and you're destined for a career in dance or music.
and that's not what I am. mY family's fairly normal, all the interesting members are long dead, I haven't got any culture from them. I'm really just an average british person. I was born here, as were both my parents, I've lived in the UK all my life. I don'y really have any ethnicity,any culture. The only thing that makes me any different to anyone else is my colour.
Normally I'm proud of it, and how it helps me to stand out and to break down barriers, but lately it's become...a bit annoying, really.
anyway, even though I wasn't doing anything (particularly) illegal, a policeman came over and said he needed to take everyone's details.
The other greenpeacers standing with me were white, as was everyone (except one italian man) that day. The policeman was lovely, he was very polite and happy, he guessed my height as being 5ft6 (I'm a lot shorter that that) which made me happy.
Then he asked what my ethnicity was, and naturally I said "no comment". I've got into the habit of never telling anyone what my exact ethnicity is, as people always try to judge me. Occasionally, on pointless forms I'll lie, and claim i'm half Korean, half polish, or something.
The policeman was fine about it, he had a box on his form to accomodate me ( "not stated") and he carried on taking details.
Later, once he'd gone, one of my friends turned to me and said "what was that all about?" He found it strange that I wouldn't give out something so seemingly obvious as my ethnicity.
I can see his point, I suppose. He thought I was just a "normal" mixed race/dual heritage/bi- racial girl. Actually all my grandparents were from different places, and one grandparent was sort-of mixed heritage anyway. Generally, when I've tried to explain this to people they only hear the "interesting" races, and focus on those.
Some people treat me like a spokesperson for all races; if anyone's even slightly prejudiced against any other race, they apologise to me!
So generally, I tell people I'm mixed race, or half caste. But lately, these haven't been working. People start asking questions. People make assumptions. If you're mixed race, then you're dad's black and your mum's white, and your dad doesn't live at home and you're destined for a career in dance or music.
and that's not what I am. mY family's fairly normal, all the interesting members are long dead, I haven't got any culture from them. I'm really just an average british person. I was born here, as were both my parents, I've lived in the UK all my life. I don'y really have any ethnicity,any culture. The only thing that makes me any different to anyone else is my colour.
Normally I'm proud of it, and how it helps me to stand out and to break down barriers, but lately it's become...a bit annoying, really.