One of my exes was half-Pakistani and half-Latvian
I was naive enough to assume that in the Home Counties in 2003, an interracial, interfaith relationship would no longer be such a big deal. Given that Essex is about 98% white, I'd assumed we'd meet less trouble than perhaps you'd find in places with a substantial non-white community.

Oh no.

It wasn't a long relationship, mostly because I eventually learnt he already had a fiancee, but I learnt a lot of interesting new words and was the recipient of even more dirty looks than I'd been given in my life (and I'd had a few). What really stunned me is that it was still happening - because I was born long after race riots and the threat of the NF, I never questioned the idea that all races ought to be treated equally, just like I never questioned the fact that I'd be paid as much as a man would be for doing the same job.

My fiance is half-Italian, and we get far less hassle in the streets now. However, his schooldays were riddled with racist (xenophobic?) jokes and bullying. Even now, when people hear his surname for the first time, some can't resist making tired and obvious horse's head/offer he can't refuse jokes. If I find out anyone does the same to the kids we hope to have one day, I'll be in their headteacher's office shouting the odds before they could blink. Still, you sort of expect it from kids - they haven't yet learnt the social niceties and good behaviour you'd expect from a responsible adult. Where this leaves the racist adults is another issue entirely.
(Trauma, Mon 5 Apr 2010, 14:13, Reply)