UK to be mixed race in 21st century

A major study has suggested that young people in London are more likely to be of mixed race as adults, raising hopes that they will not see race in the way it is seen in contemporary UK. ‘Young people are now six times as likely to be mixed race as adults and the rate is increasing by the year’ according to the Institute for Social and Economic Research. My mixed race nephew battles to understand his identity as his turban wearing grandfather and white father differ significantly. They speak different languages, eat different foods and socialise in massively contrasting circles. I hope when he’s older he can appreciate that he possesses a unique dual heritage and embraces it fully.

According to the research at Essex University, nine per cent of children in Britain are of ‘mixed or multiple heritage, meaning they are living with parents of different ethnic backgrounds or are of mixed race themselves’. Among the Indian population, this figure has risen dramatically from 3 percent to 11 percent. For Pakistanis from 1 percent to 4 percent and Chinese from 15 percent 35 percent. The number of children of Caribbean heritage with one white parent has risen from 39 percent to 49 percent over the past 14 years. Ethnicity will as a result become different to how we know it today.

Who will be ethnic in twenty years time? How will racism progress?

In an increasingly liberal UK, my concern as a second generation British-Asian Indian lies with the disowning of Indian values and culture as we become increasingly mixed race. I am all for an integrating society but I fear the decline in the influence of Indian values. With British Asians leading a western life and the older migrant generations unfortunately dying out, what is Asian Britain left with? Secular societies with less focus on religion? In my community, I see the Sikh traditions observed less than ever before. Even today, Gurdwaras are at their busiest on Diwali and Vaisakhi and for some a return visit to the Gurdwara is the following year. In this way, Asian societies will lose or at least experience a diminishing influence of eastern culture. Where will the UK Asian communities be in twenty years time? Will there even be such communities remaining?

Will we see a mixed Britain where the emphasis on colour and ethnicity declines at the cost of an increasingly westernised Asian society?

This for me is upsetting – although I do not favour separatism. A fine balance between east and west makes me the person I am. I would be disappointed if my children’s children were unaware of their roots; their Asian, Indian, Sikh, eastern heritage with only an Indian surname to prove their ethnicity.

The report commissioned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), paints a picture of Britain where people of ethnic backgrounds are far more likely to marry and live with people of races different to their own… and their point is?