Italian | Moroccan
I identify myself as a straight, non-religious individual of ‘other’ mixed background. My parents hail from opposing sides of the Mediterranean. Although born in Blighty, my mother is Italian, particularly of Southern Italian stock. Half Calabrese and half Sicilian. My father is Moroccan, half Arab and half Berber. Whilst I can’t pinpoint an exact date or age, there was a definitive moment at about 6 or 7 when I began to understand my mixed heritage. I grew up with my Italian family and we would have annual trips to Sicily. There was always something that made me uncomfortable in this setting. Seemingly for years, one man patrolled the specific Sicilian beach front we frequented, selling all manner of items from towels to trinkets. He was Moroccan, described as a looky-looky man by my family and beyond. He was an illegal, grinding to make a better life for himself. Discussion about the man was exclusively negative; his skin colour (it was darker), his Italian (was rough around the edges), his native tongue (primitive and vulgar), speculation about his culture (they are dirty people). At this point, I’d had little to no contact with my dad so my ‘Moroccanness’ wasn’t apparent in my mind. An aunty of mine asked my grandmother if she sure that her grandson wasn’t the offspring of this particular looky-looky man. Was it a joke? Yes. Did it make me acutely aware of my difference? Yes. Did I develop an inferiority complex about my Moroccan heritage? Yes. Of course, there is still bias attitudes towards mixed-race people. Bias attitudes prevail across all forms of society, being of mixed heritage can’t be immune to that, especially when it’s such a diverse area that is rarely discussed in the public domain. If I was to be born again I would want to return as myself but knowing everything I know now, for a cheeky head start. The future of mixed-race for me is Beige, BEIGE. All I see is beige. Considering people of mixed-heritage are the fastest growing minority in the UK, its inevitably going to become incredibly important as a topic of discussion in the public domain. Personally, I would hope that the mixed category will open up too.
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