British | Jamaican

Photo credit: Provided by subject

My name is Mia, I am White British/Caribbean. My Mom originates from a welsh background, but she was born in Oxfordshire, England. She grew up on a farm in Banbury. My Dad originates from a Jamaican background on both parent sides, but he was born in Birmingham and grew up in Small Heath. My parents met at a nightclub in Birmingham, my Mom left home at 17 to leave the countryside and move to the city. My Dad left home at 16 and moved around in Birmingham until he got his own place after a couple of years. 

My parents combine their different cultures by food, music, language and visits to their countries. I love Jamaican food, mutton and rice is my favourite. I love British food as well. I listen to Jamaican/basement and that sort of music more than British pop/classic songs. 

My parents are very accepting of my choice in a partner. My boyfriend and my Dad get along amazingly. My Mom also gets along great with him too! I wouldn’t say I’ve hidden parts of my identity but the only thing I have done is relaxed my hair and have sew-in extensions, it’s made me feel more confident in myself and it’s always helps my hair grow.

My view on interracial relationships today versus my parents/grandparent’s generation have never been different from what I’ve seen, my Mom’s side has always accepted me and my Dad, so I didn’t know anything else. My Dads Step-Mom is White, so it’s never been different. My Dad however has told me that when he grew up there were always racist comments especially at school, football matches, or out in public. 

The positives I have faced around my identity is learning about ancestry and more. The challenges I have faced around my identity are the stereotypical things about being mixed-race, people touching my hair when it was afro or being asked which colour my parents are. 

My native countries are England and Jamaica. I live in England, so I can learn culture easier than I can of my Jamaican background. My outlook on being mixed hasn’t changed from a child to an adult because I’ve always been happy with being mixed. There’s so much about being mixed-race that I wouldn’t have known if I wasn’t. I think it’s likely to evolve as I get older based on experiences. I have always worked in a diverse environment, so in the workplace it is considerate. 

If I had the opportunity to be reborn I would return as myself, I wouldn’t change a thing.