Biracial Britain: A Different Way of Looking at Race

by Remi Adekoya

'Barack Obama had a special talent for making different kinds of people feel comfortable around him because of his biracial life experience, says Adekoya. By the same token, Adekoya himself seems poised to become one of the most important and subtle new voices in Britain's never-ending conversation about race' David Goodhart, Unherd

Mixed-race is the fastest-growing minority group in Britain. By the end of the century roughly one in three of the population will be mixed-race, with this figure rising to 75 per cent by 2150. Mixed-race is, quite literally, the future.

Paradoxically, however, this unprecedented interracial mixing is happening in a world that is becoming more and more racially polarized. Race continues to be discussed in a binary black or white, we and they, us and them. Mixed-race is not treated as a unique identity, but rather as an offshoot of other more familiar identities - remnants of the twentieth century 'one-drop' rule ('if you're not white, you're black') alarmingly prevail. Therefore, where does a mixed-race person fit? Stuck in the middle of these conflicts are individuals trying to survive and thrive. It is high time we developed a new understanding of mixed-race identity better suited to our century.

Remi Adekoya (the son of a Nigerian father and a Polish mother, now living in Britain) has come to the conclusion that while academic theories can tell us a lot about how identities are socially constructed, they are woeful at explaining how identities are felt . He has spoken to mixed-race Britons of all ages and racial configurations to present a thoughtful and nuanced picture of what it truly means to be mixed-race in Britain today.

A valuable new addition to discussions on race, Biracial Britain is a search for identity, a story about life that makes sense to us. An identity is a story. These are our stories.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Race, Audiobook

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2002

About the author

Remi Adekoya is Polish­-Nigerian and teaches political science at Sheffield University, UK. He is the former political editor of the Warsaw Business Journal. He has written for Foreign Affairs, Politico and several Polish newspapers, and provided socio­political commentary and analysis for the BBC, Foreign Policy, Stratfor and Radio France International among others.

Reviews

[Hannah Aziza]

Being of mixed heritage myself, I really enjoyed discovering other people's experiences and recognised many of their struggles. In fact, the book taught me more about my own identity and self perception. The stories brilliantly intertwine racism, sexism, religion and class struggle. I did find the book to be a bit too long - after a while the tales became somewhat repetitive. Also, I definitely disagree with some of the interviewees' and Adekoya's opinions. I also wish there would've been some context as to how 'race' is a social construct and how or why it would be appropriate to use this term.

[Bradley Endsor]

A fabtastic read, insightful and a fresh look at race relations from a group that is usually left out of what can be so often a binary narrative. Highly recommend and the great thing about this is that each chapter gives you a new person's perspective with some commentary by Remi along the way which makes the book an easy and great read. Get a copy as you will not regret it.

[rik james]

Absolutely well written, I was surprised to see it was essentially a collection of anecdotes and stories as opposed to academic literature and theories, I enjoyed reading the different experiences of various mixed race individuals and was surprised to find myself relating to not only black and white individuals but so many others too. Definitely a must read.

[Vincent Gwyn]

First time I read a book with experiences similar to mine. Crazy that there's so much overlap between the experiences of mixed-race people. I grew up in Switzerland rather than Britain, yet much of it is familiar to me. Good to know I'm not alone. If you're mixed, I could wholeheartedly recommend this.

[c prose]

Obsessed with this book.

I feel like usually when mixed race people speak of their identity struggles, it annoys me (btw I’m a mixed person myself). It usually takes away from the bigger conversation of how racism of darker skinned individuals is way worse and deserves way more space!

However what big man Remi did was highlight an inclusive experience of being biracial in Britain. Not only looking at the typical black and white mix, but of all kinds of mixed heritage and it really exposed the symmetry of the biracial experience. The conflict of two sides, the having to choose one side, how perception of yourself differs from that of others! So many people who identify with being mixed have such a similar yet different experience, it was eye opening to read a book that I felt I related to more than most!

It was so beautiful hearing stories from biracial people from many different walks of life and ages. I truly savoured every single page.

Incredible- my only criticism is I wish it had a sort of scientific element to it but that’s just out of my own need for an explanation for everything!

Would highly recommend!!!

[Irene]

Discussion around identity tends to be from a monoracial, monocultural perspective, and mixed voices often fall in a strange limbo in dominant discourse.

This book brings forward testimonies of people from different generations and backgrounds within the British context, regarding their own experiences of mixed roots, culturally and ethnically. They’re diverse, sometimes aligning, sometimes contradicting each other, but pretty consistently challenging simplistic narratives of identity.

I might be biased, as a multicultural, multi-root kid myself, but I found this really refreshing. I am really curious to see how our conversations about race, ethnicity, culture, identity, multiculturalism and belonging continue shifting, and hopefully become more nuanced and complex, as more and more people’s experiences and lives challenge old notions of well-compartmentalised purity.

[Sanaa]

This book was a very interesting read, and the first book I’ve read which encompasses several different perspectives from mixed race individuals. I was surprised to find that although I am not mixed race, I related to many experiences that mixed race people went through. However, I do feel as though the book became slightly repetitive, also demonstrated by the author’s shortening of reflection in each chapter. I would recommend the book to people who are struggling with their identity and self confidence, as this book illuminates the same challenges that many other people can relate to.

[Mel]

Excellent book giving a unique insight into the experiences of biracial people living in the UK. This stands out from similar books because books about race tend to focus on the perspective of people who are entirely one ethnicity. It's unusual to read about life as a child of two different ethnicities or nationalities and how identity is shaped by how others perceive them as well as how parental differences cause internal conflict or foster a sense of belonging.
Loved it. Highly recommended for a better understanding of the world around us.

[Femke Jansen]

Interesting read as being mixed-race myself, although the stories did get a bit repetitive at one point. One thing I learned and could connect with is that there is definitely a shared experience of feeling different, and feeling pressured to choose between identities.

But as Adekoya writes: “It’s time the mixed-race experience started being accorded it’s rightful place as a unique identity experience, rather than a slight variation of the mono racial life journey. We 𝒶𝓇𝑒 different”

[Tash]

Coming from a mixed raced heritage and growing up in Britain, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was refreshing to know and learn that other people had similar experiences and felt similar to how I did. We didn’t talk about race when I was growing up, so it’s nice to be finally talking and reading about important matters like this now. I enjoyed the fact the author had viewpoints from people of all mixed race backgrounds and heritages

[Violette]

learned a lot about modern racial and identity politics in Britain, smart to get to those topics through very captivating personal stories
would have loved for the book to be a bit more politicized about Britain’s colonial history, modern politics etc… + to diversify the references without always having to go back to the Obamas
100% recommend

[Pascal Vanenburg]

Helaas onvoorstelbaar saai en repetitief. Dat moet Adekoya zelf ook geweten hebben, want z'n eigen beschouwingen op de verhalen worden naar gelang het boek vordert steeds korter. Los van dat die ook eigenlijk al weinig tot niets toevoegden. Jammer.

[Pete]

Very good - I listened to the audiobook on Audible, and would recommend it to everyone.

[Ellie]

I wish I had found this book sooner.

[Nadav Raviv]

Like Diary of people. Including the author. Only 3 chapters really give tools to make reality better in the future. Lots of past stories. Too much I felt.

[Elle Gjoka]

related to a lot, resented a little

good read

[Darren]

Really interesting to hear so many perspectives, although none quite like mine. Would have loved to hear from more queer mixed race people.

[Amelia Paterson]

Greta book for understanding the different experiences of being mixed races in Britain. Good to see at least one Wasian story told in there

[Neelam]

A good insight and very interesting perspectives

[Kasia Szawlis]

Interesting stories, good variety

The most interesting part of the book were individual stories of the people that Remi interviewed/spoke to. There was a good variety of ages, experiences and backgrounds. I’d prefer if there was more statistics instead of Remi’s commentary after each story - or maybe instead of doing a short commentary for each story having one longer one from Remi about his own experience.