“Families visible by Colour”. Multicultural Britain Today and Looking Back to the 1970s.
Multi-racial/Multicoloured lessons from the countryside – Explaining things to children.
23/06/2014Memoir ? “A Rock for Jah”/Blog/Children’s stories/Poetry/Sundry reflections.
21/07/2014
MULTICULTURAL BRITAIN TODAY
A few days before I published a blog post “Ethnic Minorities in the countryside”, I received a beautifully produced and well-thought-out handbook. It is entitled ‘Children Visible by Colour in Cornwall”. It is a joint publication by a Cornish voluntary-run community group called ‘Kowetha’ and Barnardo’s.
The subtitle of this booklet is “Suggestions for parents and carers raising BME (black and minority ethnic and dual heritage children) who are ‘visible by colour’.
I know from experience how beneficial it can be for parents and children of mixed parentage to meet. In the 1980s we belonged to a similar group called Harmony. 
Parents often have concerns, a need to discuss issues and children have a need to play. In an area where children don’t meet many other black or mixed race children where they live, it can be reassuring and relaxing to meet children who look like themselves.
The handbook is full of practical observations, actual quotations from those who took part in the research, led by Ginnie Odetayo, and practical advice, e.g. on “Supporting our children at school” and “Supporting our families in the community”.
It is hoped that the handbook will have positive lessons for similar families in other predominantly white areas throughout the UK.
LOOKING BACK
I digress slightly now as I try to think back to when Sam was very young in Tyneside. Where we lived was a predominantly white area. The only two black families we knew left the area, as they could not find promotion in their jobs. However, Sam knew nothing of the problems of adults. He simply had the outlook of a very positive child.
One day we made a tape for the grandparents. (Skype had not been invented – needless to say, as this was in the 1970s). On that tape he said proudly in a beautiful Geordie accent. “I like playing with Elizabeth. She lets me be the Indian Chief because I’m the proper colour”!
Image courtesy of vetorolie/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
In some respects times have moved on since the 1970s, but some things are unfortunately the same. We would have seized on a handbook like “Children Visible by Colour in Cornwall” and drunk in every word as it deals with many difficult issues and is full of well thought-out strategies and advice. I recommend it.
