What makes the world so interesting is its diversity and unique cultures. Every language and way of life has had an unique impact on our history, arts and literature. The merging of cultures has often been celebrated and associated throughout history, and now more than ever, we’re looking to celebrate our heritage and culture. But what about when one is the product of two (or more) different heritages.
Recently, a social meetup for Wasians those born out of White and Asian unions), promoted through community page Half Asian Spring, drew more than 3,000 people to New York City’s Central Park on May 10. Initially billed as “the largest worldwide gathering of Wasians,” this Wasian Meetup also generated racially charged commentary, from criticism over white-Asian identity dominates conversations around mixed Asians in the U.S. to broader discourse about
In the Sri Lankan context, mixed race is often taken to mean coming from a mixed ethnorelgious background, for many Sri Lankans, especially those who are mixed race, topics of race and culture can garner different reactions.
“From the time we are born, people in this country want to box us into a race, which is probably why they ask for our parents' races on our birth certificate,” Amaya De Silva, 27, told The Daily Morning Brunch . “And being a mixed-race woman, people often look at me like I’m confused.”
Following this comment, we spoke to several of our readers on being mixed-race and being in inter-racial relationships in an environment that constantly questions people’s races.
While diversity and being mixed-race is celebrated or treated as natural, many readers often felt boxed in by invasive and inappropriate questions.
“As a man who was born into a Tamil-Burgher union, many people often ask my race,” Andrew Sudesh,31, said. “My girlfriend has this friend who has problematic opinions and she classed me as ‘Tamil’ and wanted to speak to me in Tamil to see if I can speak the language.”
Sudesh said that the experience made him tired of being boxed into a specific race and religion.
“Why do we need to pay for other people’s need for an identity?” he said. “Classifying people like this is probably a product of colonialism and it’s time we get rid of it.”
Another reader who wished to remain anonymous said that she often encounters questions about her race and parentage which make her uncomfortable.
“I get many questions about how authentically Sinhala I am because of my last name,” she said. “I noticed that there’s two types of people who take an interest in identifying my ethnic background; Tamil speaking minorities who want to connect with another member of the minority or racists.”
Meanwhile, others have said that they have often been forced into accepting a race they don’t really connect with and a language that they don’t love.
“I went to a well-known international school in Rajagiriya and the Sinhala teacher at the time had a terrible grudge against me because I did not speak Sinhala fluently,” Jehan Pereira, 24, said.
Perera said that he was half Burgher and was still expected to treat Sinhala as his native language.
“I do not align with the Sinhala language and culture at all,” he said. “And I feel that people always try to categorise me as Sinhalese despite the fact that I have never spoken in Sinhala and English has and will always be my first language.”
While many of our readers expressed frustration about being connected and even stereotyped, others have often felt a conversation about how love and personal choice always wins would be more effective.
“I have always thought that people should be more ready to have a conversation about being mixed-race because you have different cultures to learn from,” Amru Rizvi,28, said.
Rizvi said that his mixed-race heritage has given him a globalised perspective.
“I’m half South African and half Maldivian and that has given me a great perspective on globalism, acceptance and of course yummy food from both cultures,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rizvi said that inter-racial unions are a complex topic, it has so much beauty.
Unions that have crossed racial boundaries have either been praised or criticised by different members of society. Some of these unions have thrived while others have collapsed under pressure.
“I joined an app to make international friends and I met my current partner, who is Egyptian, on the app,” Maryam R,26, said.
Maryam said that she feels positive about her growing relationship.
Meanwhile, others said that sustaining an inter-racial relationship would be impossible for them due to social norms and family expectations.
“My parents would never allow me to be in an interracial relationship or marriage,” Akmal Afzal, 26, said. “They are very particular about religion and cultural background and I will not divert from their wishes.”
Afzal said that while he is not against inter-racial dating and marriages,family unity means more to him.
Many readers joined Afzal in saying that family expectations made them fearful of making their inter-racial relationships public.
An 18 year old reader who wished to remain anonymous noted that she fears her family’s reaction.
“My family is a Hindu family from India and we are currently living in Sri Lanka,” she said. “I’m deeply in love with another girl from a Muslim family and I’m terrified that my parents would be mad or even violent if they ever found out.”
Others have said that while expectations may persist, interracial dating and marriage is something that should be accepted as a natural part of society.
“I’m a Tamil who has come from a background of people marrying Tamil Hindus,” Harishman Somaskandarasa,30, said. “However, I do not believe that love should be restricted to race or religion.”
Somaskandarasa said that he has been open to considering partners from all different races, backgrounds and beliefs.
“I’ve been on dates with women of different backgrounds and beliefs or no belief at all and I have to mention that mixing with people of different backgrounds makes you more open to new experiences,” he said.
Many readers we spoke to often find categorising people according to race pointless and divisive.
“Racial categorising is so dumb and not to mention sexist because when they want to categorise mixed-race people like me, they always consider the race of the father,” De Silva said.
She noted that everything from simple research forms to police complaints including sorting people into race.
“We are all human beings at the end of the day,” she said. “I don’t think it’s necessary to label people.”
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