A visitors take on Interracial Relationships and the Media.

In my time here, I have found London to be a very diverse and populous city. The amount of people and the cultural baggage each carries creates a very complex structure. With so many people and so many identities, it is no wonder people of different religion; sexuality, ethnicity and race are forming relationships. However, the London media separates races when showing groups of people. Interracial relationships are not shown in the media I have been exposed to. Instead, when groups of people, romantic couples, or friendships are shown, the parties involved are of the same race. In experiencing the city, this is simply a misrepresentation of the diverse relationships that are fostered here.

Attending the play Edward Scissorhands is a great example of how the display of an interracial relationship was avoided. Actress Noi Tolmer is Thai, born in Thailand and has very beautiful Asian features. She plays a main character, Kim Boggs, whom Edward falls in love with. However, to avoid showing the mixing of races, her hair is dyed blonde, a clear case of deracination. Unless sitting near the stage, it would be difficult to distinguish the fact that she is not white, like the rest of her cast family and on-stage boyfriend. Everyone else in the play was white as well. In “Distorted Mirrors” by Yasmin Alibhai- Brown discussed the British media is undermining the diverse, multiracial society that lives here. It is obvious that somewhere in the production of this play, it was thought better to avoid showing that interracial families and relationships, even if they are prevalent in everyday London life. This example shows that she could not be part of the “perfect family” if her true race was revealed and interracial relationships we avoided.

An ad campaign that I have noticed in the tube stops is for a travel agency encouraging groups of people to book holidays together to receive better rates. The adverts show groups of friends smiling and laughing together, however, there are two prints of the ad that can be seen. One is of a group of white friends. Another ad shows the same copy, different picture. This time, it is a group of black friends. In terms of advertising costs, it would cost the company less to simply have one copy of the ad rather than running two. It goes to show the extra effort the company is going to in order to keep these races separate. Why couldn’t the black and white friends be in the same advertisement? Also, why are only two races represented? Cortese, in “Symbolic Racism,” discusses this concept of copycat ads in Advertising article. He says that such ads are run because minorities prefer to see images of people like themselves in advertising. The message here is that whites might not buy a product used by minorities, however, if these groups of people in reality are friends, family, neighbors and co-workers, there is no reason they cannot be depicted as such in advertisements.

I have experienced many examples in which interracial relationships are a reality while in London. In attending the Mosque, it was visible that groups of different races were friends and partners in their faith. Our group guide told us that there were over 50 countries represented at the London Central Mosque. We saw white, Latino, Black, Hispanic and Middle Eastern men all praying side by side. They walked in together, prayed, and left together, clearly their racial make-up made no difference in their relationships. Leo Benedictus discusses the make-up of Londoners in his article “Every Race, Colour, Nation and Religion on Earth.” He discusses how the media can skew one’s thoughts of toleration of diversity. With the population living here, it is no wonder interracial relationships occur. The mosque is a great example of how race and other differences are not issues that keep people from praying together and being friends.

I have had the opportunity of making friends while in London. We met a group of friends our second night here and have gotten to experience many parts of London through being around “locals.” The racial make-up of this group is very diverse, and they have been friends since they were young. In speaking with them, they have brought me to remember that race is about more than black and white. Everyone in London is from somewhere else, and often people are very passionate about that. However, their friendship is not necessarily always built on race or ethnicity. One of them said “if we can cheer on different football clubs, a different race is not going to keep us from being mates.”
Cortese sites media as reflections of societal structure and a barometer of the dominant group accepting minorities into mainstream society. While a different races are being represented in the media, they are not being represented together, as if assimilation of these groups is non-existent. This is not the case in London. Interracial friendships, romantic relationships and other bonds are very prevalent and should be accepted and showcased in the media because it is mainstream and would represent a realistic representation of society.