Mixed-race Relationships
Mixed-race relationships are common in Britain, especially in multicultural urban areas. Unfortunately, mixed-race couples are still often the target of racial abuse.
Britain's ethnic population Visitors to Britain always notice that the cities have very ethnically-diverse populations. There are 2 main reasons for this:
• A lot of the 5.6 per cent of the UK's ethnic minority population are from ex-colonies of the British Empire. After the second World War, people from the colonies were invited to come and work in Britain. So many men had been killed in the war that the workforce had grown too small.
• The British government also permits a number of people to enter the country if they are in danger in their home countries. These people are called asylum-seekers.
Separate communities
There are areas where some people of the same race have formed their own communities. East London, for example, has a large Bangladeshi population where there are Bangladeshi restaurants, shops and a mosque. However, young people from ethnic minority backgrounds are integrated into British society and usually consider themselves British.
Harassment
White nationalists are responsible for many race attacks and, among other things, they believe that mixed-race relationships are wrong. However, some attacks on mixed-race couples come from their families, some from people they know at school or work, or even from friends. A lot of the attacks are verbal, but sometimes they also receive 'hate mail' or are physically attacked.
Religion and race
Muslims, Orthodox Jews and other strict religious groups prohibit inter-racial relationships. Sometimes people convert to a religion before they marry into a religious family. In some communities, the tradition of 'arranged marriages' (when your parents choose your partner for you) is still common. Children who fall in love with someone their parents didn't choose are sometimes rejected by their families and live apart from them.
Culture and traditions
It is sometimes thought that if you marry someone of a different race, your own culture and traditions will be lost. Happily, there are a lot of mixed-race families in the UK which shows that this isn't true. In fact, mixed-race marriages often help people to understand each other better, and their cultures are richer as a result [2].

COMPREHENSION
Use the phrasal verbs from vocabulary Exercise 1 to fill the gaps. You will have to change the tenses of some of the verbs.
1. Most non-white kids consider themselves British when born in Britain and have …………….. there.
2. Sometimes kids feel that they are ………………. their families if they have a relationship with someone of a different race.
3. ……………. with someone from a different ethnic background is often the cause of a lot of arguments with your family and friends.
4. It's not easy to continue a relationship when your parents and friends are against it, so a lot of mixed-race couples ………………. .
5. Despite pressure from family and friends, some mixed-race couples ……………….. seeing each other.
6. We should never ………………… trying to change people's racist attitudes.

veronikaandruseiko    3   04.01.2022 22:11    4