Thread by @MetroUK

A new survey of people aged 18-30 in the UK from diverse backgrounds has revealed that the majority are uncomfortable with the term ‘Black, Asian and minority ethnic’ (BAME).

Collective terms for diverse groups have been widely regarded as inadequate for a while now, and a new survey has confirmed that young people are officially done with the term ‘BAME’.

The survey conducted by charity Blueprint for All found that 98% feel it is important for a shared language that unifies people from diverse heritages, however there is no shared word or expression that participants feel represents them all.

If in doubt – it is always better to be specific when talking about minority groups, wherever possible.

The research, conducted across the UK with 500+ young people, showed 70% of participants thought it very or somewhat important to be able to describe themselves as British.

Meanwhile participants had higher levels of comfort with other terms, with those most popular being:

• Asian 74%

• Black 67%

• Mixed race 64%

• Brown 62%

• People of colour 61%

‘What comes through from this survey is that young people of diverse heritage feel British and yet many don’t feel they belong, and people can use terms which make you feel like you belong less,’ says Sonia Watson, CEO of Blueprint for All.

When asked about descriptions of heritage in the Census, 68% of participants thought it very or somewhat important that dual heritage backgrounds are recognised in a list of definitions, with ‘very important’ scoring the highest at 54% among Black Caribbean participants.

‘I think it should be up to those of mixed-race/dual heritage descent to describe themselves and what makes them feel comfortable,’ wrote one participant.

'Many times I’ve found that I feel comfortable describing myself as White/Black Caribbean.'

'I have friends of other mixed heritage who may describe themselves as Black and those who would have to put themselves in the ‘other column’ (i.e. half Caribbean and half Asian) there is more than one mixed-race than just being mixed with white and something else.'

Some 84% of participants felt that they ‘fully’ or ‘somewhat’ belonged in the UK.

This broke down into 38% of participants feeling that they ‘fully belong’ while a greater number at 46% feel that they ‘somewhat belong’ in the UK.

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The results of the study follow on from the government’s widely criticised Sewell Report from earlier this year that recommended scrapping the term ‘BAME’ from public organisations.

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