Originally Posted by mahdawg (Post 12407639)

I'd never even heard of that photo until now!

Nonetheless, even as someone in an inter-racial relationship, I suspect the vast majority of people would not look at that picture and think it's unusual because they were together. The only unusual, but interesting thing about it is, is their traditional choice of dress that both are choosing to wear.

In contrast, the bottom two photos in the article, I doubt anyone would bat an eyelid.

Originally Posted by Paul_Shepherd (Post 12407692)

...Classic media trying to make a story from nothing.

Originally Posted by MillieF (Post 12407756)

It's a good thing if it gets anybody talking positively!

I married a man who thinks that anything other than plain black socks is overly avent garde! How wonderful to have the ability to turn up at the Queen's Garden Party looking like you were there for a celebration! Bring it on! They look super.

Originally Posted by Souvy (Post 12408609)

Yes. I had a very interesting conversation with my son's girlfriend last night. She's a very nice, intelligent, girl. But she is from Saguenay. She honestly didn't know what a Sikh is, or the difference between a Muslim and a Hindu. I found that a bit sad but I wasn't overly surprised.

Originally Posted by Souvy (Post 12408609)

...intelligent, girl. But she is from Saguenay. She honestly didn't know what a Sikh is, or the difference between a Muslim and a Hindu. I found that a bit sad but I wasn't overly surprised.

Originally Posted by BristolUK (Post 12409007)

I'm not sure whether you mean Saguenay to be the 'explanation' or if you mean Canadian and Saguenay is just a passing reference. :unsure:

My wife and stepdaughter were educated in Montreal but I was quite often surprised at some of the knowledge of matters outside Canada that despite their intelligence they didn't know. :unsure:

Originally Posted by Souvy (Post 12409170)

No wonder they don't know much about the outside world. I spent two weeks up there a few years ago. I saw one black guy and one Asian girl.

Originally Posted by Shard (Post 12409174)

There must be pockets of the UK like that. Cornwall and Norfolk come to mind.

Originally Posted by Snowy560 (Post 12407583)

Apparently everyone is talking about this photograph and tweet:

The professor, his wife and the photo everyone is talking about - BBC News

It's only when I see something like this that I remember that I suppose the label (inter-racial relationship) applies to me and my husband. And to my (late) parents. Yes, it was thought of as unusual in the 1950s for a white person to be in a relationship with a non white person. People used to make comments to and about my parents in the streets (of London).

The thing that always gets me and my elder daughter who is the same colour as me are the questions:

"where are you from?"

"I'm from the UK but I live in Canada now"

"But where are you originally from?" (we were both born and raised in London).

My younger daughter, who is almost white, is never the recipient of the same questions. Nor is my husband.

Anyway, is the "photo that everyone is talking about" really so unusual?

Originally Posted by Souvy (Post 12409170)

Cradle Canada in general but Saguenay in particular. It's cut off and rather homogenous. There are 66,000 households. The phone directory says that almost 20% of them share just five surnames. You've a 10% chance of success if you dial a number at random and ask for Mr Tremblay...

Originally Posted by Shakyuk (Post 12409215)

I was once in a kebab shop late at night and I got talking to a guy, I asked him where he was from and he said 'Pemberton', which is where I live. After a talk about glorious Pemberton I asked where originally and he got very offended by that question. He had a very strong accent, he clearly was not from Pemberton originally and so I'm not quite sure why he got so offended.