I live in the states and was recently having a conversation with an acquaintance about British identity among first and second generation British people. She's a black woman (also from the states) from an upper middle class background who has a brother that is a successful entrepreneur in London. She has been to London a few times but I think no more than 3-4x.
Her view was that Americans are very caught up on race and ethnic background and that people in other countries are more 'progressive' in that people identify less with their ethnic origin and more with their national identity. She said something to the effect of "Americans always ask each other 'what are you' and they go into 'oh I'm XYZ, ZYX, etc.' but never just say they're American. People in London don't do that. They don't even ask each other that sort of question and if they do they all just identify with being British."
I find this a little difficult to believe. I was wondering if any Londoners whose parents or grandparents are immigrants could chime in on this. Her whole logic seems a little
to me but maybe I'm wrong
Her view was that Americans are very caught up on race and ethnic background and that people in other countries are more 'progressive' in that people identify less with their ethnic origin and more with their national identity. She said something to the effect of "Americans always ask each other 'what are you' and they go into 'oh I'm XYZ, ZYX, etc.' but never just say they're American. People in London don't do that. They don't even ask each other that sort of question and if they do they all just identify with being British."
I find this a little difficult to believe. I was wondering if any Londoners whose parents or grandparents are immigrants could chime in on this. Her whole logic seems a little
to me but maybe I'm wrong