I am Irish-American with dual citizenship, my accent is American though, and my boyfriend is Indian-American with fully American citizenship, accent, and culture. In fact, he's the most stereotypical loud funny American guy I know.
We'll be moving to London soon, and of course my Irish father who hasn't been there in 30 years keeps hollering about, "Brits are a bunch of racists!" but just can't get over the fact that, in Belfast, the Irish and British just didn't get along. So, I try to take what he says with a grain of salt. I hear a lot of things about how England is so much more diverse than the US, and how there are many interracial couples, so I really don't think there will be a problem. It's still sort of scary though when my dad insists that we should not go out together at night, saying that we'd be at risk. I think that, if there is racism as he says, the most we'd get is some dirty looks. I don't think I should have anything to be worried about.
Can someone with a bit more knowledge than me (never been to England) and my dad (an old guy who is set in his way and just hates the English) come along and tell me what's real? I don't need to hear sugar and spice, or doom and gloom. I would just like a realistic snapshot.
Living in California, we never get more than just some silly jokes meant between friends in fun. We haven't experienced any deep hurtful racism or threats, like the kind my dad claims would run rampant in London.
PS: I really hope I phrased this the right way, and I don't want to offend anyone at all. I don't have any pre-conceived notions about what England will be like, it's just my dad who often says silly things from the 50s.