Experiencing Racism in St Neots

[Heart2]

Moved from London in August. Were a mixed race family. Unfortunately, we’ve been experiencing racism since moving here. I understand it’s different from London however it’s saddening that people still have hate and are ignorant. Since my DC started school not one of the mums has even smiled or uttered a word to me. I’m almost becoming used to the funny looks lol.
Has it always been like this or has Brexit contributed to this? Are the surrounding areas better maybe it’s an option as it’s getting worse. Not sure what to do, feel so saddened we have to live like this.
Thanks for reading.

[Poshindevon]

You dont give examples of racism such as verbal or physical abuse, threatening behaviour, damage to your property all of which is illegal. Has your child be bullied or treated differntly at school?
Your only complaint is the mothers at the school gate have not smiled or spoken to you and give you funny looks. That is not unusual, as mothers at the school gate often know each other and are a bit wary of newcomers. This is not racism. Why cant you smile and say hello?

[Heart2]

To be honest it’s hurtful even listing it, well, we get dog poo thrown on our car, get called the N word walking past sometimes you hear comments being made! DC called dirty face. A Mum once said ‘it stinks here’ when I was standing next to the gate waiting to pick up DC. And no, am not a sensitive person. I often ignore things and move on but it’s getting to me. One kid come up and punched my DC and the school are aware.

[building2017]

OP, I'm sorry this is happening to you and your family.

I knew a black family that lived in Royston and experienced quite a lot of racism, so much that they moved back to London. This was in about 2002.

I think outside the cities (and certain hubs of tolerance) Britain can be a very ugly place. Cambridge would probably be better.

[Poshindevon]

What you have shared are hate crimes. You need to tell the police do not endure this in silence.
You also need to make sure the school is proactive in protecting your DC dont be fobbed off.
Cambridgeshire police have a website deicated to hate crimes.
//Www.cambs.police.uk got to report on line this site links with True Vision a national police site for hate crimes //www.report.it.org.uk
I am so sorry you have to live amongst these racist bigots.
Take care

[building2017]

Posh's response is much better than mine. Well done, Posh, absolutely right.

What she said.

[ClearEyesFullHearts]

I'm so sorry to hear this OP.

One of the things that made me happy about moving to Cambridge was the multiculturalism and open-minded ethos of the city, which in my experience spreads to the outer villages. What you have described differs greatly from what I see and reminds me more of our days in St Albans which, while lovely, lacked the "whole world in one basket" feel of our years in London. Cambridge felt like a smaller version of home for us (with the added mix of tech, science, and academia).

Having said that, I've lived in three continents and traveled the world--I've never lived anywhere that lacked at least one bigot, racist or misogynist.

People fear what they are not, the so-called "other."

Please do take the sensible advice of reporting this to the police. And please let us know what happens at the school. How they deal with it will be telling.

[Biscuitsneeded]

OP, how awful for you. I'm so sorry this has happened. You must, please, report these hate crimes. I can otherwise only suggest moving to Cambridge which I hope you would find very, very different.

[greendale17]

OP I don’t know how you are dealing with this- I would be in bits.

[Heart2]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I suppose I need to definitely make an effort to report what’s been happening as I often try to let it go even though it hurts.
Unfortunately Cambridge is expensive however it’s food for thought now, knowing it’s a better place.

[building2017]

HI OP It might be worth posting somewhere else on MN to get advice about reporting racism, what to hope for, how the police should ideally respond, and so on.

[Theworldisfullofidiots]

I'm so sorry this is happening. I agree report. I think I'd also talk to the school again.

[NJPB]

very late to this thread, but if it's food for thought re a move, my 3 kids go to an inner city state school in Cambridge and every class has a complete range of skin shade colour/ethnic background. I have never heard of any comment on this, racism amongst kids or parents in the school community. The kids only ever refer to skin colour when identifying someone across the playground, and are as likely to say, "do you mean the one with dark skin?" as to say "...with the red hair/the blue top/the football" etc. Central Cambridge is very liberal (all my kids have at least one set of gay parents in the class, again no one bats an eyelid), very mixed culturally (masses of the kids at school have at least one non-British parent and the playground at pickup is full of other languages), and very inclusive (kids who arrive speaking little or no English seem to be drawn into friendship groups amazingly fast).
However, when we first arrived in Cambridge (from Sydney), my 5 y/o (caucasian) daughter went to a state primary further out, in a less affluent catchment. She did once come home & report a racist comment in the playground. Someone had said "you are stupid playing with her, she's got dark skin". To her credit she replied "you're stupid if you think that" and got on with it. But it did make me realise that central Cambridge can be a bit of a London-like bubble inside which is a much more liberal place to live than outside. I fear that if you want a 'mini London', you may end up needing to be in the parts of town where prices are also 'mini London'. We have good friends here (mixed race family) who live in Chesterton and their daughter is now almost 7 and has, as far as I know, never experienced any racism in that part of Cambridge and nor has her mum. I hope that's food for thought and I really hope things are getting better.