To ask black mumsnetters a question.

*I'm white

Don't assume other poster's ethnicity. Your privilege is showing.

I’m not de-railing the thread @MeridaTheBold, I’m merely questioning your own assertion that the organisation in question was neo-Marxist (a term that’s never used by any genuine organisation rooted in Marxist philosophy. Nor by individuals -no one ever calls themselves a neo-Marxist). End of. I’m taking myself off this thread as it’s not asking for white people’s opinions - I suggest you do the same.

You seem to be confusing Marxism and neo-Marxism. Perhaps you should start another thread where you can discuss your 'understanding' of both rather thandetailing this one. If you are genuinely interested in this and not just being a gf, there are also lots of interviews available online with the founders of BLM US and BLM UK.

[quote RedRumTheHorse]@CuriousaboutSamphire then you aren't colour blind. Colour blind is not seeing that there are differences between people due to the colour of their skin and ethnicity, and people are treated negatively by institutions and governments due to this.

Also it ignores the fact that some people have to be treated differently due to their ethnicity. I brought up maternity issues because colour blind people ignore the fact that certain groups of people, mostly indicated by the colour of their skin, need special treatment. This special treatment can simply just be being listened to and offering the correct tests/advice to more extensive intervention like what Serena Williams required.[/quote]
That may be how it is described nowadays, but I was taught to be colourblind, the term was used. I don't see the colour of anyone's skin any more or less than I see hair colour - as in I see it, might note it but don't act on having noted it! And I recognise institutional and individual racism in the same way I do any other bigotry. I suppose that might be an issue... I think I am 'intersectional' as the author of the term originally intended it to be used, as that makes perfect sense to me.

But your post makes so much sense of some of the responses I get. It seems the term has morphed over the years. Gone from a positive, aspirant state of mind to a negative one!

Thank you.

@CuriousaboutSamphire then you aren't colour blind. Colour blind is not seeing that there are differences between people due to the colour of their skin and ethnicity, and people are treated negatively by institutions and governments due to this.

Also it ignores the fact that some people have to be treated differently due to their ethnicity. I brought up maternity issues because colour blind people ignore the fact that certain groups of people, mostly indicated by the colour of their skin, need special treatment. This special treatment can simply just be being listened to and offering the correct tests/advice to more extensive intervention like what Serena Williams required.

@SJaneS48 I'm not sure what point you're making because of the formatting. FWIW I have read Marx and Engels and Mill and probably any other political philosopher you'd care to name. But you don't need any of those to read the BLM website or to read their Twitter feed which often explains their political position. Perhaps you should do so rather than trying to derail threads by being aggressively uninformed. Your first instinct of not posting was the correct one.

Should have read @Merida’s link.

“BLM is an acronym for a registered organisation.
BLM is also used to state Black Lives Matter.
They both exist. Not everyone supports both of them. It's frankly embarrassing that posters who don't know about the organisation are denying its existence. It raises funds. It has a neo-Marxist agenda. Its website is here
Black Lives Matter UK It explains about the different uses of BLM.”

I’m not black and had no intention of commenting on this thread as it’s not asking for my opinion. But the above - what an absolute load of twaddle! I had a look at @MeridaTheBold ‘s. If you want to label a group neo Marxist Merida, actually read some Marx not some right wing social media site or rag. Clueless.

The Colourblind Brigade?

Have you ever read what one of 'Us' has written...

I have posted my above info a few times. Nobody answers.

This is who I am. How I was brought up. Not racist, not blind to inequity, not silent on the matter either.

You are missing, ignoring, pissing off, the very people who agree with you.

I am not black but thought I'd take a chance and add my thoughts anyway!

Since BLM and blm it has been noticeable that the subject is more discussed.

Bigots and racists speak more openly, more loudly.

Others too speak up, more loudly, more often, berating bigots and racists for their views. Local facebook pages were full of angry tirades over the weekend after one stupid, obviously racist comment. Admin let it stand until the racist twat had obviously been told where to go then deleted it... as per the group rules.

There is a debate going on, black, white, brown, whatever. That's a good thing, isn't it? Closing it down just makes those with entrenched views more certain they are right! It needs a light shine on it. BLM is not bethat light, given its obvious issues!

As for the colour blind issue. Like others of a certain age I too was taught at a very early age that skin colour was immaterial to the person. Like the skin colour of an apple it is just one of those external differences. We sang songs like The child is black, the child is white and kumbaya'd joyfully, daily. We saw differences and accepted them; saw different cultures and were interested in the differences.

We don't ignore, are not ignorant of the inherent racism in society and organisation. We don't agree with it, we do see it and, in my case at least, do speak up as and when possible.

What would you like us to do? How would you like us to reframe our world view?

Yes sadly I think so. But I also completely fucked up by telling a black friend how upsetting it was, some of the videos of police violence. I'm sure in her head she was like "yeah no shit and thanks for making it all about you"...

@cologne4711 if you don't see why being colour blind is a problem then have a look at the maternity statistics for black and other non-white women in the UK or US.

If anything I've experienced less racism in the past few months. Admittedly I've not been going outside as much as in previous years. The main thing I've noticed is that the whites are terrified of offending BAMEs to the point it is actually embarrassing - ironically another form of white racism from people who are (claiming to be) trying to show they are not racists.

POC dont deserve to be unfairly treated and targeted by police forces because of the colour of their skin, you have a choice as to your job, POC dont have that choice

Saying that I am against police officers being shot is in no way the same as saying that POC deserve to be unfairly treated or targeted by the police!

If that's the case, you must be saying that you think it's ok for the police to be shot, which I am assume you aren't saying?

And I do support Blue Lives Matter - yes being a police officer is a choice and thank god many choose to do it because we, as a society need them. Police dont deserve to be shot just for doing a job.

POC dont deserve to be unfairly treated and targeted by police forces because of the colour of their skin, you have a choice as to your job, POC dont have that choice

Typical to see the usual racists on the thread though

I am a New Zealander. I couldn’t care less whether or not someone is black, white, pakeha, Maori Chinese etc. No one should be treated differently because of their race. I personally think every race is equal in value

I agree with you, but I've seen people say on here that you are not allowed to be colour blind because then you don't see the oppression.

I disagree to an extent with the OP because I don't think it's given people carte blanche to express racist views. The debate has opened peoples' eyes to what may be considered racist - eg not being allowed to be colour blind. The "that's not my mermaid" debacle is another example which interestingly has blown up in a much more serious way in South Africa with an advert for shampoo making frizzy hair out to be undesirable, but a lot of people won't understand why - that's not being racist, that's just not being informed.

Of course people can support some things that an organisation stand for and be against others but if organisations support a particular action then the organisation must be prepared to be criticised for it.

And I do support Blue Lives Matter - yes being a police officer is a choice and thank god many choose to do it because we, as a society need them. Police dont deserve to be shot just for doing a job.

Nineteen years of anti Muslim bigotry suddenly becoming casually socially acceptable

Islam is not a race and I will call out stupid religions who subjugate women. That is not being racist and people need to understand the difference between religion and race.

COVID blaming "oh those people with their large families" always meaning BAME do they? There are plenty of large white families.

I don't support BLM because it should be BMLM. They don't care about black women.