RURAL RACISM

I can see why migrants prefer city apartments. Most are from more polluted cities anyway (so ‘fresh air’ not necessary), closer to business so they can get there ASAP (also used to working longer hours).

Most British-born London BAME professionals are born and raised Londoners, don’t want to live far away from family. Many of sais family live in ‘proper’ London, even in council housing, flats, proper houses bought in the ‘before ‘ time.

Obviously just my observation and deductions. Not scientific at all

Run - not ruin!!!!

I live in a very tiny village in the midst of nowhere. The pub is ruin by and Asian couple and their children and next door is a lady from Nigeria. In proportion to the tiny population that is quite high.

Neither say they have experienced any racism, thank goodness.

’Othering’ due to minority status is focused on heavily, maybe because it’s so easy to define the enemy? ‘Privileged’ white people?
When general prejudice exists among all people.
As a brown woman I’ve seen an equal amount of insular attitudes across all demographics. Derisive comments about white girls having loose morals. I was also told that white DP would either get me pregnant and dump me.. or have an affair… because white people aren’t faithful 🙄

Yeah, I guess it's familiarity, seeing people like you around - for all. And I guess the perception that it might be less racist because it's less white, though I don't think that necessarily holds true. It might in some parts of London though.

i live rurally although that is gradually changing and yes the churches have fairs and carol festivals but nobody gives a hoot if you go or not. Yes one of the local churches has a female vicar but Vicar of Dibley esque it is not

@Rosehugger its weird but a lot of posh commuter towns in the SE still have a white majority. There are plenty of BAME professionals who could easily afford homes there but they choose to stay in a more expensive property in London. Theoretically all the benefits of living in the Home Counties should apply to them as well- fresher air, gardens better access to countryside, bigger homes etc etc My DH just had a conversation with his british indian colleague where both were in mutual agreement and expounding upon the merits of apartment living (as both own apartments in London). I have yet to meet a white british person IRL who would tell me a London apartment is far preferable to a house with garden in the Home Counties!

In fact, the vast majority of people i know who leave london for the countryside/commuter towns are disproportionately white...

@Rosehugger I'm actually glad you commented, I had a dreadful childhood as a white female growing up parts of West Yorkshire around parts of Bradford predominately in non white areas and I would regularly get spat on , swore at and abused for specially being white, but then again were not allowed to mention it for fear of being shut down. Yet I don't label all the community, there are good and bad no matter where you live and in all communities but it's easy to bash me for being white.

Have to say I find this interesting on a site that's predominantly female.

It's a very similar argument to sexism, in that men are often criticised for saying that sexism doesn't exist because they don't ever see it.

That's not to say, by the way that racism does not exist or is not a factor. But it exists everywhere and London, Birmingham and Bradford are not all hearts and flowers either. As a white person I experienced racism from Pakstani children in Stoke on Trent, just shouting random racist/sexual comments in the street. Made me really sad that they were obviously hearing that somewhere and repeating it.

There are actually very few areas in the country with high numbers of ethnic minorities/black/Asian. Most places outside parts of West Yorkshire, London, West Midlands are very white majority. I guess at first, in terms of people coming in 20th century, went to where the jobs were then the next generation, where there were people already like them and where their families already were. And so it goes.

Edit: Cotswolds are, not is.

Cotswolds is mainly Tory, White and pretty damn racist.
As to “ Wealthy area” Notting Hill is much wealthier, but much better mix of people.

A “Minority” woman married a wealthy man in the Cotswold heartlands, and was desperately lonely.

Who can blame her?
Racism definitely had a part to play in her unhappiness.

This.

Did OP never come back?

Yes blame the nasty non white people. We moved here 25 years ago, we didn't ask anyone to do anything but that didn't stop the nastiness. Neighbours made a complaint to the council, I do hope they were listening when the planning committee visited to see the horror we had committed (a shed in the garden just like their's and a sky dish just like theirs) I'm sure the laughing by the committee would have annoyed them particularly when they were pointing out the same things in the neighbours property and killing themselves laughing.

To be fair that’s a village vs outsiders thing, you don’t need to be black. We had the exact same- neighbour complaining to the district council about sky dish, shed and windows (matching their own). If you’re not local you can’t breathe, and you’re not local unless your family’s been here since the domesday book 🙄 pp who said cities are friendlier was bang on the money.

Where I live is very white, and there is racism. There are just as many (in proportion) vile people in the countryside as there are in cities.

Villages can be very insular and full of busybodies. I don't think I would like to live in one.

Is it your belief that these rules exist solely to keep areas white only? Given that anyone can but a house in these areas I'm not sure that would apply? Why would 'they'(I'm not in the UK so not sure who allocates social housing) want to keep social housing in those areas exclusively white?

You are probably right, it is too hard for some to admit.

It's pathetic that people can't accept there is racism. I'm white, I know I am treated differently if I am alone or with white friends/family compared to if I am with my husband.

All the rubbish about people demanding things, what are they demanding?

Denying racism is a lazy way to shut down the people who experience it.

My husband is black and 75. He has no need of ethnic shops, he eats like most British people and the local Sainsbury's has plenty of ethnic food if he did wan them.

He is Roman Catholic and plenty of Catholic churches around, our small town and surrounding towns.

Maybe you are stereotyping people.

To be honest I'm not even going to attempt to answer your post, you obviously have a chip on your shoulder starting your post with "Yes blame the nasty non white people" utterly pathetic.

Just because you have had a bad experience with bad neighbours, they must be racist and so must every one else who lives in a village. Its tiresome and tries to shut down discussion with labels, grow up.

That is true. In the small Devon town where I live people from Birmingham and Liverpool are particularly demonised. I'm not sure what they think goes on in cities but I found them much friendlier and more welcoming.

Heaven help you if you are black and come from Birmingham or Liverpool.