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Original poster

To not be ok with race-based segregation?

411 replies

jbeble · 14/12/2023 09:00

In Boston USA, the Mayor holds parties for 'elected of colour' only. It's been a long road for racism, segregation, discrimination of minorities to be recognised and punished as the crimes that they are. What are we trying to achieve here?

AIBU to think that democratically elected representatives of the people should know better than to promote and/or support segregation?

OP posts:
Queucumber · 14/12/2023 09:34

‘Genuinely curious’ is a giant red flag. Often with a blue cross and little white stars on it.

titchy · 14/12/2023 09:37

So many of these threads around at the moment....

Ktime · 14/12/2023 09:38

Dotcheck · 14/12/2023 09:24

Disbanding the breastfeeding group is awful. Can I ask though, why a group for black and mixed race mums was deemed necessary? I’m genuinely curious.

Show quote history

Only yesterday the news was talking about how left behind black and Asian mothers are in healthcare.

One example was black women being 2 years behind white women in getting fertility help.

Breastfeeding will be another area where black mums will just be expected to get on with it without help.

Vuurhoutjies · 14/12/2023 09:40

I love the fake naïveté of these sorts of posts. "Oh, but racism is wrong and isn't this just racism? <blink blink>"

I can think of a million reasons why an event for elected POC might be appropriate. The shared spaces others have mentioned. Also because it might well be that there are issues to be discussed and strategies formulated that specifically focus on POC. Perhaps it's also to celebrate POC and their success and, in addition, to show non-elected POC that there is a route to being in these traditionally white spaces and to have a voice.

Just like you might get an event for elected people from the LGB community. Or elected women. Or elected disabled people. Or elected people who come from lower socio-economic backgrounds...

Comedycook · 14/12/2023 09:41

I can totally understand why black/mixed race mums might want a separate group...but was the group aimed at mums of that ethnicity or babies... because if it's the latter, it's a bit more confusing as those babies could have a white mum.

Oliotya · 14/12/2023 09:42

titchy · 14/12/2023 09:37

So many of these threads around at the moment....

Look, a squirrel!

TheGoogleMum · 14/12/2023 09:43

Segregation in a negative way shouldn't be allowed, but this is a positive celebration for minorities.

Ktime · 14/12/2023 09:43

Comedycook · 14/12/2023 09:41

I can totally understand why black/mixed race mums might want a separate group...but was the group aimed at mums of that ethnicity or babies... because if it's the latter, it's a bit more confusing as those babies could have a white mum.

If it was for mixed raced babies as well than the mum of the baby would have been welcome regardless of race surely.

Itslegitimatesalvage · 14/12/2023 09:44

You’re an idiot @jbeble. This is division. This isn’t racism. If you don’t understand that then you need to actually think about why elected people of colour may want to celebrate and promote one another given the extra obstacles they face in getting elected.

Sirzy · 14/12/2023 09:44

Comedycook · 14/12/2023 09:41

I can totally understand why black/mixed race mums might want a separate group...but was the group aimed at mums of that ethnicity or babies... because if it's the latter, it's a bit more confusing as those babies could have a white mum.

But the babies will still face the same sort of challenges as growing up so it’s not really confusing.

even for something as “simple” as haircare is so different!

jencool · 14/12/2023 09:45

YABU on this occasion.

lkwhjis · 14/12/2023 09:46

It’s white saviour syndrome. Most minorities don’t want to be singled out. They want to be treated like everyone else. Not sure if it’s white guilt or just a fad where the more ‘virtuous’ you are, the more likes you get.

Original poster
jbeble · 14/12/2023 09:48

To be clear, this is not about people supporting each other and having to get together to have their voice heard, their concerned answered, their cause taken into account.

But the fact is these people are elected, they represent everyone that elected them. Now is the time, and it is their role, to have the hard conversations, not to entrench and divide.

OP posts:
PaulaPocket · 14/12/2023 09:48

PaintAngst · 14/12/2023 09:31

Yes. Though I can't think this post can possibly be anything other than a fairly platant attempt to provoke.

Show quote history

Absolutely. And not very subtle either.

PaulaPocket · 14/12/2023 09:49

@jbeble - are you from Dixie?

lkwhjis · 14/12/2023 09:49

OP, you don’t need to explain. You are not unreasonable at all. These elected officials are usually really shit at their day job. That ls why they try and make themselves look busy with this divisive nonsense.

MooseBreath · 14/12/2023 09:54

I can understand why POC would want a separate space, including elected officials. A meeting for "African Americans" or "Latino Americans" isn't uncommon. Women and men have similar groups that are mostly accepted.

That said, if people called for a meeting for "Caucasians", this would be viewed as vehemently racist.

I think a private gathering with clear intent to discuss common experiences is ok. But a large-scale social event is exclusionary, especially if it is political in nature. If white people did it, they would absolutely be vilified.

Vuurhoutjies · 14/12/2023 09:55

Ah, of course. People of colour can't possibly represent the WHITE people in their constituencies if they occasionally attend events that are ONLY for people of colour.

But white people absolutely have always done a brilliant job of representing people of colour and it's no problem if they are surrounded by other white people (by choice and coincidence, of course).

Ugh. I don't know why I bother with threads like these. The not so thinly veiled racism is so hideous.

Oliotya · 14/12/2023 09:56

lkwhjis · 14/12/2023 09:46

It’s white saviour syndrome. Most minorities don’t want to be singled out. They want to be treated like everyone else. Not sure if it’s white guilt or just a fad where the more ‘virtuous’ you are, the more likes you get.

Minorities are obviously not a hive mind, but my DH loves some positive discrimination. Somewhat makes up for all the shit he still has to deal with. Which I am assuming is the point of this event.

MsMarch · 14/12/2023 09:56

lkwhjis · 14/12/2023 09:49

OP, you don’t need to explain. You are not unreasonable at all. These elected officials are usually really shit at their day job. That ls why they try and make themselves look busy with this divisive nonsense.

"These elected officials". Do you mean all of them, or just the black ones?

RancidRuby · 14/12/2023 09:57

jbeble · 14/12/2023 09:48

To be clear, this is not about people supporting each other and having to get together to have their voice heard, their concerned answered, their cause taken into account.

But the fact is these people are elected, they represent everyone that elected them. Now is the time, and it is their role, to have the hard conversations, not to entrench and divide.

Yes they represent all of the electorate but that doesn't mean they have to be inclusive of the entirety of the electorate at all times. You've not addressed whether you feel similarly about women or LGB only initiatives? How about things aimed solely at the elderly, or children? Can you really not see that certain groups may need specific targeting, because they have unique needs.

Ktime · 14/12/2023 09:57

jbeble · 14/12/2023 09:00

In Boston USA, the Mayor holds parties for 'elected of colour' only. It's been a long road for racism, segregation, discrimination of minorities to be recognised and punished as the crimes that they are. What are we trying to achieve here?

AIBU to think that democratically elected representatives of the people should know better than to promote and/or support segregation?

the Mayor holds parties for 'elected of colour' only.

Why are you lying and spinning this in to multiple parties OP?

It’s one get together for the 6 BAME people, out of 13 people.

Then there are several parties planned:

'There are multiple ways that we celebrate with everyone. There are several parties where all the entire city council and all of our elected colleagues have been invited to.'

RancidRuby · 14/12/2023 09:58

MooseBreath · 14/12/2023 09:54

I can understand why POC would want a separate space, including elected officials. A meeting for "African Americans" or "Latino Americans" isn't uncommon. Women and men have similar groups that are mostly accepted.

That said, if people called for a meeting for "Caucasians", this would be viewed as vehemently racist.

I think a private gathering with clear intent to discuss common experiences is ok. But a large-scale social event is exclusionary, especially if it is political in nature. If white people did it, they would absolutely be vilified.

Are white people in the minority and prejudiced against because of their ethnicity?

LusaBatoosa · 14/12/2023 10:00

MooseBreath · 14/12/2023 09:54

I can understand why POC would want a separate space, including elected officials. A meeting for "African Americans" or "Latino Americans" isn't uncommon. Women and men have similar groups that are mostly accepted.

That said, if people called for a meeting for "Caucasians", this would be viewed as vehemently racist.

I think a private gathering with clear intent to discuss common experiences is ok. But a large-scale social event is exclusionary, especially if it is political in nature. If white people did it, they would absolutely be vilified.

That’s because while people are the majority. You cannot ‘exclude’ the majority. Do you also look at women only groups and say ‘if men did this, they’d be vilified’? Groups for people with disabilities and say ‘if people without disabilities did this, they’d be vilified’?