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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I being guilty of unconscious bias?

128 replies

Normalguy22 · 24/10/2024 12:44

I see this a phase a lot in the media lately.

recently at my work we had a event for black history month. They basically said only black people can work in a certain public facing area on a set day. All white faces were excluded to another area.

They made a big fuss about it around diversity and celebrating black culture etc. Balloons, cake,flags etc etc

Now to me this seems to just reinforces stereotypes and division, surely it we shouldn’t highlight a group people by race, gender etc. I love working with all types of cultures and genders and believe we should all just stop talking about “differences” and get along.

Am I being guilty of unconscious bias or worse racism by seeing these events and racist and causing division?

OP posts:
SallyWD · 24/10/2024 12:51

You're talking about what you want OP, not what black people want. As a white woman I can't speak for black people, but the ones I do know, think black history month is important. They recently celebrated it at my children's school and the black children spoke quite passionately about how it was an important time to celebrate black history and achievements. One girl said "It's the only time we feel like black people are important". Black people still feel they are judged on their colour every day. I don't think it's our place as white people to say that skin colour is irrelevant.

zzplea · 24/10/2024 12:49

I don't think you understand the meaning of "unconscious bias".

IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday · 24/10/2024 12:46

Yes - until we have true equality and equity, then underrepresented and marginalised groups deserve recognition of the struggles they face.