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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do you think this is racist?

113 replies

Helpmechooseausername · 15/08/2025 21:34

I was on holiday and had developed quite a good tan (I'm white). I said to someone "if I stayed here for another few weeks I'd be the colour of chocolate" and they said I was being racist. They said that I was saying that someone who is black (I hope that is an acceptable term) is the colour of chocolate and that is offensive.

It's totally stumped me! I was referring to myself, not anyone else, regardless of their colour. I genuinely think I'm not offensive to anyone - I certainly don't try to be - but it makes me feel like this is a very narrow tightrope I'm on!

AIBU to think that what I said was ok, or do I need to rethink this?

Thanks!

OP posts:
TheTwitcher11 · 15/08/2025 21:58

Helpmechooseausername · 15/08/2025 21:34

I was on holiday and had developed quite a good tan (I'm white). I said to someone "if I stayed here for another few weeks I'd be the colour of chocolate" and they said I was being racist. They said that I was saying that someone who is black (I hope that is an acceptable term) is the colour of chocolate and that is offensive.

It's totally stumped me! I was referring to myself, not anyone else, regardless of their colour. I genuinely think I'm not offensive to anyone - I certainly don't try to be - but it makes me feel like this is a very narrow tightrope I'm on!

AIBU to think that what I said was ok, or do I need to rethink this?

Thanks!

It’s just weird because you wouldn’t 🤣🤣

Helpmechooseausername · 15/08/2025 21:56

Thanks. It wouldn't have even occurred to me that I was being racist, but it's made me question myself.

The person who said I was racist (my DD - but her siblings agreed with her!) is a teenager and said that if someone had said that at school it would be massively frowned on. Maybe it's a generational thing?

OP posts:
SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 15/08/2025 21:50

What a wanker. Chocolate comes in all shades from white through all the browns to very dark. There is even naturally pink chocolate to match sunburn!,

I’d have called them the racist one for associating the colour of chocolate as only similar to Black people.

OverlyFragrant · 15/08/2025 21:49

Mercurial123 · 15/08/2025 21:46

A white person being tanned is seen as desirable whilst someone who is naturally darker skinned probably encounters racism quite frequently.

Agreed, but what does that have to do with comparing oneself to chocolate?

Mercurial123 · 15/08/2025 21:46

A white person being tanned is seen as desirable whilst someone who is naturally darker skinned probably encounters racism quite frequently.

PInkyStarfish · 15/08/2025 21:45

What’s offensive about being the colour of chocolate?

Is a peaches and cream complexion, offensive?

Of course not.

Your friend or whoever said it is an idiot.

JH0404 · 15/08/2025 21:45

In my opinion no….. but just doesn’t sit right

pikkumyy77 · 15/08/2025 21:42

Not racist but also not a problem. Just shrug and say “don’t be absurd.”

PixelatedLunchbox · 15/08/2025 21:40

Nope. Not racist.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 15/08/2025 21:38

Was the person white? I don’t think it’s racist

MuddyPawsIndoors · 15/08/2025 21:37

You were not racist.

They were the weird one who made a 'connection' between chocolate and black people.

Thiswayorthatway · 15/08/2025 21:36

No not racist imo

Someonelookedatmypostinghistorysoichanged · 15/08/2025 21:35

Didn’t you ask the person why they considered it racist. ?

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