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MIL using racist term around DD

229 replies

BurlyReptile · 23/08/2025 21:31

I have DD 2.5yo so has got really chatty and is good at speaking and picks up on things quite quickly.

MIL frequently refers to black people using the D-word (starts with D rhymes with snarky) to refer to black people. Every time she uses it I tell her it is racist and she just says she's not meaning it in a racist way. It just seems to be how she refers to black people?? Today I snapped at her a bit more, saying it's a racist term, she knows it's racist term and by using it she is indeed being racist.

She is late 50s so it's not like she's an old 90 year old who thinks it's ok.

I am terrified that DD picks up on this and starts using it, even once would be mortifying. This has been going on since I met her (so years of her being periodically told off by me about it being racist), but now I am really keen to stamp this out around DD in particular, although preferably I'd rather she acknowledged it is racist and not use racist terms again but this is probably asking too much.

DP is generally supportive and disagrees with her saying it, but in general her side of family don't really seem to bother. They don't use it, but nobody else seems to bother that she does. Am I the one being unreasonable here? For the record we are all white.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 23/08/2025 21:35

It’s completely unacceptable. She doesn’t say it or she doesn’t see your daughter. Her choice.

Newmeagain · 23/08/2025 21:34

That is such a weird word to use. I could maybe understand it if she was 100…

Whichone2024 · 23/08/2025 21:34

She is being racist

Radiatorvalves · 23/08/2025 21:34

You need to absolutely stop that. To the extent that if she doesn’t, you stop DD from seeing her. DD could repeat it unknowingly… I’m similar age and I am cringing. That’s awful. Good luck.