To think my friend was racist, rude or both?

Who'd have thunk it?!

Are people really unaware that there is no such thing as an African national? Do they believe there is a country called Africa?

It's mindboggling.

I know a few Ukrainians. All lovely. I know a few asylum seekers and refugees from Muslim countries. Also all lovely. I know at least 2 people who put Ukrainians up at home and have lots of bad things to say about them. I know some asylum seekers/refugees from Muslim countries do bad things. It’s almost as if all of one race/religion/nationality don’t behave in the same way…

Our country has a lot in common with Ukrane including our religion (whether one is religious or not...it's the way of life that the majority live by). I've never met anyone with a bad word to say about any of the Ukrainians that have come to the UK. They appear to be hard working, decent people. That's it!

In my experience it usually is. The people who are against it weren’t against Ukrainians coming in huge numbers through safe countries. (And if you are going to go on about ‘the right way’, remember we made a ‘right way’ for Ukrainians. Wonder why that was?)

There is no such thing as African nationality. That’s a simple statement of fact.

The race equality webpage does not refer to “people of African nationality” does it? No, it does not.

And my “other point” is factually accurate. On all accounts.

There used to be an expression "Friend of Dorothy", used to subtly establish or comment on a (male) individual's sexual preference, before de-criminalisation of homosexuality.

Perhaps we should have a new expression, "Friend of Nigel" to indicate someone who swears blind - in the face of historic and current evidence - that a fascist is not a fascist because they "don't believe" it could be the case. Oh and GenAI told them different.

You're totally missing the point as to why people are saying the the friend is racist.

Yes, she blurted out that she is against the amount of immigrants coming in to the country. That is not racism. She possibly then thought that her friend would be offended.

That’s exactly what we got from a small but persistent minority of people when we lived in the UK. I have literally overheard myself being described as ‘Irish, but quite nice really’, with the word ‘Irish’ pronounced in slightly hushed tones, as if it was a dirty word. The same type of person, usually but not exclusively male and always white, used expressions like ‘worthy oriental gentleman’ to describe the village postmaster and said things like ‘a person with a skin tone slightly darker than pink’ as a way of circumventing that pesky political correctness.

Yes, she is against the huge amount of immigrants coming in from France. That is not racist...

I think you may be known as an African National, as in born there, but not indigenous. Think that's the right way around. Or maybe an English National. Depends on the countries citizenship policy I think.

Imagine how she talks about you to other people. Oh, Ricotta's not like other immigrants. Ricottas not too bad, considering she's (insert nationality). And everyone's personal favourite. I can't be racist, as I'm Ricotta's friend.

This is how it starts....

Read this and see if it changes your view.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2025/nov/18/deeply-shocking-nigel-farage-faces-fresh-claims-of-racism-and-antisemitism-at-school

Given the leader of Reform is one of those I'm not sure how that's true.
Racism and white supremacy seems to have been normalised in the UK atm. It's all quite unpleasant.

It's not reffering to nationality though as you did so the pp is correct really about the use of African. Asian also isn't nationality, nor is European.

I am surprised at that, @JHound as the Action for Race Equality webpage refers to those of African descent. Maybe you should get in touch and inform them that there is no such thing.

As to your other point-you're wrong!

“African” is not a nationality as Africa is not a country.

If you were born in Zambia, South Africa, Cameroon etc absolutely it would be correct to say you were South African, Zambian, Cameroonian etc. (unless your parents were literally passing through maybe not - although in the USA simply being born there would make you American.)

Agreed. Your own person culture can be a mix of any number of strands I reckon. Why do we care what anyone is/identifies as anyway? If they live here having obtained legal right to do so that should be enough. And for those who are trying to get legal right to live here too, up until the point their application fails.
I don’t give a stuff how ‘British’ someone is to be honest. It’s a matter of chance where you are born and who too.

For a very good friend, I would spend a bit of effort trying to explain how our country's issues are caused, and why the billionaires and right wing media want people to think that it's really immigration.
Otherwise, a friend telling me they're going to vote for Reform, is no longer a friend of mine. Full stop. Ditto for those hanging England flags/union jacks over their houses, outside of sporting events/coronations.