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Original poster

Black section on MN

999 replies

PatricksRum · 09/09/2020 03:16

I think it would be great if Mumsnet could make a black parents section/ section for black users.

OP posts:
KenAdams · 10/09/2020 08:30

Right @PatricksRum if you're saying other minority ethnics aren't welcome that excludes me then. I guess we have no place here either then.

And I don't understand why you think its OK to refer to white people as a generalised group and refuse to stop doing it. It serves no purpose.

PersephonePromotesEquanimity · 10/09/2020 08:34

And I don't understand why you think its OK to refer to white people as a generalised group ...

I've run out of words ... This can't be real, surely?

IamTomHanks · 10/09/2020 08:36

And I don't understand why you think its OK to refer to white people as a generalised group and refuse to stop doing it. It serves no purpose.

Because white is a generalized group? Would you prefer she use the term Caucasian? You realize she's also referring to black people as a generalized group as well? I'm honestly at a loss to understand what you're so butt hurt about?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
OverTheRainbow88 · 10/09/2020 08:45

I guess there white British, white European, ummm white Welsh, white English, white Scottish, white Irish, ummmm white American, white Australian

PapaPoule · 10/09/2020 08:48

This reply has been deleted

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Cocothefirst · 10/09/2020 08:51

@Eastie77

Haven't read the whole thread as skim reading has been depressing enough. Have we had any of these posts yet?

"I'm White but I know what prejudice is because I spent my gap year in Africa..and I was the only white person in the village..and the kids stared and laughed at me.."

"A separate section for Black people is just so racist. Why exclude Whites?"

"OP you sound really aggressive"

"If a White person asked for a similar board they would be called racist"

"I don't see colour. This kind of separatism is terrible"

.....

I think we'd ticked off all those bingo squares within half an hour of the original post.

OP I said upthread that I support your idea. Even more so having seen the responses.

doadeer · 10/09/2020 08:52

@OverTheRainbow88

I guess there white British, white European, ummm white Welsh, white English, white Scottish, white Irish, ummmm white American, white Australian
The uniqueness of your life experience comes from your nationality, your class, your gender, your socio-economic status etc not from your ethnicity.

Being white isn't a significant part of your life as you represent the dominant racial group.

If you are a minority in those countries your ethnicity is the first thing people identify about you.

My DH is always referred to as a "black man" it's never just a man. His racial profile is fundamental to his identity attributed by others.

If you were giving a description of someone to a friend you probably wouldn't say, oh you know dave, my white friend.

AdoreTheBeach · 10/09/2020 08:54

Can we have a Jewish section?

How about an Arab section?

FlibbertyGiblets · 10/09/2020 09:00

@AdoreTheBeach

Can we have a Jewish section?

How about an Arab section?

Do start a thread asking HQ to consider your requests. HTH.
PapaPoule · 10/09/2020 09:02

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MeadowHay · 10/09/2020 09:03

So are you an Arab Jew Adore? Smile As if so, I'm sure MN would love you to start your own thread asking for these sections.

MeadowHay · 10/09/2020 09:04

Why would it be a problem to have different sections if there was demand for them? Confused why would you care? If you're not in any of the groups and don't want to post in those sections...then dont? Do you disagree with the multicultural families section? What about SN section? What about LGBTQ should we get rid of that too? Confused

SunshineOutdoors · 10/09/2020 09:06

A few years ago some posters took over a very little used/unused topic and just started making it a ‘great outdoors’ type topic themselves (I think, my memory’s a bit hazy). Then once it was already being used for that purpose mnhq changed the topic title. Maybe this could happen with this idea?

CareBearFan · 10/09/2020 09:07

@MeadowHay

Why would it be a problem to have different sections if there was demand for them? Confused why would you care? If you're not in any of the groups and don't want to post in those sections...then dont? Do you disagree with the multicultural families section? What about SN section? What about LGBTQ should we get rid of that too? Confused
Agree that if people express a need for a particular board, then it should be fine to set one up. I only seem to hear 'Why can't we have a white board' when people of other ethnicities ask for one of their own though. Very puzzling. It's very like 'what about us men' when women ask for a women's anything, tbh.
Ponchy · 10/09/2020 09:09

I think Mumsnet would be accused of being racist if they made a "black" board as it smacks of segregation. I think it would have to be black led and I'd almost guarantee there aren't any black women at MNHQ. I think it would also whiten the rest of the boards. A bunch of white ladies deciding black women need a separate space on the forums might not go over well.

PicsInRed · 10/09/2020 09:10

@AdoreTheBeach

Can we have a Jewish section?

How about an Arab section?

The same answer given to men who complain about "women's refuges, but no men's refuges!" 😢 ... you want one for you, go do the same and make it yourself.
PapaPoule · 10/09/2020 09:11

@MeadowHay

Why would it be a problem to have different sections if there was demand for them? Confused why would you care? If you're not in any of the groups and don't want to post in those sections...then dont? Do you disagree with the multicultural families section? What about SN section? What about LGBTQ should we get rid of that too? Confused
Because I think that the people from those groups will inevitably be more likely to gravitate to those boards, discussing more-or-less the same stuff as on the main ("white") boards, each in their own little bubble / echo chamber, decreasing the diversity of opinion / poster that everybody on MN would have access to. I said earlier that I don't think the OPs initial examples were particularly convincing of the need for a dedicated black board, as they fell under categories that already exist on the site.
Ponchy · 10/09/2020 09:11

Perhaps a "racism" board would be better? Or race-related issues?

PersephonePromotesEquanimity · 10/09/2020 09:12

@SunshineOutdoors

A few years ago some posters took over a very little used/unused topic and just started making it a ‘great outdoors’ type topic themselves (I think, my memory’s a bit hazy). Then once it was already being used for that purpose mnhq changed the topic title. Maybe this could happen with this idea?
Squatting, essentially? (Because not worthy of a proper home?)

Extraordinary.

I had no idea there was such a shortage of space on the Internet ...

HepzibahGreen · 10/09/2020 09:13

Well what would be wrong with having as an Arab section? Or a Jewish section. I think both would be interesting actually. Jews and Arabs are small minorities in the UK, with long and rich histories. Why not have a place where they can chat about Jewish or Arab life? It wouldn't mean that to those groups would be banned from posting on the rest of the boards, just like posters in the chicken coop are not banned from posting on AIBU!

MeadowHay · 10/09/2020 09:16

Papa, firstly you don't need to think the examples are convincing. As it's not your choice or decision in any way whether there will be such a board or not. Secondly the fact that you don't think the only examples are important or merit a particular discussion place actually just supports OPs argument that the area is needed. To try and minimise people like you turning up claiming that the issues aren't important and giving your opinion even though you know nothing about the topic etc.

Finally, why did you not answer my questions? Shall we get rid of LGBTQ area? SN chat? Multicultural families? People with SN kids gravitate to SN chat, shall we get rid of that then? As you seem to think people with specific issues in common should not be 'allowed' to have a specific place to discuss it?

MeadowHay · 10/09/2020 09:17

Oh and Papa I missed your last point. Everybody would have access to a black board and OP never stated otherwise anywhere in the thread Confused

Gilead · 10/09/2020 09:19

Ffs. If you are against this idea for any reason (not yet seen a valid one) you are of the ‘I’m not racist but...’ persuasion.
Grow up!

InsaneInTheViralMembrane · 10/09/2020 09:20

Great idea. Go for it ladies.

PapaPoule · 10/09/2020 09:24

Papa, firstly you don't need to think the examples are convincing. As it's not your choice or decision in any way whether there will be such a board or not

No, but I am allowed to give my opinion on whether I think it would be helpful to hive out "black issues" to their own dedicated forum, same as everyone else is.

Finally, why did you not answer my questions?

Because they bore me, and I think the conversation is already fractured enough. However, in the interest of discussion...

Shall we get rid of LGBTQ area?

No, because LGBTQ is a topic that is not based on doing skin-colour variants of the same chats elsewhere. Though I would expect there to eventually be a "Black LGBTQ" board that would some in under the new "Black section", meaning that LGBTQ people now have to look in two places rather than one to get the full scope of discussions around LGBTQ issues.

SN chat?

Ditto.

Also Multicultural families?
Ditto

People with SN kids gravitate to SN chat, shall we get rid of that then?

Isn't this the same as the SN chat question ?