Dear Black People of Mumsnet

[PatricksRum]

Following on.

Name the thread poll here.

strawpoll.com/fr4juk62w

Thanks to everyone, black and white who have helpfully contributed.

Thanks to everyone, black and white who have proved exactly why we need this section.

@AMemeByAnyOtherName
@BIWI
@EchoCardioGran
@Quaagars
@Phoenix21

@BullshitVivienne I didn't think it was you saying it. I was just incredulous that anyone wouldn't mind it.

I thought you weren't @JimMaxwellantheshippingforcast, but then I doubted myself and thought other people might think I was. Sorry!

@CuriousFluff

This is anti white so quite racist

How so?

It's separating races, making them different and eroding all the equality and unity work that's been done by others. We're all the same or we're not.

Would just like to apologise as a supporter of black rights for my white counterparts behaviour over this.
Damn right they should have a section, if MNetters didn't behave exactly as they have done over you asking you wouldn't feel the need to ask.
Personally Black Perspectives I feel is a great name. It invites mum's, dad's and non parents to join in and ask questions.

Pelleas - Fair enough, but I’ve noticed that although the site (obviously) has the word ‘mum’ in the title, individual boards don’t, presumably because MN don’t want to be prescriptive. If the consensus is that the word ‘mum’ won’t deter non-parents then that’s great.

The furore over whether this board should be created - which in my (irrelevant as I’m not black) view it should - reminds me of the fuss I witnessed many years ago when the “one child families” board was started. Lots of parallels with people chuntering then about parenting being parenting and why would you need a separate discussion of parenting only children etc, and not seeing that there might be occasions when you want to speak to people with common, shared experience.

@CuriousFluff

It's separating races, making them different and eroding all the equality and unity work that's been done by others. We're all the same or we're not.

Is the LGBTQ thread anti-heterosexual? Is the lone parents thread anti-joint parenting? Is the sporners thread anti-squeamish?

If not, why not?

No need to apologise @LadyofTheManners, if mumsnet had any doubts it’s been proved repeatedly as to why a safe space is required.

I feel Black Perspectives also invites those who may not be black but have Q in relations to mixed children/families, wanting to holiday somewhere like Caribbean etc.

Not that my primary objective is to cater to all but I do strongly believe in inclusion within a safe space.

‘Mums’net was founded on the basis of a safe place for mums. It’s evolved nicely and is inclusive to all, but I also find it ironic that people are using a forum called ‘mumsnet’ to complain that a special interest area is segregating.

I think some people confuse equality and equity

I wish I could like your post captainjacksparrow

Well I'm not a mum and I voted Black Mums Matter because I like the sound of it. But I can see it could sound like it's just a mums thing. so Black Matters is my second choice.

But ultimately I'd rather have a vote that was maybe half of a black vote because it's kind of not mine to vote on.

It's separating races, making them different and eroding all the equality and unity work that's been done by others. We're all the same or we're not.
What utter tosh.

We're all the same or we're not

But we're not all the same are we?
And a good job too, looking at some posts here

@CuriousFluff

This is anti white so quite racist

As a white person married to someone who is minority ethnic but not black I would disagree strongly. When all races are treated the same and systematic inequality has been eliminated then perhaps we can have a discussion.

However, I think you need to recognise that it is for black members of MN to determine whether or not a separate space is needed. They don’t need to justify why they want it nor are they responsible for putting aside their own needs to create an illusion of equality that doesn’t match their lived experiences.

@CuriousFluff

It's separating races, making them different and eroding all the equality and unity work that's been done by others. We're all the same or we're not.

We're all the same as in we are all human and equal but different groups have different needs. Sometimes it's nice go have a place away from the main boards to talk.

LGBT sometimes sometimes need a space separately
Disabled people sometimes need a space separately
Scotnet for people to chat away to chat from a scottish perspective
The litter tray is a space for cat owners to chat using language (furbaby etc) that may cause them to be ridiculed on for example chat or aibu.
Adoptive parents sometimes need a specific place to chat separately.

all of those people also use the rest of the site quite happily too

A recent simple example to highlight the need for a black section was a thread in style and beauty someone asked about their black hair and they were told to go to google (rather than mn) because the standards in style and beauty currently is heavily towards white or at least not black beauty knowledge so there was nowhere in this site she could ask a simple hair question!

Would it not be lovely in the future if that woman could be told actually there is a specific section where you will get loads of advice there are a great couple of posters over there who are real Afro experts they will definitely be able to help you out, good luck! Come back and show us pictures of how great it looks once you get it how you want. No segregation just a specific place to get tailored advice, and the rest of the site is welcoming too.

Why is it taking so long for the new board to be set up? I don't remember as much discussion or delay for craicnet for example?

Perhaps they're struggling to get the right Mods.

@CuriousFluff

It's separating races, making them different and eroding all the equality and unity work that's been done by others. We're all the same or we're not.

We're the same so we have equal opportunities? Oh wait...

Late to the party but I think Black Perspectives allows us to have wider conversations outside of the opressed/marginalised/in contrast to whiteness space.

Take black childrens skin/hair for example, make up, or fashion for larger thighs!

Or course, we can technically discuss anything, anywhere. However, I think it'll be empowering to see ourselves outside of the 'marginalised' realm and our wider conversations as things we simply want to talk about and not always under the lense of minority conversations or BLM.

Much like everyone else I suppose.

Thanks for setting this up.

This was asked of Mumsnet some years back and the idea was ignored.

It's clear the current BLM wave is having impact and in spaces like this, rightly so. As a black woman, it makes me feel safer and more included.

@PatricksRum DM would like to vote, is it possible for you to pm me a code for her as she doesn't MN?

Also the poll seems to be closed.

[quote AMemeByAnyOtherName]@PatricksRum DM would like to vote, is it possible for you to pm me a code for her as she doesn't MN? [/quote]
If she doesn't even use Mumsnet, why on earth should she get a say in naming a topic?

And why would she want to?

CuriousFluff
It's separating races, making them different and eroding all the equality and unity work that's been done by others. We're all the same or we're not.
And there you have it, if you're black, brown or other than white, or from the 'wrong' ethnic minorities, you're not and won't be treated the same, in so many situations, no matter how much the majority group want to claim otherwise.
Also as already said, lots of simple situations where people currently have to explain difference and fend off stupid answers in order to find what they need.
In a years time all the fuss will have died down and it will just be another section.

@WorraLiberty because she created an account a few months ago and now refuses to use it after the experiences she has had. She's excited about the idea so I said I'd ask on her behalf.