To think Oprah may be being a little inflammatory?

[fackinell]

I very much admire Oprah Winfrey but I'm a little concerned by the news that she think the incident with the handbag in Switzerland may have been racially motivated.

IMO everyone is equal based solely on their actions so prepared to be told I am U. I can be a bit of a scruff and on a few occasions have been informed that something is out of my price range. I am white, British, 40 something and put it down to snobbery of the assistant involved, making a snap judgement on me.

I feel Oprah's comments could invoke a bit of animosity the (hopefully) calming race division. With each generation the former issues seem to be diluting (I haven't heard a racist comment in anyone under 40 for years.) isn't this just stirring trouble where there may not necessary be any?

My niece and nephew when describing someone will by nature use anything other than race

I have seen people do this and, while their intentions are usually well meaning, it is anything other than natural. Imagine trying to describe someone female without mentioning she was a woman, ridiculous.

It is not useful or insightful or progressive to downplay or deny race as a factor in someone's experience.
Google "colour blindness" or read this

I hope this is a useful addition to the debate.

I don't think that's what she did but I feel like I might cause offence with anything I say, pity we can't just talk about it. I will leave this thread and go back to my white girl problems, whatever caloprene meant by that.

As I said, I am happy to discuss anything with people that can have an intelligent debate, but will not reply to anyone who merely wants to assassinate my character.

I've been ignored and had folks served before me a few times in some snooty London shops/restaurants. It's happened in my civvies and in my City suit (so relatively respectable looking). I have no idea why, apart from the fact that the assistants seem to prefer the fur coated, bejewelled euro tourists.

I'm happy to say that I am mouthy enough to point out their immense rudeless and flounce off with a 'and you can stick your wallet/handbag/shoes, etc where the monkey sticks its nuts'. Pisses me off big time!

I find £24k for a handbag pretty disgusting though. Waiting list indeed! It's another world! Maybe no-one has ever actually walked in and bought one off the shelf, so the assistant assumed she would be wasting her time unlocking the cabinet?

Honestly OP, I think lots of posters are getting frustrated with you, because you seem to be ignoring what they are saying, and now you only seem interested in taking offence.

A White person saying 'I haven't experienced racism recently' is utterly disingenuous. You need to acknowledge that. It is not for you o decide whether or not racism still happens, it is for the people who suffer racism (and I don't think occasionally being called a 'sweaty sock' in Amy way compares to being subject to the sort of intitutional racism that other posters have discussed - being singled out by police, employers, educators - the functions of society.)

You haven't properly acknowledged the experiences of other posters, just reiterated your own ideas. That isn't 'intelligent debate'; I'd say it as being deliberately obtuse.