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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To find this disturbing for a number of reasons....

529 replies

Tinlegs · 10/11/2013 14:28

Photograph, posted on Facebook (and, therefore, in my eyes, endorsed) by a teacher of a group of people dressed up for Halloween. One person, "blacked up" (face mask, brownish make up on neck etc) one person "whitened up" (face mask, White make up) and a third person, also made up but in a brown colour. "Black man" wearing track suit, trainers and lots and lots of jewellery. "White woman" in curlers, Primark hoodie, track suit bottoms, heels. "Brown person" (an adult) in a child's buggy with a bottle, dummy and carrying what looks like a lunch box.

AIBU to think that this is racist and stereotyping of the worst kind. That they are dressed as a mixed race "chav" (not a word I would use but...) low income family who bottle feeds their baby, dresses badly and pushes a very old child around, who are all overweight etc.

Now I know these people. The area we live in is NOT at all multi cultural so there is unlikely to have been anyone offended at the party. But I am offended.

FWIW at least one of these people works with children on a daily basis.

Mumsnet, over to you.

OP posts:
garlicbutter · 10/11/2013 21:06

Agreed, Unlucky :) Personally I couldn't find much joy in painting a child to look as if she'd been beaten to a pulp (now I know that's what it is) but, yes, it's an opportunity for education.

Mylovelyboy · 10/11/2013 21:07

Heartbroken my thread that was deleted said "cunt Champion of ....... 'cannot at the time remember the other part' I crossed the cunt bit out. Plenty of people say that on here. I used it once and crossed it out. big bloody deal

candycoatedwaterdrops · 10/11/2013 21:07

"Us whites" says mylovelyboy aka the not-so-closet racist

I'd rather not be lumped together like that, especially when the person who said "us whites" has such blinkered views.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 10/11/2013 21:07

Erm, no. You said that someone called you a cunt. Who was it?

Heartbrokenmum73 · 10/11/2013 21:08

MrsDeVere I was called a cunt as well but took it on the chin. Like you should in a debate.

Your words, mylovelyboy. So, who called you a cunt?

Or are you maybe being oversensitive?

Heartbrokenmum73 · 10/11/2013 21:09

Yes, I don't want to be included in 'us whites' with her either. No one actually says 'us whites' unless it's in a superior way so...

taffleee · 10/11/2013 21:12

heart lol, i'll let my brother and his friends know they're just a 'big bunch of 'twats' for dressing up as the jackson 5 - thank you for telling me to do so -

They had a great night though, in a 'multi-cultural' environment, and i'm pretty sure if anyone, the thousands' of people they came across in their night out would have found them 'racially offensive', they would have been arrested because of it -

In fact, would like to post the pictures!!!

Not racism =

Heartbrokenmum73 · 10/11/2013 21:15

Taffleee - yes, please do tell them that because they are a bunch of racist twats. But you just keep banging your 'I'm not racist, I'm not racist' drum if it keeps you happy, despite what all the people on this thread have told you to the contrary.

Because obviously you know better than the rest of society and the people running organisations and campaigns to stamp out racism, don't you? Hmm

Mylovelyboy · 10/11/2013 21:17

tafflee take no notice of their silly comments on this post. Pathetic

Heartbrokenmum73 · 10/11/2013 21:18

So, who called you a cunt then?

Lying much?

Tinlegs · 10/11/2013 21:19

They are twats. Also, they can't count.

OP posts:
monicalewinski · 10/11/2013 21:19

Apologies if the thread has moved on and this is now totally out of context, but it took me ages to type this and read various articles etc!

"...an essentially innocent tradition of temporary pigmentation alteration for the purpose of accuracy. Imitating a group is not the same as depicting a person. One key difference between a racist and a non-racist is that the former perceives others in terms of group categories, while the latter sees them as individuals."

This is a quote taken from a Telegraph article re actors 'blacking up' ("Why 'blacking up' white actors isn't necessarily racist, Feb 23rd 2010) - can't do links, sorry.

This is perhaps the closest explanation I can think of as to why I wouldn't see racism in a fancy dress (as long as the costume is not in poor taste) depicting a particular celeb.
If a costume was merely a generalised depiction of a group stereotype, I would absolutely see this as offensive without question.

ilovesooty · 10/11/2013 21:20

So which comments are "silly" and "pathetic" then?

Mylovelyboy · 10/11/2013 21:20

Heartbroken you still up

Heartbrokenmum73 · 10/11/2013 21:21

Yep. Who called you a cunt?

Evading the question because you'll look like a defensive liar?

Just answer the question - otherwise you'll look pathetic.

Mylovelyboy · 10/11/2013 21:23

monicale exactly. I have said in all of my posts that people of all colours and races are in my eyes individuals and equal. So how the hell can i be classed as 'racist'

candycoatedwaterdrops · 10/11/2013 21:27

Just not immigrants in council houses, eh?!

taffleee · 10/11/2013 21:29

Heart yes, i'll tell the total diversity of my brothers mates backgrounds they're all racist for dressing up as the Jackson 5!!!

Does that include the Black and Asian guys included in our bunch of mates??? Are they being racist too?? Cos at the end of the day, this was just a bunch of mates putting on afro wigs hitting all the kareoke bars wanting to sing 'Jackson 5' numbers -

I hardly think the diversity of the bunch, just because they wanted to look like the 'jackson 5' meant racism lol!!!!

Like that heart called them 'racist twats' tho?? Pretty sure half of them would give you proper examples of racism, seeing as though they come from different backgrounds, lol

Heartbrokenmum73 · 10/11/2013 21:29

Exactly Candy - sounds like a bit 'black people are alright aren't they, cos they can take a joke at their expense and that, but I don't like these immigrants coming over here and taking our jobs and houses, stuff being given to them like sweets'.

Are you selectively racist then, mylovelyboy - is that how it works?

Mylovelyboy · 10/11/2013 21:30

As people/humans we are equal. candy with regard to previous posts. Council houses and who gets them are nothing to do with this topic.

KepekCrumbs · 10/11/2013 21:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

katese11 · 10/11/2013 21:31

mylovelyboy on another thread about racism? Hmm

Heartbrokenmum73 · 10/11/2013 21:32

Oh, so it's not proper racism then, if it's a laugh?

I didn't get that. I didn't realise there were grades. Does it only count if name-calling is involved? Or spitting? Or physical violence?

As I've said previously (and you're refusing to listen) your brother's friends are helping racism to exist by their ignorant behaviour. It's not down to you (or your brother, or his equally ignorant friends) that something is racism. It has been decided worldwide that it simply is.

But ignore me as you will.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 10/11/2013 21:33

Council houses and who gets them are nothing to do with this topic.

Unless they're your immigrant neighbours telling you in broken English how they've managed to land a council house while you can't get one, eh?

Heartbrokenmum73 · 10/11/2013 21:34

Kate - I know, shocking isn't it? Because she has such...liberated views on it.