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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To Think The UK is a Racist Country and the racism is deeply ingrained.

386 replies

ACoolDad · 11/10/2015 17:25

For the last couple of weeks BBC Three has been running documentaries about racism and racial tensions in the U.K and USA. This week we saw a program called "Is Britain Racist?" it failed to prove much apart from black men are seen as more likely to steal from shops and women in Burka's are more likely to face verbal abuse.

As a second generation Black Briton from Jamaica, I have faced racism many times, I do believe the UK is a racist country but it is a in the closet type of racism that is hard to prove. The UK unlike the USA has a type of racism in which few people are openly racist, but racism is deeply ingrained into are mindsets as the program explored.

The presenter who comes across as a very anti racist person still perceived black people as dangerous sub consciously when she had her brain scanned. You have to ask why? You have to ask why black people have been sub consciously viewed as angry, violent and criminals.

I am so proud of my family and my black, mixed and white children and stepchildren. My family represent the tolerant modern Britain that we have and should be proud of.

My son aged 15 was stopped and searched two weeks ago. My white stepson aged 15 has never been stopped and searched, despite them wearing similar clothes, my black son has been profiled by the same mentality explored in the documentary. The type of racism is so difficult to fight as it is so difficult to prove it is racism.

Britain comes across as a country that is improving in terms of race, but I believe certain people and aspects of the media always have to push the idea of white supremacy in different forms. In the past it was considered that black individuals were considered less intelligent now it is considered blacks are more likely to be criminals.

It would be interesting to hear what you think.

OP posts:
AnotherEpisode · 12/10/2015 20:51

stripeytees similar to the above with regards to my time but I will ask one thing. How does your post relate in ANYWAY to the OP's question?

BoneyBackJefferson · 12/10/2015 20:51

BrandNewAndImproved

"it's a temporary prejudice."

So if its day in and day out its just a temporary prejudice?

Brioche201 · 12/10/2015 20:53

"Also the posts about being white and experiencing racism from minorities are wrong. That's not racism. Being called a white slag isn't racism.
What rubbish! Of course it is racism!

Bambambini · 12/10/2015 20:54

It can come across as angry and shouting.

DioneTheDiabolist · 12/10/2015 20:54

This thread makes for depressing reading. The whataboutery and level of denial is astonishing.

Racism isnt all EDL, KKK and Britain First. It is much more likely to come dressed up in religiousity, feminism, atheism and political stance. But it's still racism. The fact that it is more subtle than rallies and burning crosses means that it is more insidious, widespread and difficult to tackle in our society. Therefore it is up to white people to listen and not dismiss those who are patient enough to explain.

I'm sure no MNetter would describe themselves as racist but this thread proves that they are.

AnotherEpisode · 12/10/2015 20:54

Zest sorry if I'm being harsh but your final paragraph, to me, contradicts the point you were trying to make in the paragraph prior to that. Take a look at the links I posted. In a nice way Smile

Egosumquisum · 12/10/2015 20:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BrandNewAndImproved · 12/10/2015 20:59

Bbj I might get called a white slag walking down the street everyday but I don't then go in to work and be stereotyped. I don't get told my hair doesn't look professional and I get equal pay. I could then walk to the police station and would feel very happy about going to the police about the prejudice and not feel they would brush me off.

AnotherEpisode · 12/10/2015 21:02

Grazia I made quite a few 'educated guesses' about you and you have proven them to be right. Read the links or please accept the fact your posts show a very limited understanding of racism. Choosing not to use the resources literally available at your fingertips to educate yourself shows you are more interested in your outcome in the conversation of racism over the victims of racism.

Bambambini · 12/10/2015 21:02

I think the answer lies in our children. Each generation seems to be less racist, more open. I grew up and lived in a small white town. At my primary and high school there was one black family. We wouldn't have felt that comfortable probably when first coming into contact with non whites.

My kids OTOH have always had neighbours and friends who are non white. They spent some of their earliest years as a white minority in a Asian country. Most of their classmates and their best friends were non white. I'm hoping for them - colour of someone's skin is just a non issue.

PollyGone · 12/10/2015 21:03

The world is racist. Othewise...here you go,

AnotherEpisode · 12/10/2015 21:06

Bambi I hope your right but if you would like to help your son read the articles I have linked and broaden your horizons of what you believe racism to be.

Alisvolatpropiis · 12/10/2015 21:08

Bed

I didn't either, personally, but I guess it's about perception.

It would be so much easier if tone wasn't lost. Especially in serious discussions like this one.

Littleonesaid · 12/10/2015 21:09

Your OP presupposes that white people are racist against black people. I think in that you are exposing yourself to allegations of racial stereotyping yourself.

As a white person, I have suffered racism in Britain. My Polish friend's son is being victimised at school because he is not of Asian ethnicity and of a particular faith.
I think that racism in Briain does need to be addressed, but in its entirety. Whilst there is this ridiculous assumption that white people alone can be racist, racism will continue to exist in Britain.

AnotherEpisode · 12/10/2015 21:10

Pacific I'm not an academic and I'm in my 20's so this issue and structuring my thoughts around it changes almost daily.

There's a lot of literature out there and the first article I linked has some good reading suggestions.

Bambambini · 12/10/2015 21:11

I'll have a look at them.

crystalgall · 12/10/2015 21:12

Lots of denial, evading and trying to replace the issue with something else. Grazia seems insistent on making this about culture and religion (Muslims specifically...I can see that so clearly). Lots of black people are just as bad etc etc and comments which are totally irrelevant to the topic of ingrained racism.

Sorry my two (!) question marks came across as angry and aggressive. The poster was doing that PA thing of suggesting something without actually coming out and saying what she meant

crystalgall · 12/10/2015 21:14

Littleone have you read the thread? Once again, the issue of ingrained racism against BME in our society truns into white people get racism too. Do you understand that individual instances of racism against a white person is NOT the same as an institutional, systemic, ingrained racist society?

Brioche201 · 12/10/2015 21:17

Do you understand that individual instances of racism against a white person is NOT the same as an institutional, systemic, ingrained racist society?
One word - Rotherham

crystalgall · 12/10/2015 21:17

BrandNew has it spot on. You can experience an instance of racism as a white person but you have a shedload of white privilege as well which means that overall your experince of racism is not on par with the experiences of BME people

crystalgall · 12/10/2015 21:19

Yes and Brioche? You have one example of what? Where a tiny group of Asian men were systemically racist towards a group of white girls. And? What does that have to do with the everyday systemic racism experienced by BME people?

Bambambini · 12/10/2015 21:21

Littleone - as a white person you may have faced incidents of prejudice but it's not the same as the overal racism that non whites face - as folk say, a nationwide institutionalised racism. You only need to read the likes of the DM to see it.

I was on another site the other day. A woman started a thread about street harrasement women face. One man came on to bang on about the fact that men can be harassed as well you know. Yes they can but it is not in the same way and on the same scale that women experience it. It really pissed me off that he tried to derail and belittle what "women" were trying to say about what they had personally experienced.

Egosumquisum · 12/10/2015 21:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Holowiwi · 12/10/2015 21:25

Brioche that is actually a good example of systemic racism. A small group of Asian men perpetrate horrible crimes and are held up as an example for their entire race. Project Yewtree and all the high profile peaodophilla etc cases have all involved white people has there been any mention of their race? Are white people criticised for their attitute to children? Are those people held up as an example of white people of course not.

DioneTheDiabolist · 12/10/2015 21:25

Rotherham: Systemic failure to see vulnerable, young girls as fully human.