Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
crystalgall · 14/10/2015 11:07

I don't think chipstick is interested in a discussion do you grazia?

Thanks you for your contributions though. I of course agree everyone should be discussing an issue which affects our society.

ApplePaltrow · 14/10/2015 18:57

I'm black and agree that there is racism in the UK. However, I'm not sure what the point of structuring this post as an AIBU question is. It's clear that any answer other than "yes, yes it is. it's the worst" is being shouted down as not just wrong but inconsiderate.

A question like this is so vague and pointless as to be almost deliberately constructed to cause argument rather than actual discussion. That's because theoretically (and my guess is that in practice) the UK can be a racist country AND racism can be deeply ingrained AND racism can still have very little effect on the life chances of minorities here. It's not the same as making a case that racism is the primary or even an important social phenomenon in British society.

Why not just create a post called "share your experiences of racism"? Then it's clear that you don't want an argument and you can have the "safe space" you so clearly desire.

Grazia1984 · 15/10/2015 13:02

That would be a better thread, just as the "everyday sexism" website is useful. It is the small every day things that wear you down.

Atenco · 15/10/2015 13:18

Society has so many fault-lines, doesn't it? Racism, hatred of immigrants, Muslims, benefit claimants, the disabled, etc. It makes me think of the old maxim "Divide and conquer"

Lurkedforever1 · 15/10/2015 13:51

It is divide and conquer. Much better we blame Eastern Europeans for lowering wages and the abundance of zero hour contracts instead of employers. Blame black people for crime instead of the economic/ historical reasons people turn to it, and racist reasons why more black people are targeted for it. Blame benefit claimants and the poor for any lack of funding in state services. Blame refugees for the lack of affordable housing. Blame single mothers for social issues. Blame Asians for destroying british culture.

Much less likely to spark unrest about tax evasion, waste of taxpayers money, and all round shit government if we're all busy blaming each other for everything.

areyoubeingserviced · 15/10/2015 13:55

Agree lurked

LisbethSalandersLaptop · 15/10/2015 13:56

good post lurked, spot on.

crystalgall · 15/10/2015 14:57

Interesting post lurked

Lurkedforever1 · 15/10/2015 15:43

Tbf it was atenco who mentioned it first, I just expanded on it.

Grazia1984 · 15/10/2015 16:32

I thought most people placed their blame on women like I am who earn a lot......
Perhaps we are all blamed. Certainly all women are since the garden of Eden - we are the root of all evil, wicked, temptresses

Lurkedforever1 · 15/10/2015 16:58

Nah grazia. Tony Blair did 'oh look blame the evil rich people' with the hunting ban to distract from his foot and mouth and Iraq balls up. Almost everyone fits into divide and conquer somewhere.

(Not comparing hunting ban, foot and mouth and racism as equal examples of scapegoating btw)

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread