to be shocked by my aunts racist attitude??

[nickytwotimes]

her youngest is seeing a guy who is from the caribbean and still lives there. she describes him as having "very white teeth" for a start. i asked if it was cos he was foreign and had a different cultural background to her daughter that she had concerns. she said she wouldn't mind as much if he was british, but would still mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i was shocked and disappointed by her attitude. this is someone who i have looked up to since i was 5 years old. feeling a bit sad that even people i think of as "good" still have such views

A lot of that generation are like that though - its no excuse I know

it is sad but as liesel said it does seem to be certain people of that generation who are like that. My cousin had a baby a few weeks back her partner is jamaican my grandparents were really awful when they found out she was pregnant the baby is gorgeous though and they both think so, hopefully your aunt's attitude will improve when she gets to know this man better

Dunno how having white teeth can be construed as a racist commenr meself...

thanks for messages guys. i am hoping that when she gets to know him she will change her tune.

moondog, is it a very un- pc euphemism for being black???

My MiL is a shocking racist Daily mail reading bigot - so you have my sympathy. At least I don't look up to her.

But you know my granny who I loved dearly used to refer to the local shop as the 'paki newsagent' and not think there was anything wrong with saying this. We did eventually educate her (fifteen years later) but I'm afraid with some people you are fighting many many years of indoctrination.

After all for these folks, Golly was the jam mascot and it's hard for them to get used to these enlightened times.

All we can do is pick them up on it each time and hopefully eventually they will catch on.

Your aunt's attitude is unlikely to change, if your cousin's partner is very lucky, she'll like him, though, and tell him all about her dislike of other people from the caribbean etc.

I don't understand how commenting on white teeth is racist, either.

teeth look whiter if your skin is darker? dont know how it's racist though, but her other comment (not so bad if he was british) surely is!

i know how you feel tinkerbell, i actually really like my in laws but they read the daily mail too (what is it with that peice of shit newspaper) and often say things that really upset me and the best part of it is that they actually dont mean to offend and when challenged get really offended and upset and say that they are not racist. In their defence they are of that generation and have the daily mail as their moral guide post, there is no hope really is there.

Hi LucyEllensMum

Quote from Friday's Now Show: 'How many daily mail readers does it take to change a light bulb? Change! Why can't everything be the way it used to be. I remember when light bulbs were round and not spirally. It's just too much, really.'

Message withdrawn

i like the daily mail joke, tinkerbell! the "white teeth thing, i think you had to be there. it was said in a sneering way rather than as a compliment to his oral hygiene!

How old is your aunt? People of 'that' generation aren't necessarily more racist than younger people.

It is shock when people you like/love come out with such awful views so yes I do sympathise. Some people can change their views though, hopefully your aunt will be one of those as she get to know her (future?!) son in law better.

mercy, she is in her 50s, but you are right - no excuse!

It's not generation, it's attitude.

FHS, many of us MN-ers are of 'that' or Pruni's Aunt's generation. It MIGHT be generational to use outdated language, but attitude is a different matter.

If you find a way to challenge what she says, nickytwotimes, she might stop in her tracks - it may be that no-one has ever challenged her before!

I think it is the attitude of a generation!

Alot of people I know of say 55+ years are like this. When they make comments I just point out that I disagree and would rather not hear it - it's pointless trying to change them - they are set in thier ways!

I include in this group of people a large number of family sadly

Would also point out there attitude is not aggressive, just ignorant.