Aibu to think Mumsnet has issues with black women

[Ghanagirl]

Just that really, I’ve read really horrible comments about Meghan Markle, Alexandra Burke, Serena Williams talented and hardworking individuals who seem to offend some Mumsnetters simply by being beautiful and successful.
I’m not surprised as happens in RL but I guess it’s disappointing as Mumsnet touts itself as a more educated network than netmums

Xenia you’re back (or have I just not noticed you for a while?) good to see you.

And they would expect any visitors or immigrants to respect the original culture.

What do you mean by this. Who isn't 'respecting the original culture'?

Certcert
I’ve never claimed to speak for all black women but it speaks volumes that certain black women are afraid of speaking out regarding racism but are happy to try and pacify those spouting racist views👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

it speaks volumes that certain black women are afraid of speaking out regarding racism but are happy to try and pacify those spouting racist views

Whi?

Argh I mean who!

Do you think if the capitol cities in Japan/China/ saudi or India had the inherent population as a minority, would they put up with it? No. And they would expect any visitors or immigrants to respect the original culture.

So why is it that white Europeans are expected to constantly apologise for ourselves and just not care that we have become minorities in our own major cities and our culture has been squashed?

If you don't know the answer to that then I suggest you use google to find out. Also you are a racist.

VladmirsPoutine
Your post made me laugh 😆😆😆
I’m not Ghanaian but my husband *saiya06 are you from saiya06 as that’s your Mumsnet name🙄

My husband is

Titiania do you think that white explorers respected the local cultures that they 'found'? Or do you know that it is a proven that white Europeans plundered and killed locals in pretty much every part of the globe to get to where they are now . Read your history love .

uberqueen
Unfortunately think some people pride themselves on being ignorant and racist, I’m not afraid to stand up for myself and my incredibly beautiful plus intelligent children and that’s threatening to those that think they deserve respect and preferential treatment just because they happen to be white.🤷🏾‍♀️

I cannot bear the thought of Megan Markle. I don't like the idea of our precious Prince Harry marrying someone who is American, divorced and appears to know so much more than him. I always pictured him with an innocent but fierce tree hugger with aristocratic British parents. (I'm black and divorced btw)

I've been on mumsnet for several years and we appear not to like women-on-top in general - even Kate Middleton and her sister haven't been spared, never mind Kerry Katona and Katie Hopkins. So I don't think not liking Megan Markle means Mumsnet is racist. I just don't see that.

PS: I'm a black woman of African origin; I am also divorced and have been in interracial relationships.

Racism is against our Talk Guidelines and we encourage Mumsnetters to report any posts which are racist to us. We're a post moderated site so we rely on users to do this. We read and respond to every single one, and will remove anything which breaks our Talk Guidelines.

Our general approach is to allow debate and conversations to flow. We do ask everyone to keep within our Talk Guidelines and if threads become bunfights and stop being constructive then we do sometimes have to step in or remove them.

Edit: OP, this post was in response to yours, which I had quoted but it did something weird to my post so I had to remove my quote.

This thread is properly scary. The very way people have run screaming from even the suggestion that there might be implicit biases showing on MN is indicative in itself.

Racism doesn't have to be people using racist slurs.

Racism doesn't have to be in the Daily Mail.

Racism doesn't have to be UKIP or the BNP.

Racism can be, and more often is, implicit biases you don't even know you have. Taking more of a dislike to someone of colour than you otherwise would, or thinking of people as taking too much space. You don't even know you're doing it. Asking the OP for quotes of people saying a racist insult are missing the point.

We see these biases at work again and again:

Women of colour being ignored (yes, this happens to all women, but even more to WOC) in healthcare.

Implicit bias against black children.

Black girls seen as more sexual and 'less innocent' than than white girls.

And people who are ignoring race, saying they 'don't see colour' are part of the problem. You do see colour, whether you realise it or not, and ignoring it means you're ignoring the problem. Ignoring your biases because you're a nice liberal who's not a racist like those horrible neo-Nazis is part of the problem. Shouting down anyone who even raises it as 'professionally offended', 'goady' or trolling is part of the problem. You can have black friends and be part of the problem. You can have black kids and be part of the problem. If you internalise the messages you've received from birth, then you can be black and be part of the problem.

You might disagree that there is implicit racism on Mumsnet, but, frankly this thread has convinced me of it more than anything else I've seen. @Ghanagirl - hope I've not trod on your toes.

Btw these rich white men fucked up my country too, I'm irish.

HeadingForSunshine
So if we don't focus on the past the holocaust is a non issue?
Really?

What????

Cicera
Thank you for expressing your opinion so eloquently.
I'm honestly not trying to be "goady" or trying to dismiss others opinions but I honestly think some posters are unaware that their views are really racist and unacceptable to lots (not all) women of colour...

I wanted to let alex this thread in good faith, and there have been some really well-argued and thoughtful posts, but I’m afraid I’m now veering towards thinking it’s not in good faith.

I think the issue here Ghanagirl isn't that anybody thinks mumsnet is racism free. I've come across a few comments myself that, where not posted with malicious intent, were certainly 'off' and incidiously prejudiced.

The problem here is that this thread is the mumsnet equivalent of walking into a large room full of randoms and declaring everyone in that room racist.

You're not calling anyone out on racism by starting a new thread, which isn't likely to even be seen by many of the posters who have made offensive comments. You call people out on these things by responding to the comments themselves and, on this forum, by reporting the comments.

Or at the very bloody least, bring some specific examples to the table for people to get a feel of your experience here.

When did Meghan Markle become black? She's mixed but her actual skin is not exactly dark.

I don't like her but that's only because she's so American and fake not because of her skin colour or heritage.

@ShapelyBingoWing have a look at my post about implcit racism - it's not as easy as "bring some specific examples to the table for people to get a feel of your experience here," which is why POC, especially women, are so often ignored.

Think of all the times you know someone has treated you differently, ignored your opinion, been listened they're repeating your idea, assumed you don't understand something because you're a woman. It's hard to get really specific, because it's subtle. And when you say it out loud, people react like "oh, I'm sure he misunderstood" or "you're overreacting" or "you're trying to see sexism everywhere".

It's the same thing, but unless you're on the inside it's invisible.

*insideoutsider so even though you’re of African descent you don’t like MM because she’s mixed race?
Prince Harry is precious?
You sound ever so slightly nuts😟

@Cicera I agree to an extent with what you're saying. I see that many things will be difficult to explain and describe. However, when I've previously called people out on being 'inadvertently' racist or sexist, I've been able to explain why. And it's important to explain why. It most certainly is hard to explain the subtleties of it. But taking the time and effort to explain the subtleties does far more good to help people become aware of the privilege and prejudices that have become their 'normal' than simply saying 'I feel that this forum is racist'.