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

SW definitely doesn't strike me as being smug! She seems very down to earth and pleasant. The criticism against her often smacks of racism to me.

MO is a different kettle of fish. As a political figure there will always be justifiable dislike of her as for anyone else in her position.

Oh I'm sick of this "white privelege" nonsense. We're a northern European country for Pete's sake. Also calling men "Stale, male and pale",these are the people who built the liberal,wealthy society that we're fortunate enough to belong to.

There does seem to be a clique of two or three people who may very well be the same person who allege racism whenever MM is mentioned.

Andy Murray is also confident, does that make him smug?

Men aren't smug, they're confident. When women are confident, they're smug.

OP, the terms "pushy" and "aggressive" are applied to all women irrespective of their colour if they dare to speak out, stand out or excel at something.

Likewise the shape of a woman, again irrespective of their colour, is always subject to criticism - too thin, too fat, too athletic, the list is endless.

Personally speaking I find nothing to criticise or dislike about the women you have mentioned, if they say or do something I disagree with I would probably say so but it would be what they said or did that I would take issue with not them as a person and certainly not because of the colour of their skin, size of their body or style of their hair.

Ahh Andy Murray went even higher in my estimation with his comments about Women's Tennis and Venus and Serena Williams in particular, fabulous.

uberqueen CuriousMoi
Thanks, I’m honestly not trying to upset people or be "goady" but I've noticed something that makes me feel uncomfortable and mentioned it and I've been told I'm imagining it or in easily offended neither of which is true.
I thought Mumsnet was a platform for intelligent grown up women and find it surprising that some of the criticisms of black contain thinly failed racism.

When I first heard about white privilege my immediate reaction was not to believe it exists.

I'm embarrassed about that now, but it shows how ignorant we can be.

It would do us no harm at all to reflect on the possibility of racism on MN.

MM isn’t black.
But I agree with you about the Williams sisters, some of the things I’ve seen online about them is awful. Never seen it on MN though.
People are allowed to not like black women op, or are you saying all black women must be loved & adored? even if they’re not very nice or useless at their job?
M’netters, generally, ( at least from my experience ) are the least racist people on the entire internet.
YABU.

DH was a working class lad.
He learnt to speak better, to shake hands, to use cutlery properly, etc, what and how to wear it to fit in with his chosen profession and he's still a bit of a maverick and respected due to brain power.

Forget privilege, white or otherwise. Everyone can improve and some people need to invest as much time into improving as they do in whinging and being chippy. They would reap the benefits.

I am fed up with this white privilege carp. I was born in the country my ancestors help build, I've never lived in any other country as I love my own. I have no problem sharing this country with POC, why would I, we are all human beings. I will be damned if I'm going to sit back and be told I am privileged for doing that.

Serena Williams, amazing! Diane Abbott useless. Nothing to do with race

There are dreadful comments made on MN about Theresa May, Jack Monroe, Emma Watson and even on occasion the sainted J K Rowling.

Abbot, like Dawn Butler is criticised because they are useless and for their uncritical adoration of Corbyn, not because they are black.

You cannot call bring "pushy" or "aggressive" racist?! (As per your examples). As far as I'm aware they are not soley traits held by black women.

I will also repeat by first post... MM is mixed race & I also take great offence when anyone excludes a person's full genetic make up. Whether to score points or "claim" them into a certain part of society. That is racist & I have experienced that myself as a mixed race woman from both black & white people. So you yourself are being racist/ignorant for not thinking her white father is important enough to acknowledge.

Yes but there IS white privilege isn't there?
I mean the POC that you 'have no problem sharing with' are descended from Black AFricans who were shipped over to the Caribbean lying in their own shit.

The profits from that went a long way to making our modern nations rich and easy to live in..
Then when the 'Windrush generation' returned, Black children were not expected to eg go to grammar school..(for one example)...
So think about it a bit before you say you are 'sick of white privelege crap' maybe Black people are too.

ghanagirl, I know you’ll come out with that new wheeze about black people not being capable of racism because, structure - but you’re actually coming across as being really rather a bit racist about white people with your sweeping generalisations and accusations of privilege.

It also comes out on any beauty/attractiveness thread. So African Mexican etc features are attacked and women who have these are declared unattractive. So are Asian features.

I've never seen this.

I don't like MM, I don't even see her as being black so my dislike is nothing to do with her skin colour.

I don't like Alexandra Burke because I find her insincere and completely over the top dramatic.

There's various other celebs I don't like and not one of them is black. I think you're making some very sweeping generalisations. Yes there will sadly be some racists on here as there are in life but thankfully they're the exception

RunMummyRun68
Your comment at 13.08
And yes my children heard, they are 11 and its probably first time they've heard an adult make a racist comment directly at them, (by that age unfortunately id heard loads including from a particularly horrible teacher) so they were understandably very upset.
I was also upset but sometimes this kind of racism is easier to deal with as its in your face.

Agree Hesterton

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast I have never been racist in my life, anyone who comes to this country and wants to help build it for future generations is welcome in my eyes. Just because I am white and live in a predominantly white country is not justification for shouting white privilege. I can't help where I was born, I can't help POC came here and were treated badly, I can't help a lot of the negative things that POC have been through. What I can do is make sure I am not part of it now. That is not because I am privileged it's because I care. I will not sit back and have WP thrown at me for something I was not party to and do not agree with. It's no different to the fact I'm not racist and won't sit back and be told I am because some people in this country have treated POC badly.

What the hell are you talking about Mighty?

" I have never been racist in my life, "

ah but you would say that wouldn't you? Rather than just denying its existence, you need to think about it and work on it.

How can you all comment on people you haven't even met ???

YANBU, @Ghanagirl. Most of the responses on this thread prove your point.

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast Read my post properly and you will see I fully acknowledge it has and does happen.

Spontaneous- Do you know what the phrase ‘white privilege’ actually means and what it encompasses?