Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Aibu to think Mumsnet has issues with black women

624 replies

Ghanagirl · 14/04/2018 11:51

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

OP posts:
NotACleverName · 14/04/2018 13:49

I can't stand the sight of Michelle Obummer.

Guess that makes me a racist

I'm sure Princeton and Harvard Law School educated, achieved more in her life than you ever will Michelle Obama ("Obummer", how cute) will be just devastated to learn that you don't like her, Joanna.

OlennasWimple · 14/04/2018 13:49

I think MN has an issue with baby names of African origin / popularity

areyoubeingserviced · 14/04/2018 13:50

I think that Ghana girl has her ‘evidence’ judging by some of the responses.
I’m off

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 14/04/2018 13:51

yes i have read your post 'properly' and i noticed that within it, you denied that you had ever been racist, twice.
I think you might be a wee bit deluded tbh.

SoupyNorman · 14/04/2018 13:51

God what a thread. White privilege writ large.

OP YANBU.

NotACleverName · 14/04/2018 13:52

I think MN has an issue with baby names of African origin / popularity

Yup. Anything that's not obviously English wannabe middle class in origin is sneered at by some posters.

Bluntness100 · 14/04/2018 13:52

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

Well I'm on here a lot. And I've not noticed it. Nor have most posters, many who are regulars, so what does that tell you? We are all wrong and you're right? Is that really what it tells you? We are wrong that mumsnet posters are not inherently racist and you're right that they are?

Or could it be you are overly sensitive. Focusing on specifics and assuming it's due to skin colour when it's nothing to do with skin colour?

Are you saying no black woman can ever be critisiced? If she is it's about the colour of her skin? It could not be anything else? Like her personality, her attitude or anything else? Like it can be with white women? With black women it can never be anything other than skin colour and racism?

An intelligent conversation is not just agreeing with you when you call 12 million people inherantly racist and misogynistic, the latter particularly appalling because of the 12 million people you're accusing, most of them are women themselves.

Do you have this problem in real life? Where any personal slight, any critisism, you cannot see it for what it is, you always assume it's skin colour that driving it? Do you think if someone doesn't like a white woman it's because of her skin colour too? Or can you relate that to the person and look past skin colour?

Sadly racism exists, as does misogyny. You do neither cause a benefit by accusing 12 million people of being racist and misogynistic when that is very very clearly not the case. You would do well to listen to what we are saying and look deep into yourself to understand why you have such a sensitivity about any negative comment made about a black woman that you cannot take the comment as read, you always, always assume it's secretly driven by racism.

spontaneousgiventime · 14/04/2018 13:53

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast I think you're plain rude!

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 14/04/2018 13:54

really you think i am rude?
Have I said something insulting? or did i just make you think a bit?

DairyisClosed · 14/04/2018 13:54

I've never noticed this. And since when is Megan markle black? I know her suits character was like a quarter black or something but I don't think she has African heritage herself does she?

spontaneousgiventime · 14/04/2018 13:56

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast Yes, you're rude. I don't need to "think a bit" thank you. People do say "I'm not racist" when they really aren't, simply because no-one can say anything without being accused of some form of ism these days.

The80sweregreat · 14/04/2018 13:57

Lots of people in the public eye come in for criticism and ridicule on here all the time. Wait for a ‘ celebrity / public figure you don’t like ‘ thread and watch the bitchiness roll in regardless of colour creed or sex.

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 14/04/2018 13:59

spontaneous i do think you need to think a little bit about what you are saying. Just dismissing it off as 'I am not racist' in the same breath as 'I am sick of this white privilege crap' does suggest that you need to go off and have a quiet little think about it.

That is not rude.

Rude would be something quite different, and it would probably get deleted..:)

Curiousmoi · 14/04/2018 14:00

i can't stand the sight of Michelle Obummer
Excuse me? I am in disbelief.
She is one of the most inspirational women on this planet, yet you have the audacity to say you "can't stand the sight" of her?
Why are women constantly being judged by their looks? She is a beautiful person, inside and out.
Children will grow up feeling inspired by her, who the f*ck cares what she looks like.
That was a very sexist remark.

spontaneousgiventime · 14/04/2018 14:01

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast You don't know me, absolutely nothing whatsoever about me apart from a few paragraphs on here. Yet you feel it perfectly acceptable to tell me I need to go and "have a quiet little think about it". Hmm

findingmyfeet12 · 14/04/2018 14:01

"Can't stand the sight of" has nothing to do with looks! It's a turn of phrase to indicate extreme dislike generally.

You probably know this though...

findingmyfeet12 · 14/04/2018 14:03

The point about threads to do with beauty is interesting. Is it racist to not find features characteristic of certain races unattractive?

Beauty is subjective and surely we can't help what we like and dislike.

VeganAsia · 14/04/2018 14:03

I will not say to much...

But a lot of low-key racism does happen on this site.

OP YANBU

Curiousmoi · 14/04/2018 14:04

@findingmyfeet12
extreme dislike
What is there to dislike?
Please, help me out here.
She has done fantastic things for WOC and young girls all around the world, and yet you extremely dislike her? Why?

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 14/04/2018 14:04

" You don't know me, absolutely nothing whatsoever about me apart from a few paragraphs on here "

your few sentences said it all tbh. YOu obviously haven't thought about it in any depth and all you have done on this thread is say 'i am sick of white privilege crap' and 'I'm not racist'.
OK, whatever.

findingmyfeet12 · 14/04/2018 14:05

I think you'll find that I've never said I dislike her at all! Perhaps you ought to read the thread first!

Curiousmoi · 14/04/2018 14:06

Erm... you just said that it is a turn of phrase to indicate extreme dislike.
So you did say that.

findingmyfeet12 · 14/04/2018 14:07

I was explaining the other posters words which you had twisted out of context!

findingmyfeet12 · 14/04/2018 14:07

I have no opinion on MO but as a political figure it's unrealistic to expect her to be universally popular.

spontaneousgiventime · 14/04/2018 14:08

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast I will voice my opinion on here as much as the next person. I will not be quiet because you don't like my views. By judging me you have said much, much more about yourself. Now sadly I must go as I am seeing my granddaughter soon. But you stay in your little bubble, it's no skin off my nose.