To be disgusted about Prince Charles racist comments...

[Saywhatnoway]

... and the fact that what would be headline news for any other public figure has being played down?

Yesterday, Prince Charles told a woman of Guyanese extract that she “didn’t look like she was from Manchester”. The article linked was on the Guardian front page in middle of the night - and now almost impossible to find. I can’t find mention of it anywhere else.

So AIBU to be disgusted that he (or anyone of normal intelligence) would think, much less say such a thing - and disappointed (not sure if that’s actually the right word) that the media doesn’t seem to be reporting in the way they would if anyone else had said similar?

www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2018/apr/19/prince-charles-brown-skin-british-people-head-of-commonwealth?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

The black person is lying because.....

She has a book to sell.

She has a chip on her shoulder.

She doesn't like white people.

That's what they do.

NOT......a bloke from a long line of racists actually said it.

That...is stupid and refusal to recognise issues where it is made plain.

@MrPan

but ...

I don't think people .. ..

are doubting her ...

because she's black ...

but because she does have a book to sell ...

as she mentioned twice ... and the Grauniad

are proudly anti...royals and Charlie's in the news at ...the moment ...

I find it amusing that you’ve all assumed I’m only referring to black or Asian people when starting conversations about where people are from originally! I wonder if that reflects unconscious racism on your part?!
Often, the conversation arises because someone has a foreign accent, and these days they’re often white and East European. If they turn out to have been born in London, we have a laugh about both of us being foreigners- as I’m English and living in Scotland, where the SNP have stirred up racist anti English feeling.

Don't believe he said that at all.

I'm appalled at the excuses some of you are using for his comment.

I suggest you educate yourselves and read Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race.

No, Babdoc, I was specific about context, actually. And as this thread is specifically about small talk conversation with a person of colour, how is your conversation relevant if not conducted with p o c?

Racist, no, ignorant, yes.

Poor precious white ppl, always being accused of being racist for no good reason..

Statements like that don't help either, do they?

Was she wearing traditional dress?
He could have been commenting on her clothes maybe?

As a woman of Guyanese parentage, I can assure that there is no ‘traditional dress’ of Guyana that is distinct from Western attire. That part of our identity was robbed of us years ago when we were displaced from Africa to South America as slaves.

I have no difficulty believing this happened.

1. Why would I disbelieve the woman reporting it?
2. The banal, tedious grind of this sort of comment. ‘Ooh, she’s very dark skinned, isn’t she?’ ‘Ooh, is she yours?’ ‘Where’s her Dad from?, no I mean originally...’ . ‘He doesn’t look like an English boy’

I am still shocked that Prince Charles is so gauche. That he hadn’t been better briefed on making small talk, or learned from his many Prince’s Trust visits where he does chat quite well with youn people in highly diverse areas. (I have been present at one such visit).

Anyone can say the wrong thing at the wrong time, we need to reflect acknowledge and learn from it.

Meh. I don’t believe it because I don’t think he’s that stupid. I mean he travels all over the world and meets foreign dignitaries and all the rest of it on a bloody weekly basis. I just don’t see that he would make a gaff like that, with his experience.

I don’t know him. I don’t know if he’s a racist IRL or what. But I simply don’t believe this story.

I don't think that's racist. It could easily apply the other way round. My DH was born in an African country although he is white and of Scottish parents. In Africa someone could easily say the same to him on finding out where he is 'from'. Would it be offensive? Not in the slightest, more a statement of the obvious.

umpire: always useful to know where someone is coming from.

Disgrace!

Well that didn't take long to turn this into a thread about 'slavery' did it.

Yawn.

@TammyWhyNot

I'm a bored black woman who thinks titles like Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race. are inflammatory and racist.

Ginghamstar: but then white people weren’t forcibly dragged from continent to continent for 400 years, or heavily encouraged to travel here to fill a post-war labour shortage. So more unusual (and less sensitive) altogether.

Isnt he too busy getting a ' leg up' for the new Commonwealth job and hob nobbing with all those people?

Umpire: I’m writing the trilogy: Why I should no longer talk on Mumsnet about race

I’m mixed race (from the UK with a Scottish accent) and people say this sort of thing often, so this women’s story is totally believable.

Lots of mental gymnastics on this thread. Anything to not believe the woman and say it’s made up. But, black/mixed women’s experiences are often discredited here on MN, so it’s no surprise.

I find it a bit rude when people ask where I am from originally. I was born here and have never lived anywhere else, but I still get asked. It’s tedious, because by now people should realise that there are many non-white brits. I don’t mind telling people myself about my heritage when I’ve gotten to know them a bit - I just hate people demanding this information. Especially complete strangers. Even worse when I say Scotland or my home town and they keep saying “no, but where are you REALLY from”.

". It’s tedious, because by now people should realise that there are many non-white brits."
That's the bit I struggle to understand. Most people get it surely, especially people who are meant to represent us, the people! But if you're telling me that isn't the case then fine, I believe you.

Joanna it’s relevant because someone asked if she was wearing traditional dress, so someone had to explain the history related to slavery. It’s relevant, what’s your problem?

100% feel you downthestrada my husband gets it all the time. He's African really or from Ghana even though he's clearly American, with a Cuban mother and a Guyanese father. We shouldn't minimize these things, they are hurtful to people who hear it constantly.

Stealth I suppose, thinking about it now, I do understand how people think “how can folk still think like that?” My husband, I don’t think quite realised how often these things can happen, until being with me and seeing it first hand. That said, when I’m with him it doesn’t happen so much - easier to say these things to a woman on their own!

Whilst he’s more aware, he still misses some minor ignorance. Like a neighbour saying to me “oh you must be feeling it...the cold” when I’m stood with my husband. Why would I be feeling it worse than him or anyone else? But, I usually just let these things go.

@NomadicMother

What makes your husband "clearly American" and surely if his nationality is clear, it may not be for someone else.