Bought a print I love, DH is worried it's racist

[NC4T]

Saw it on IG and loved it. Purchased it for the laundry room corridor, but it's arrived and DH is a little worried it might be racist. I can't see how. To me, it's a mum finding a few minutes of calm in the chaos and I love her babies little sleeping face.

We are white Jewish, for cultural context.

What do you think?

That's exactly it. People project their beliefs, including their unconscious bias.

Unless the artist sets out the meaning behind the portrait, any meaning given to it comes from the observes thoughts.

Black women wearing baby and head wraps do not only live impoverished lives somewhere in an African village. To say that this is what the artist is thinking is ridiculous. It says what stereotypes the observer is buying into. It says what the observer is thinking.

That print is not racist but it can be racist depending on the intent of the observer or the reasons why it was bought. For instance, if the OP had bought it thinking it is depicting an impoverished black African women, who has only one set of clothes and carrying a white baby, then hanging it up on your wall with that understanding could be considered racist.

petrolpump28 What don’t you get? Unless they have a very strong African accent I don’t see how you could look at a black person and see “tribe.” Do you always struggle so much to understand what people type?

Not stand alone either, I mean with traditional dress (basically naked etc) and tribal markings. This print has none of that so how are people seeing a tribal African woman who is poor?

quack, you are so very rude. I am quite able to follow what people type.
God help you if you meet an African with a strong accent and think " tribe"

I have and I didn’t. That’s why I belive you can’t understand what I’m typing. If you did, you would see the rest of my comment.

OK have a nice evening

Battleax
I'm shocked and disgusted by your use of the word 'Ebonics' to describe slang as used by Duchess . That is plain RACISM.
FYI- I do UNDERSTAND clearly what she means by wypipo or wypipologists.
We are many here so please stop with your wrong assumptions.

I'm shocked and disgusted by your use of the word 'Ebonics' to describe slang as used by Duchess shock. That is plain RACISM.

😂😂

Is it FUCK. It’s a word that originates from the black community, you great turnip 😁

Treat yourself to some time in E1 or SW2 and stop being so ridiculous.

Now you’ve made me laugh myself awake just when I was getting drowsy 😕

I see black people as people and don’t look at them as tribal in any way. Unless they have a strong accent and start jumping around the room with a big stick and talking in another language, I just see them as people like anyone else really. I don’t see anything in the picture to suggest a tribal or a maid

^ err WHAT?!😂

You couldn't make it up.

Be off with you or I'll stick you in the pot for dinner

Battleax, which black community did it originate from? Is there a universal black community? I take it that there is also a universal white community? Or does that only apply to the "black community". The black community in the US is the same as the black community in the UK? I guess all black people are alike/the same? Same culture no matter where the are born?

Ebonics is very specific to the US, not the UK, and not anywhere else as far as I know.

This thread is so interesting.

There is absolutely nothing in this picture to indicate this woman's nationality, class, wealth.

She's naked and the other objects in the picture are generic and can be found in numerous locations worldwide.

We've had mention in this thread of poverty, tribes, etc. None of these conversations would have been had if she'd been white.

Can't you see your own biases?

Do you look at a Lucien Freud nude and think poor tribal person?

I'd never heard of Ebonics btw.

I had to look it up and it seems that's it's a problematic term for many people.

I don't know enough about it to make up my mind but I won't be using it until I'm convinced it isn't derogatory.

I see a woman in the West taking a break in her house from doing housework....

Not stand alone either, I mean with traditional dress (basically naked etc) and tribal markings.

I dont think its racist just tacky.

You know what. Don’t read my comments if you are going to take it wrong and use it against me. I’m pointing out the ridiculous of stereotypes fs made by people based solely on colour. Go back and read every single comment I have made on this thread, maybe you will get it then. What have I said that’s wrong? All I’ve said is, unless a person of colour is walking around dressed traditionally as if part of a tribe then why the fuck would I see them as tribal? I wouldn’t, they are black but they are a normal person, I don’t assume poverty or not from where I am just based on being black. Some of you on here are racist and ridiculous, you only see such things because that’s what you see not anyone else. Even when there are no bad intentions you still insist this print is racist? What is wrong with you?

QuackPorridgeBacon, it is worth thinking about how you say things. For example, you just said "they are black BUT they are a normal person". I hope you see the problem with that statement. It is unconscious and to you it seems benign but to a black person this would be insulting and is part of this casual racism. Black BUT a normal person?

I agree that your tribal statement was meant to illustrate your earlier points and I hope you will see why you need to refine or be more mindful of the language that you use.

Ebonics more often called AAVE (African American Vernacular English).

And AAVE is not the same as Multicultural London English (MLE).

I look at Lucien Freud nudes and think ` yuk, he really hates women'. I find them gross and quite hateful.

I’m confused how my saying the word but means anything bad. I’m pointing out that just because someone is black it has no bearing on them as a person. It doesn’t define them as different in any way to me. Apart from obviously having different coloured skin they are still people. I’ll refrain from using the word “but” I guess, I’m just not sure why it’s bad. I’ve never been one for explaining things well anyway so I can see this may be no different.

Battleax
Your response just shows the sort of person I thought you are!
(unprintable here).

There is absolutely nothing in this picture to indicate this woman's nationality, class, wealth.

I personally see her as middle-class, well educated and fairly affluent. She has those beautiful gold earrings and for me the baby sling marks her as being part of an affluent 'natural mothering' section of society.

I may be biased as I live in a bit of a nappy valley full of women (and men) wearing babies in slings, hauling around their children's wooden bikes and shopping in expensive organic supermarkets

I don’t think it’s racist. I think it’s the reality of being a parent.