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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think some people are being very hypocritical over Black Lives Matter

105 replies

EmmaGrundyForPM · 03/06/2020 08:40

People are, quite rightly, outraged over the killing of George Floyd. On my social media there are loads of posts along the lines of "racism must end" and "all people are equal".

However, many of the people posting this on FB etc are also people who happily expresse the most racist opinions about Travellers. We live in a rural area where Travellers are the largest minority group and the prejudice towards them is horrendous.

AIBU if I point out the irony of this to them? People can't seem to see the parallels.

OP posts:
FTMF30 · 03/06/2020 08:42

You've just made an assumption, so yes, YABU.

FreeKitties · 03/06/2020 08:44

Do you live in the East Midlands OP? I’ve noticed this as well!

HMSSophie · 03/06/2020 08:45

YANBU

FTMF30 · 03/06/2020 08:46

This reply has been deleted

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SharonasCorona · 03/06/2020 08:47

Well if they’re posting ‘All Lives Matter’ then they don’t get the issue and are probably racist to black people too.

Runtowintowalk · 03/06/2020 08:58

This reply has been deleted

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Runtowintowalk · 03/06/2020 08:59

Sorry that should say you CAN stop being a traveller.

PeskyEdith · 03/06/2020 09:02

Travellers trashed our village. Nothing to do with black men in America being unfairly targeted (and murdered) by police. Two completely separate issues.

RUOKHUN · 03/06/2020 09:04

Call them out then. Being a supporter of black lives matter is being actively anti-racist not just not racist yourself. It’s about calling people out on their shit.

So yeah, say something.

knittingaddict · 03/06/2020 09:05

"all people are equal"

As Sharona has said, do they say "All Lives Matter"? If so, then they are racist anyway and just extending their racism to other groups. In theory all lives do matter, but that is spectacularly missing the point and undermining the real, everyday struggle that people face because of their skin colour. It's basically a way to shut down the issue and ignore what needs to be done. It's a way of avoiding having that long, hard look at yourself and see what you need to do about it.

Osirus · 03/06/2020 09:05

Does it matter if you see travellers as a race or not? They are still a group of people often subjected to persecution. (I can’t abide the pony thrashing down the road by the way - as a horse owner this is abhorrent - I also have a huge Romany heritage (not one myself I might add.))

The point is ALL people should be treated equally.

ChoosingHim · 03/06/2020 09:06

Yanbu OP and it goes further than that. I've noticed an awful lot of racial bias against white people lately, people blatantly and almost proudly tarring all white people with the same brush. But they don't see by doing so they're just as bad as the people who tar all black people with the same brush. It's a really ugly hypocrisy that has made me lost a lot of respect for the people who claim they're the only non-racist people.

SiaPR · 03/06/2020 09:09

@FTMF30

I also think that, although travellers are legally accepted as a race, many (including myself) do not agree that they are. You can stop being a traveller if you wish. You can't stop being black, chinese, etc.
Yeah, you can stop being Jewish too. You are a bigot and a racist
SharonasCorona · 03/06/2020 09:12

@knittingaddict

"all people are equal"

As Sharona has said, do they say "All Lives Matter"? If so, then they are racist anyway and just extending their racism to other groups. In theory all lives do matter, but that is spectacularly missing the point and undermining the real, everyday struggle that people face because of their skin colour. It's basically a way to shut down the issue and ignore what needs to be done. It's a way of avoiding having that long, hard look at yourself and see what you need to do about it.

Well said knitted

Unfortunately, whilst all lives should be equal, we know that in our world non-black lives are more equal than black lives.

Let's not hijack the current movement for black lives matter and let black people have their voice.

SiaPR · 03/06/2020 09:12

@PeskyEdith

Travellers trashed our village. Nothing to do with black men in America being unfairly targeted (and murdered) by police. Two completely separate issues.
The OP is explaining that racist and bigoted people, like you, are being hypocritical. What don’t you understand?
missyoumuch · 03/06/2020 09:14

I've noticed an awful lot of racial bias against white people lately, people blatantly and almost proudly tarring all white people with the same brush. But they don't see by doing so they're just as bad as the people who tar all black people with the same brush.

Yes this is a very serious problem. While black people are being killed by police and vigilantes, and also dying of COVID at higher rates. The fact that some say mean things about white people is definitely just as bad.

TLDR - you’re a fool.

knittingaddict · 03/06/2020 09:14

Yanbu OP and it goes further than that. I've noticed an awful lot of racial bias against white people lately, people blatantly and almost proudly tarring all white people with the same brush. But they don't see by doing so they're just as bad as the people who tar all black people with the same brush. It's a really ugly hypocrisy that has made me lost a lot of respect for the people who claim they're the only non-racist people.

Oh yes, that is so similar to what black people have put up with for centuries. Thank you so much for pointing it out, silly me. Did you suffer hurt feelings? My heart bleeds.

SimonJT · 03/06/2020 09:15

@FTMF30

I also think that, although travellers are legally accepted as a race, many (including myself) do not agree that they are. You can stop being a traveller if you wish. You can't stop being black, chinese, etc.
I stopped being a muslim all those silly muslims still being muslims, jewish people can also stop being jews, if only they had done that when hitler was around.
GinDaddyRedux · 03/06/2020 09:22

My god @EmmaGrundyForPM seriously?!

You're deliberately conflating the horrendous violence regularly meted out to Black people in America, with the plight of travellers in the UK?

You'll no doubt find a way to dismiss my argument but here goes..

There are countless examples including poor George Floyd (RIP) of excessive violence and detention against Black people in the US and elsewhere. This is based on centuries of history in the US where many Black people were at first enslaved. Their culture suppressed. Their freedom removed etc.

This is a problem that exists today, and the people who are the victims are simply trying to stay alive. They don't have a choice about what happens to them - racist cops, racist judges, make their lives hell.

Many travellers are fine people. Yet there are dozens who pitch up on land that doesn't belong to them, leave tons (literally) of rubbish, and act aggressively to those who cite local laws. They have a choice to live their lives peacefully and coexist according to the laws of where they live or want to live. They choose not to.

So no. It's not even fucking remotely the same thing.

ChoosingHim · 03/06/2020 09:31

"Oh yes, that is so similar to what black people have put up with for centuries. Thank you so much for pointing it out, silly me. Did you suffer hurt feelings? My heart bleeds."

Translation: because my ancestors put up with a lot of racism, I'm allowed to be racist myself now (incidentally, against the very same race who actually abolished slavery) and if you call me racist you're a racist.

GinDaddyRedux · 03/06/2020 09:35

@choosinghim

Spot on - that's what I was trying o say and failed

The bit that grates is that it's impossible to compare the nasty abuse meted out to travellers who are committing civil offences (occupying land that isn't 'theirs') and the extreme violence meted out to Black people who are victims of centuries of prejudice.

Being told "fuck off our land you p*keys" and having a knee put on your throat isn't comparable.

Queenunikitty · 03/06/2020 09:36

YANBU Racism is racism. My father is half Irish traveller and half Scottish Romani, his parents made a lot of money post WW2 and sent him to public school and university. He has only openly accepted his race and cultural heritage in his 70’s because he was shamed into denying his past. Racism against travellers and gypsies is the last acceptable form of racism in this country and is as disgusting and abhorrent as any other form of racism.

SiaPR · 03/06/2020 09:36

They have a choice to live their lives peacefully and coexist according to the laws of where they live or want to live. They choose not to. Antiziganism was literally written into the conservative’s manifesto. This fucking government is every bit as racist as America. Don’t you fucking dare say certain bigotry is worse than another. We need to eradicate all of it. Not what suits your virtue-signalling blacked out Facebook profile. Your ignorance astounds me.

RedHelenB · 03/06/2020 09:36

@ChoosingHim wow, that is something level of ignorance.

SharonasCorona · 03/06/2020 09:39

Translation: because my ancestors put up with a lot of racism, I'm allowed to be racist myself now (incidentally, against the very same race who actually abolished slavery) and if you call me racist you're a racist.

Are you saying George Floyd is an ancestor? Mr Floyd was 46...in 2020.

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