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

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

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.

@EmmaGrundyForPM - this is what happens when you post such an ignorant thread.

@ChoosingHim wow, that is something level of ignorance.

Isn't it just RedHelen.

OK, let's pretend that both sides are racist. Hating people because they have oppressed you, enslaved you, raped you, murdered you, "kept you in your place" for hundreds of years is definitely the same as hating people because they happen to have a different skin colour to you.

Looks a bit daft when you say it like that, doesn't it

Op you're really trying to lump the murders and constant racial inequality which occurs in America (and other countries) with the way a few people near you view travellers?

Sort your self out!

Well it’s not exactly the same is it? Even someone who was mildly racist towards black people would be outraged by this. Someone would have to be extremely racist to find racially motivated murders carried out by police officers and then covered up by coroner’s acceptable.

"ChoosingHim

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."

I totally agree. The nastiness against all whites has been disgusting.

@SiaPR

Whoa....ok. Ok.

Why however are people so quick to bring out every other injustice that's going on, when right now a man is lying dead because of a systemic and serious issue of racism in a country?

Can't we focus on that without all the "but what about racism against white folk" posts?

It's almost as if some people don't want black issues to temporarily take up a significant proportion of media time.

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

I'm not saying its the same thing at all. What I'm saying is that people don't acknowledge their white privilege and think that by posting a few trite comments they are magically not racist whilst still expressing racist views towards Travellers.

"OK, let's pretend that both sides are racist. Hating people because they have oppressed you, enslaved you, raped you, murdered you, "kept you in your place" for hundreds of years is definitely the same as hating people because they happen to have a different skin colour to you."

And there you go. Pure example. You think all whites alive today are responsible for the above . Nice.

It's just nuts that we are finally properly talking about black issues worldwide and then suddenly it's "whoa but look... white people are suffering too"...

How are we going to solve the black issue when so many are trying to pull the focus away.

We know white folk suffer, white minorities suffer. We know this. Doesn't need reminding constantly as a way of diluting and deflecting the conversation around the issue we're talking about today.

What I'm saying is that people don't acknowledge their white privilege and think that by posting a few trite comments they are magically not racist whilst still expressing racist views towards Travellers.

This makes no sense. You had no issue with 'white privilege' in your OP.

but what about racism against white folk posts that is not at all what the OP is saying. It is almost as if you can virtue signal about the horrific systemic racism in the US, but it is ok to be racist to other minority ethnic groups. What the fuck is that all about? The OP is right, it is not either/ or. This institutionalised racism is apparent to all minority groups. Maybe your privilege stops you seeing this?

The issue is a black man has been murdered/assaulted in a way which has caused his death. An innocent black man.

That is the issue and by God it needs addressing.

I saw something interesting that drew an analogy to the body and it went something like this:
If I went to my doctor with a broken ankle then I'd expect them to treat the broken ankle, not send me away saying that all homes matter. Right now my ankle is broken and my ankle needs treating, so don't tell me that I should be on my way because other bones in my body aren't broken and all bones are equal.

Right now black people, especially black men, are being murdered by members of the police force. People are being killed by the police, their murders recorded for the world to see and members of the establishment turn a blind eye.

Stop with the whataboutery and claims that all lives matter because all lives can't matter as long as black people are being murdered by police.

I said let's pretend.

I'm white by the way and now is not the time to bleat about our hurt feelings. It's not about us, apart from the fact that, just for once, it's us who need to change.

I could no more kneel on someone's neck and watch them slowly die, than stop myself breathing and I don't suppose the vast majority of others could either, but that's not the point. The least we can do is be outraged at the people who do this sort of thing and the establishment that protects them. That's the direction we should be looking in. Not distracted by "whataboutism".

@SiaPR - actually I'm South Asian and therefore a minority group and have suffered racism but I recognise the issue is facing black people is massive. And I don't want to distract the issue here by talking about the times I've been called a Paki. There is a time for me to talk about the racism I face, but it is not now.

That was to Tabby by the way.

I think the OPs point was more that right now a lot of people are making a point of ‘virtue signaling’ on social media about how ‘not racist’ they are but then quite openly posting racist stuff about travellers.

And honestly it’s getting pretty tiresome having white people tell other people that their anti racism isn’t good enough.

Your basic concern that many folk are not realising their white privilege is sound enough.

But you're using a complicated and divisive issue (travellers) in comparison with the fight against racism towards black people - which is a massive issue which is glaringly awful enough to stand completely alone!

The OP is not saying all lives matter. Are people really that stupid? The OP is rightly baffled/angry that the very same people who are rightly angered by the atrocities happening in the US (forever) are racist against other minority groups. Do people really not understand what the OP is saying? It seems like willful ignorance.

"I'm white by the way and now is not the time to bleat about our hurt feelings. It's not about us, apart from the fact that, just for once, it's us who need to change."

If people are being nasty they can be called out for it. Just because there is racism and violence against people in the US, doesnt mean it's the fault of every single white person in the world.

thank you @SiaPR. that is exactly what I meant. It's the virtue signalling which is so hypocritical. I wasn't for one moment trying to suggest that the experiences of Travellers is the same as that of black Americans but maybe I didnt Express myself very well

@ChoosingHim the protests in America aren’t about slavery. They are about modern day racism in policing. Nothing to do with ancestors in the slightest.

Oh and here’s your for being the “race that ended slavery.”

Starting to see why black MNetters don't post on race threads on MN.

@SharonasCorona that was to @GinDaddyRedux not you, hence quoting a post.
But you think that it is ok that the same people who call you pejorative names can virtue signal about George Floyd? Do you want to actually read what the OP said?

The OP is not saying all lives matter. Are people really that stupid? The OP is rightly baffled/angry that the very same people who are rightly angered by the atrocities happening in the US (forever) are racist against other minority groups. Do people really not understand what the OP is saying? It seems like willful ignorance.

Speaking for myself, I didn't say that. Not sure if anyone else did.

The op said that the hypocritical people she is talking about said "all people are equal" which could have meant the "All Lives Matter" slogan going the rounds. I believe I asked that question in my first post. It was an explanation of why saying "All Lives Matter" and being nasty about travellers may not be as opposed to each other as the op thinks it is.

Not willfully ignorant SiaPR.