You're white you haven't experienced racism 2 *title amended by MNHQ at OP's request*

[PatricksRum]

I started a thread in the early hours.

I fell asleep
I've checked the thread and it's full.

Whilst the thread sadly proves my OP, there were a lot of great posts and understanding by some MNers.

I think this discussion is so important and I'd like to continue.

These photos sum up the ridiculous responses.

Do not tell me I am doing my oppressed race a disservice
Your racial prejudice faced as a white person do not trump the daily racism and fear for our lives

Finally, if your response to this is to explain your tiny grievances of racial prejudices you've faced then you are wholly part of the problem.

The racist behaviours and thoughts by your people is the problem. It is your duty to understand and tackle it. I repeat, it is not the duty of black people to educate you.

@PatricksRum, I think a lot of black kids join gangs and life of crime because of lack of opportunities from very early on in life.

Why do I think office workers in African countries are dressed in the same clothes as we do in the U.K.? I don’t know because in our India office the women dress in the sari and so do I. I work out of our India office for about 3 weeks a year and I always dress in saris.

I assume the office workers in Kenya are dressed like that because they are conforming to international 'business' cultural standards which are derived from white environments.

To be seen as 'successful' and 'professional' is conflated with conforming to white cultural mores.

One of the biggest vehicles of Western power is cultural conformity music, film, fashion etc

I think a lot of black kids join gangs and life of crime because of lack of opportunities from very early on in life.
Exactly. It stems from racism. It's a symptom. We must tackle racism in order to tackle things.*

Why do I think office workers in African countries are dressed in the same clothes as we do in the U.K.? I don’t know because in our India office the women dress in the sari and so do I. I work out of our India office for about 3 weeks a year and I always dress in saris.*
No. Because we have been forced to adhere to western culture from lifetimes of oppression. It's now ingrained.

I put my hand up and say that I probably don’t have an appreciation of casual racism, let alone verbal or physical abuse for the colour of my skin. Never seen it, never heard it. This is not to deny that it does not. I know that it does, however. I fully agree that this makes me privileged. I have lead a pretty privileged life and , to be fair, have always lived in places where there are very few non Anglo people. This is changing slowly but very surely in my white bread, fairly conservative community. This I think is great. There is no doubt that the death of George Floyd was a disgusting act, and I hope those who did it and those officers who stood by go to jail for a long time. The problem is, for those that want the perpetrator charged with murder, is that I don’t think, from what I have read and understood of what happened, that there was any actual intent. The officer was ridiculously over aggressive. No problem saying that. He was also stupid and negligent. A man died as a result and there needs to be harsh consequences for that. If, however, he is tried for murder, which involves intent, it will be difficult to prove. If he gets off, he will walk away. No trying him on a lesser charge if that one doesn’t stick.

I disagree I think it was absolutely intended murder. He is only charged with murder because the film of the murder went viral. Disgusting and would never have happened to a white man. Racist murder for sure.

Won’t say you’re wrong beardedmum. Difficulty might be proving it though.

*You cannot blame all the problems of crime in the black community on racism. Why have the Asian immigrants who have presumably also faced racism been so much more successful than such a large proportion of the black community?
*Yes I can. Ask them on a thread about Asians.
*
*I think you should start wearing traditional clothing in Africa if that’s what you want but I don’t see why you should wear it in the U.K. when it’s lot the norm here. I also have a national custom from my own country but I would not wear it at work as would not be appropriate.
Okay you're racist I don't need to engage with you. "I don't see why you should wear your traditional clothes in MY country." That's racism right there. Crazy.

@Tinkerbell456 How do you know what the officer's intentions were?

Why in God’s name can’t people wear their traditional cultural clothing styles if they want?

@Tinkerbell456 Because it's her country apparently.
We're not welcome

And it’s not my country. I am not British.

@patricks rum. I don’t. My point is only he does really. Proving intent beyond reasonable doubt would be really difficult I would think.

We cannot always wear what we want. None of us.
Why not? Who says?

You will never improve opportunities for the black community if you take no responsibility for lack of progress.
Excuse me? We are responsible for the lack of process for equal rights?

@Tinkerbell456 I think it's happened so many times now that it was so necessary for them to charge him if only to make a stand. Long overdue.

He was pretty much saying he was dying. That’s intent to me. If this crime is not punished severely enough it will keep happening. Jesus look who is in charge of the country

Fair comment Patricksrum.

@PatricksRum, the corporate world says to blacks and whites.

Problems in the black community is not just due to lack of equal rights. If it was it would affect all immigrant communities the same way.

@BeardedMum How do you know so much about the reasons for black crime?

the corporate world says to blacks and whites.
Were not talking about the corporate world. We're talking about the world.
We're not talking about white people. The national dress pp mentioned is not applicable to white people.

@BeardedMum

You’ve been reported

OP I accept what you say.

People don’t want to accept it because they are afraid of what it will entail in terms of giving up some kind of advantage when many people are struggling to make ends meet and stay afloat themselves.

Maybe a system of tax breaks should be put in place for people in society who are at a disadvantage, and to reflect historical unfairness, to even things up. I think also that women should pay tax at a different rate to men, to reflect historical unfairness.

This is the case for a group of people who were disadvantaged by the ancient caste system here in the country that I live. It’s a form of reparations but not a handout that needs to be allocated.

We do need to question a system that allows white men as a group to get disproportionately rich, exploit others and then evade the tax system. It needs rebalancing.

Education is a huge issue too. It’s a way of controlling people’s exposure to ideas at a formative age, hence religious schools. The influence of private schools on education in the UK is completely disproportionate and needs to be brought into line.

People don’t want to accept it because they are afraid of what it will entail in terms of giving up some kind of advantage when many people are struggling to make ends meet and stay afloat themselves.

This is a really valid point.
A lot of the whataboutery is white people not wanting to accept they are advantaged. They don't want to accept. It makes them uncomfortable.
Inevitablely, ending racism will cause the white privileged benefits to end. I see they don't want this.

It's interesting you mention the system in place for the disadvantaged people in your country. I am now pondering the things put in place for jewish people. I'm reminded of a great documentary about this. I wondered why we aren't offered the same.

Education too is a huge thing.
Black history month. One month a year. Crazy.

Thanks for listening and taking it in.

We shouldn't be complacent that the U.K. is better than the US. Black men have been murdered the same way as George Floyd was, in the U.K. too.

www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/a32767493/restraint-technique-killed-george-floyd-used-uk-police/