You're white you cannot experience racism 3

[PatricksRum]

And it continues. Thank you for those black people who took the time to share their stories once again.

@Whataloadofshite @BeforeIPutOnMyMakeup @CandyLeBonBon @WokeUpSmeltTheCoffee
Thank you all.

Yes agree not all are in a gang. But gang violence is a very big factor. Witness Jayden Moodie recently. Particularly vile.

Well I am done (as I can't spend any more time/energy on this tonight although I want to, and I want to show my support for OP). I am very sure that people reading this will make their own deductions and hopefully have found the thread useful and perhaps a little eye opening. I know I certainly have.

I hope Patrick's has been suitably chastised for "lacking humility" and having a "lack of respect" on her thread. Fucking humility.

Like I said people reading (and not necessarily posting) will form their own opinions. I believe the posters here who are so vociferous about all OP's shortcomings and all bonding over OP's disrespect are really not coming across the way they think they are.

You're not coming across well at all and ironically you're actually proving OP's points. I genuinely am surprised you don't see that. I said before I was a bit embarrassed for you, and I still am. So self centred.

If anyone reads the first posts on these threads and then reads through all the responses as a whole it will certainly be food for thought. Thank you @PatricksRum.

MyEyesight I agree with you, well said.

Patrick I hope you are resting / sleeping, I know this thread has been full on.

@BlackBucketOfCheese just out of curiosity, if someone started a thread about the challenges they've faced being white, how would you feel if people jumped on any other race to say they don't care about 'black feelz' your irreverent and poor black people, boohoo? The thread would be shut down before you get a chance to refresh the page.

Everyone agrees racism is abhorrent and changes need to be made, quickly.

OP said she would be happy if she opens just one persons eyes with her posts. She could have opened a hell of a lot more and that is what this issue needs! Shame really, I've no doubt some people feel even more helpless now, they've lost before they've even begun.

It's certainly opened my eyes as to how people accusing others of racism or prejudice are only to happy to in turn be racist or prejudiced against others.

I'm currently re-watching "blue eyes/brown eyes anti-racism exercise" on Oprah. It was filmed in 1992 and freely available on YouTube. I suggest those who want to educate themselves watch it.

Total respect and admiration for you @Dreep. The world needs more peaceful loving souls like you

@Stay123

No body has mentioned black on black gang violence. Black people are mostly killed by black people. Why has no one mentioned this?

It’s been mentioned on all 3 threads, and on each thread it’s been pointed out to people that black on black violence is largely a side effect of systemic racism. It’s definitely worth reading up about it.

Relevant

The OP has accused posters of attention seeking yet no one has been more so than her. Overbearing, lacking in the ability to reason, shouting through posts, silencing others. Hopefully this post can be laid to rest now .

my eyesight

I do not wish to pat backs and participate in fist bumps and high fives. I wanted to thank the people who listened to me. Exactly as the OP did.

It was appreciated and my thanks were not intended to cause offence.

I heard the OP and agreed with the main agenda. But as said before, I didn’t agree with the division and didn’t like the way some things were put. I didn’t agree with the provocative title. As someone else said, if it had been put another way, responses would have been different.

I got deleted for having an opinion. For being different. I don’t believe I was any ruder than other posts that stayed.

But I was silenced and I’m not too fond of that for obvious reasons.

It was decided that I was a troublemaker. Based on what? Can you see why I would take that personally? It was encouraged that no one acknowledge me. Again, can you see why I was hurt at being sidelined? Maybe it was thought I was out to start a bunfight.

My only fight is the one I have to change things.

So the thanks were for people listening to me. And hearing me.

I am not eloquent and like the OP I struggle to get my point across.

It is however the same point. Just with different margins and different ideas on how to accomplish change.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras -

Forgive me for my ignorance but I can't say I feel privileged to be white at all.

I understand that racism is real, I'm aware it happens however where I live there are far more BAME people who live here than there is white, we are a diverse community and I am happy about that because it gives a sense of freedom and togetherness.

I have a white daughter, she is a minority in her class at primary, the school itself celebrates every important day for all cultures which is great.

But like I said I don't feel privileged to be white here, it's not about race it's about how much money you've got in your pocket if anything and most of us don't have a pot to piss in.

@MyEyesightIsBadLetsGoForADrive

I'm not sure if you're referring to me, or not. I don't mind either way.

You're not coming across well at all and ironically you're actually proving OP's points. I genuinely am surprised you don't see that. I said before I was a bit embarrassed for you, and I still am. So self centred.

I'd apply your own words back to you, tbh

No problem with whatever your views on me are (if you have any! I don't necessarily expect you to 😊) but how about instead of general assertions, you deal with the substantive issues and comments posted?

So, Dreep has made points that have been ignored, over and over.

You talked about OP being 'shouted down' and I challenged this and explained my view. Ignored.

So you come up with a vague attack on, well , many posters, while refusing to deal with valid points made by many.

OP had demonstrated prejudice about entire communities and refused to engage or accept this; she wasn't attacked for this, she was provided with evidence.

She has patronisingly talked about 'teaching' posters. When I said I didn't need her to teach me, I was told 'tough'. How is that showing any kind of civil discourse?

She back-tracks, contradicts and insults posters posting in good faith. What's to celebrate about that?

Many of us would welcome debate, discussion and sharing of knowledge and experience. Others have done so. OP is under no obligation to do any of this but she can't just lash out at everyone, if she chooses to create a thread and decides to post (well, she can, of course, but what's the point?)

By the way, I'm not in anyway saying this is personal to me. It's not. I've never experienced racism, I'm very much aware of how overall my life is one of privilege. I want to, and am, engaging in, learning and supporting issues of race & challenging racism. I have no doubt I need to learn more. I cannot understand what discrimination is like for people of colour. I know this.

But I cannot accept that 3 x threads which deny and nastily diminish others lived experiences, that attack individual posters and their opinions, with an OP that demeans entire communities experiences, while protesting that this is done to them, can be supported and lauded.

Eyesight not one of my points that I've made have you challenged or responded to. Just carried on with invective. Where does that get us?

DontPetTheSweatyStuff

If someone told me they experienced any form of persecution I would listen. But on MN today I’ve been told black people with an issue about British slave trade should be flown “home”.

I haven’t said anything about white feelz. But there is a lot of white privilege on MN, white is the starting point and the first thought for most and the majority cannot stand to be challenged on that.

A few months ago DH was in Tesco and ahead of him In the queue were an Indian couple ( older but not elderly). The checkout assistant proceeded to tut, eye roll and be very blunt and rude to them. She kept making eye contact with my DH as if he was also frustrated by their presence- which he was not

DH pulled her up on it quite loudly and and without mincing his words told her she should be ashamed of herself. He then paid and approached the couple in the carpark to apologise and they told him it's just another day.

We reported the staff member to Tesco.

Really proud of DH for standing up against her

I've watched that before.

And so you should be proud.

It is how the world can change.

@BlackBucketOfCheese

DontPetTheSweatyStuff

If someone told me they experienced any form of persecution I would listen. But on MN today I’ve been told black people with an issue about British slave trade should be flown “home”.

I haven’t said anything about white feelz. But there is a lot of white privilege on MN, white is the starting point and the first thought for most and the majority cannot stand to be challenged on that.

Except that many of the posters on the receiving end of ops attacks aren't in fact white.

People are accusing anyone who challenges op as being white, having white privilege of being racist - some of these posters aren't white.

How come it's only ops opinion or voice that matters? Why isn't their voice at least as important?

I don't care really what you say about me, or call me. I'm white, even though some posters appeared to not understand that a Jewish person can be white(!) so apparently deserve to be insulted and must just accept it, so, ok.

I don't accept that other BAME posters on here should be silenced though.

@spinthebottle thank you for sharing your experiences of racism. I’m so sorry and disgusted to read every example on that list.

To whoever said that people should put their money where their mouth is: thanks. I have. I just donated to BLM. You're right; it's easy for me to say that I'm listening - it's harder for me to actually show support.

And thanks, again, to the OP.

How come it's only ops opinion or voice that matters? Why isn't their voice at least as important?

I’ll admit to only sticking my head into this thread. But my post further up is relation to my last 15 years on MN.

@iwilltaketwoplease

The point of white privelege is that another person in your same position, but with black skin, would be worse off.

(and also that they're more likely to be in your position because this is not new and their parents, grandparents etc. have been through the same)

Mango Your dh is a star. I think so many racist people operate on not being called out and calling it out is unfortunately so necessary.

Dh (who isn’t white) told me there was checkout person at our local supermarket who always flat out ignores him, even though he always says hello and thank you, and is really polite and gentle always. We went together one day, went through the till separately. I went first, she chatted about the weather etc, all very normal. I sat on the chairs opposite the till and watched dh go through. He said hello, she said nothing. Didn’t even look at him. Didn’t tell him how much his shopping was. He said thank you, she said nothing, again didn’t even look at him. As I’m a bit gobby about these things, I went and stood next to him and told her “you can talk talk to him you know, he doesn’t bite.” She just glared at me rather than apologising to him, but hopefully she’s learned to watch her shitty manners.

Things like what your dh did are so important. Facing racism and feeling alone is terrifying, but if even one person stands up with you it can make so much difference.

Dh still remembers when he was on a train and some teenagers in the seats down and across from him were whispering racist names about him and making noises and pretending to speak with a generic racist “accent” if that makes sense. The (white) man sitting opposite dh caught his eye then turned around and told the teenagers to shut the fuck up. It helped that he was really big, but dh was so grateful. Still angry and humiliated but he at least felt less alone.

But on MN today I’ve been told black people with an issue about British slave trade should be flown “home”

That's disgusting.