Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be horrified by the sudden interest in BLM

107 replies

Nellydean21 · 07/06/2020 22:54

Why are there so many threads by possibly white women asking for guidance on how not to be a racist? I am a white woman and have been incorporating anti racism into my job for three decades now. My job is teaching and writing. Is this really news , how the fuck is this so?

OP posts:
CatPeach · 07/06/2020 22:55

Can’t see how it’s ‘horrifying’.

Original poster
Nellydean21 · 07/06/2020 23:00

Its horrific because two weeks ago people who've never thought about racism before are suddenly all over the internet about their views. Why haven't they been all over this before? It's well documented.

OP posts:
ghostyslovesheets · 07/06/2020 23:01

you are not alone but as someone who's been involved in campaigning for 35 years - it NEVER hurts to see people waking up or for people to be asking questions on how they can change or help

knocking them back with a wagging finger and a 'well where have YOU been' is probably not a helpful stance

WhenAllsSaidandDone · 07/06/2020 23:01
Biscuit
Pepperwort · 07/06/2020 23:01

It does seem to have been taken up very suddenly in an extreme manner doesn't it.

Tillygetsit · 07/06/2020 23:01

Better than not bothering at all 🤷‍♀️

AnneLovesGilbert · 07/06/2020 23:02

Would you rather they didn’t engage now?

What were you doing 4 years ago?

WhenAllsSaidandDone · 07/06/2020 23:03

Would you prefer there's no "sudden" interest at all? I suppose since you've known for 3 very long years, we should all call it a day then? No one else needs to be given the chance to learn?

FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue · 07/06/2020 23:03

It's also now being taken up by all the big corporations - bandwagon jumping, just like them all displaying the pride rainbow - it's to fit with their target market. Cynical PR.

Wifeofbikerviking · 07/06/2020 23:04

You know people have been anti racist longer than social media tho 🙄 you can't see most opinions.

It's a good thing the interest. It's the point of it actually

GinDaddyRedux · 07/06/2020 23:06

This isn't indie music. There's no kudos or credits for being there first. It's not a question of "I've been doing this for years, where were you?

I think @Nellydean21 you've missed the entire point of the protests.

If people who haven't previously vocalised thoughts about how to be anti racist or how to support black people, do so? Then surely they have achieved a watermark so to speak in the race issues, and more and more people are finally engaging.

YABU to think everyone must think as you think, and in the same timeframes of awareness and development

montyliesandmontycries · 07/06/2020 23:06

3 decades? Shouldn’t you be celebrating rather than being ‘horrified’ ?

LittleOgres · 07/06/2020 23:07

I think most people have thought “I’m not racist.” And they genuinely don’t mean to be. But they just haven’t realised that being ‘not racist’ isn’t the same as being anti racist. And people are realising that having white privilege doesn’t mean you were brought up with plenty of money, but that you benefitted unconsciously from having white skin and an ‘English’ sounding name for example.
I am Irish, adopted, have mixed race siblings. Racism was never tolerated in our house. My parents were very forward thinking in that, your skin colour didn’t matter.
But of course in a way it does. And so now I educate myself, I accept I had privilege, I talk to my kids about this, and I hope to be a better person and anti racist.
I think it is understandable that many people have just thought “I’m not racist” and are now realising that’s not enough. I think that’s to be encouraged and supported. If we knock people they may not like to admit they don’t understand racism. We need to be open.
I definitely feel people are starting to wake up to this much more. Which is a good thing.

ItsGoingTibiaK · 07/06/2020 23:07

Would you prefer it if they didn’t want to not be racist?

Original poster
Nellydean21 · 07/06/2020 23:07

I'm not backing anyone down. Just why does it take this. Most people can think, read, watch TV etc. Am I supposed to take the suddenly outraged as seriously as people who've spent their whole lives activity opposing racism ?

OP posts:
GinDaddyRedux · 07/06/2020 23:07

I do agree with previous posters however that there is a public virtue-signalling adoption of the words and signifiers of BLM by corporations, all stuff that verges on super cringy at best, and cynical at worst

CherryValanc · 07/06/2020 23:07

So you think it's a bandwagon?

In that case, and in my opinion, it's one people need to get on. The more the better. Enough keep on it and attitudes have a better change of changing

Superfoodie123 · 07/06/2020 23:08

I agree. As a brown person I've experienced racism many times in my life. My two best friends have never asked how its affected me or voiced opinions on the matter. All of a sudden they are posting their passionate views on social media, which surprises me as police brutality against black people has been information that's very much out there. I also think that white people telling other white people how not to be racist on SM is eye opening because I had no idea we were this behind.

Sparklesocks · 07/06/2020 23:08

It’s not a competition.
Yes most likely a lot of white people probably haven’t understood the full scope of racism and how prevalent it is until now. And yes some probably have had their head in the sand somewhat.

But it’s only a good thing for people to be learning that and making changes. What’s the alternative exactly? Not bothering?

lemmathelemmin · 07/06/2020 23:08

People are bored.

I wonder what things would be like if we weren't in the middle of a pandemic.

TinyPigeon · 07/06/2020 23:08

Now your suggestion of two, incredibly well known, authors on the other thread makes more sense.

Do you have any further tips oh wise one?

SkyDragon · 07/06/2020 23:08

It's a very important issue.
But I've been uncomfortable with the sheer level of aggression and accusation from my very left leaning friends. (I am Liberal
Leftish)
This narrative where regarding the protests, if you dare to suggest that mass gatherings of any sort might not be a good idea, even though you understand its an important cause, then you are A RACIST.
I'm not OK with that. And I've seen more hate on my time line from white middle class guardian types this week than from anyone else...

Croquemonsieur · 07/06/2020 23:10

Honestly, OP, you do sound a bit like one of those diehard football fans who despise the Johnny-comes-latelies who weren’t supporting Twiddleford FC back when they played in homemade strip in the local rec.

But yes, it does seem that for some people systemic racism starts to exist only when it’s a catchy hashtag. Like Twitter invented being kind, too.

LadyWithLapdog · 07/06/2020 23:10

I’m a white woman and I'm interested. I like to think I’m not racist but there may be something I need to learn. I’m not doing it as a me, me, me but because I have a few hours here and there and I can put them to good use.

DioneTheDiabolist · 07/06/2020 23:10

I'm not horrified at all. Yes, the best time to plant a forest is 20years ago, but the second best time is NOW.