To worry most people won’t ever ‘get it’

[OverTheRainbow88]

All the marches, Protests etc and people still don’t seem to understand!

Will they ever?

Definitely being unreasonable. In fact utterly ridiculous. This is the most tolerant country in the world. Sick of professional victims bleating on about themselves when there are ACTUAL people suffering from bullying! Some (looks like a lot) of people need to grow up and stop being offended by everything! A mermaid with fluffy hair! Grow up!

This is the most tolerant country in the world

Bwahahahahaha ROTFLMAO!

Oh you're serious?

If your "I'm so offended at people being offended" rant didn't disqualify itself upon delivery, this gem surely did!

I probably would have been one of those people who said "I don't get it, mountain out of a molehill etc"
However, thinking back to my childhood as a mixed race girl with very fluffy hair, where white girls and boys would touch my hair and say "eww" This would have really upset me. I only saw Caucasian hair as beautiful or even "normal" and I had a really squewed body image growing up.

Yes, some people really don't get it. I am related through marriage to a churchgoer who hangs a golliwog Xmas decoration and insists there is nothing wrong with it because she means no malice.

She's probably tells everyone she's not a racist because she's related to me (my parents were born in what was a British colony).

*skewed!

Black is the general term for non white?

What???

In academic writing it tends to be "black" or if American then "women/ people of colour".

I'm not saying it's right. I don't think it is, just that from a written perspective it tends to be it. In English (country) academic writing BAME is becoming more common, but "black" still prevails.

I found it really odd when I started my studies, books talking about "black women" when it became apparent later they meant Asian, south Asian or Hispanic (I'm thinking of a specific book there). I prefer specifics, but the academic community tend to disagree.

The term "black" has become pervasive amongst mainstream media and socially as a term due to this.

So if I am white, no matter how good a person I am or how much I disagree with racism, I am a second class citizen according to you! However if I am black, a murderer and abuser, i’m more important than any white person, because of course I’m black so my life matters more than theirs

🤦🏾‍♀️

FWIW, I think this was very shortsighted of them...

Lots of examples here of why racism is still an issue because many white people aren’t even open to accepting it exists. Just because you aren’t offended or can’t see an issue doesn’t mean it isn’t an issue. It just means your life experience hasn’t exposed you to it and comparing it to a white example totally misses the point.

So the bookmakers had 2 previous books with the same caption about a blonde and red haired mermaid. Theyve tried to be inclusive and add a darker skinned mermaid, why is this mermaid automatically black? There are many races with brown skin. So many replies here are using the words "fuzzy" and "frizzy" instead of fluffy, to make it sound worse. Surely any darker skinned child looking at these 3 books lined up at the supermarket would be happy to see theyve been included.
Saying that, choosing only the darker skinned mermaid for the tshirt, with no context behind it was so shortsighted/stupid. Although, its got tesco a lot of free publicity hasn't it.

Confused why is it racist to say , some one has fluffy hair

I've got fluffy hair and I'm white.

I don’t see word “ fluffy “ as a negative. I’d wish my hair was more “fluffy” , instead of just flat...😜 People just see what they want to see... Aren’t people who pointed “ the issue” out racist because they’re the ones who noticed it? It would’ve never come to my mind to see it as a racism, as it’s just sensory kids book.

.I only saw Caucasian hair as beautiful or even "normal" and I had a really squewed body image growing up.

exactly - and books like this, where the "winning" mermaid/Princess/whatever is never black or in fact anything other than blonde and blue eyed... just contribute more to this.

Just wow!
Some people literally have no empathy.

Some things affect some people more than others, it's not for those that are not affected to say stop making it a big deal. Why? Because you're minimising their experience.

I don’t see why her hair is too fluffy is offensive or racist? My middle child’s hair is most definitely too fluffy, she looks a bit like doc brown from back to future when she gets up and she is blond.

I’m fairly certain the next bit will be her tail is too ... etc etc.

The book and pjs are the exact opposite of racist as they consciously chose a different skin colour to be inclusive.

@syskywalker

I don’t see why her hair is too fluffy is offensive or racist? My middle child’s hair is most definitely too fluffy, she looks a bit like doc brown from back to future when she gets up and she is blond.

I’m fairly certain the next bit will be her tail is too ... etc etc.

The book and pjs are the exact opposite of racist as they consciously chose a different skin colour to be inclusive.

I think the point is, are you black, are your children black? Have you ever had your black hair described in a derogatory way or been treated less favourably because you have ‘black’ hair? If not then what’s your point of reference for how a black person might feel about it? I’m not black, I have no idea, that’s why I need to ask them the question and understand a different perspective.

Since when has anyone called black people's hair fluffy? Maybe frizzy or curly but not fluffy.

Had many friends at school growing up, white, black, Asian. And the only time white girls would take about black/Asian girls hair was to tell them how beautiful it was.

They would all invariably reply how much they hated their hair and how much hard work it was.

If a black person's experience with their hair from others is negative, then that is their experience. No one is saying it isn't true. But in the context of this book for babies with a mythical creature who is blonde, red head, then dark skinned dark hair, all with fluffy texture hair, then the aim wasn't racist. Context is everything.

I feel like If upset/offence could be avoided by a 10 min google/research or a 10 min consultation with a focus group then why not? Surely no one wants to cause upset, whether it be intentional or not.

I teach a lot of Romani Gypsy children and I’ve spent ages learning more about their culture in my own time to not accidentally cause cultural upset.

Equally, I am not a Muslim yet have spent ages reading up Islam and Islamophobia, to realise the issues posed by Islamophobia. I won’t say I totally understand them because I can’t; but If I can do my part to avoid upset I will.

Yes, I think it’s great books are becoming more diverse, but just because it is a step forward doesn’t mean we should Just settle for any wording In the book because we should just be grateful to be in the book!

Utterly ridiculous. All the mermaids have been described as having fluffy hair at some point, it’s not racist to include the black mermaid ffs.

Why people doesn’t get upset about kids books like this one? Think it’s more inappropriate than mermaid one... though I can see no one making fuss about it...

@Sikantiskatinas

Why people doesn’t get upset about kids books like this one? Think it’s more inappropriate than mermaid one... though I can see no one making fuss about it...

Because it’s not a children’s book, it’s like the famous five on Brexit island - for adults.

Clearly by just some of the comments on the first page here - some people will NEVER get it ☹️

Why people doesn’t get upset about kids books like this one?

Its one of life's deep mysteries, along with "why don't people read the OP" and "WTAF".

People who aren’t racist aren’t normally homophobes. Where as racists and homophobes are often good friends

Hugely variable depending on where you live and your own experience. It also skirts dangerously close to complacency and the purity spiral.