Questions for white people

[Questionspandemic]

Why are white people offended by black people talking about racism?

Obviously not all white people are racist and name changed - in case of gaslighting.

@Fronr13

Why has this thread not been reported? Feels like it'a baiting.

Have you reported it?

@Fronr13

Why has this thread not been reported? Feels like it'a baiting.

Baiting? Or making people think about things they are uncomfy to think about and discuss?

I’m not offended by people debating racism. I do get offended when people suggest I should feel ashamed to be white and ashamed of the actions of other white people. I won’t apologise for actions done by others - they don’t do it in my name.

No, yellow, being called racist is not worse than being racist. hmm.
Indeed. But most people who are being racist take issue with being called racist, ignoring that they are being racist.

The liar analogy would work better as in a liar being offended at being called a liar, but continuing to lie, blatantly. And considering that the person who called them a liar is the one at fault and should shut up.

@honeygirlz The highlighted words weren't mine - I was quoting what someone else said, who actually went on at length about it. Perhaps I didn't make that clear, sorry.

Being accused of something awful when you are innocent is not a pleasant experience for anybody, is it?

@Livelovebehappy

I’m not offended by people debating racism. I do get offended when people suggest I should feel ashamed to be white and ashamed of the actions of other white people. I won’t apologise for actions done by others - they don’t do it in my name.

I understand this. I do not hold English people ( incl black english people responsible for the 800 years!) and i can understand white privilege without feeling ashamed of what went before i was born.

I won't discuss it after the appalling behavior of BLM rioters in UK and USA
I'd say a minority of rioters the rest protesters that were very wrongly attacked (in the US anyway)

Of course it's baiting. Generalising all white people. Ridiculous.

Because we are sick of you moaning all the time.

BBC have just fired three question of sport hosts for basically being white - this is all going too far.

At the end of the day, we should all just see each other as to what we are - humans.

In the same way you wouldn't blame a rapists or murderers children for what they did, then I don't see how you can blame someone for history just because they're white?

@Questionspandemic

What do your qualifications and salary level have to do with this? I am always reminded of this

Brilliantly put.

Because it makes us acknowledge and address our privilege. It makes us acknowledge the fact 'white superiority' eg white history being taught, white majorities in the media, white areas being more middle class, whitewashing everything is not the norm. You don't think about it, you don't question it, you don't understand it. Racism and inequality just isn't our fight and doesn't cross our mind.

White people hate talking about race because it challenges our privileged equality. We are fine with the way things are because according to our lives all races are equal - they are equal; all minorities are on parr and all white people are a step ahead and life is far more comfortable that way.

It makes us uncomfortable and it makes us acknowledge issues we don't want to talk about. When the statue of Edward Colston was toppled there was a lot of outrage at a 'historical figure' being tarnished. The same with Winston Churchill etc. These are figures who have been heroicised our entire lives and to challenge our norms is difficult.

Our country was built on the back of slavery, racism, invasion, acquisition of lands that weren't ours, the 'British Empire' was history's large colony of genocide and enslavement. We were never taught about that at school - we were taught about Rule Britannia, the great Empire that covered 1/3 of the world.

It's like blinkers you take off and when you have them off and see the truth laid bare it truly is sickening and in truth it makes you wish you were still wearing them, simply because of the fact it's easier. But once you take them off, you can't look away. You see every inch of it and it's unbelievable you didn't see it before.

Not all white people DO get offended about black people talking about rascism. in fact I would go as far as to say most reasonable people, whatever ethnicity, think it's a good idea to talk about it. What I hate though is people talking about white privilege. Nobody, NOBODY should have to apologise for the colour of their skin. Just get on with your life with whatever means you have. Nobody will ever be born absolutely equal.

@MagicSummer

Because we are sick of you moaning all the time.

Interesting. Moaning? Like a moaning partner when the other partner keeps putting the dirty dishes on top of the dishwasher?

• Fronr13 - where is the generalisation? You are baiting

All I want is opinion of white people, with the hope anonymity of Mumsnet would solicit honesty.

Embarrassment/not wanting to admit to privilege I reckon. We had a session at work (large organisation) after George Floyd where we were presented with stats on BAME colleagues - I was genuinely shocked that they are much less likely to get promotion (despite being more likely to apply for one), less likely to get a performance bonus (and then it will be smaller amounts), and more likely to undergo disciplinary action. I just didn't understand how racism exists under cover - people can't speak their hateful views, but they can act on them. They might even be unaware that they're racist.

It's fucking horrible, I've never felt so ashamed of my organisation. 75% of my team is BAME, yet I still hadn't considered the wider organisation.

What I hate though is people talking about white privilege. Nobody, NOBODY should have to apologise for the colour of their skin. Just get on with your life with whatever means you have. Nobody will ever be born absolutely equal.

Have you looked up white pivilege?
Clue: it's not about apologising.

[quote yellowsunrise]**@honeygirlz The highlighted words weren't mine - I was quoting what someone else said, who actually went on at length about it. Perhaps I didn't make that clear, sorry.

Being accused of something awful when you are innocent is not a pleasant experience for anybody, is it?[/quote]
yellow I know the highlighted words weren't yours but you agreed them so my response was to you.

Being accused of something you're not is not pleasant but how do you extrapolate that into 'being called racist is worse than being racist'?

@MagicSummer

Because we are sick of you moaning all the time.

Funny how some white people say don't lump all white people together and yet when it suits them it becomes 'we' against 'you'.

Why not say 'I am sick'? Why speak for all white people?

We were never taught about that at school - we were taught about Rule Britannia, the great Empire that covered 1/3 of the world.
Really? When did you go to school? 1920?

This statement joins the list of things that haven't happened, for at least 30 years

Get woke, go broke.

Is that supposed to be funny or clever?

I find lumping BAME altogether in the UK a little weird.

It's very much us and them, with little recognition of how different "they" are treated and their history.
Could it be said that BAME as a category is racist? Or can it be useful in some contexts?

Because as a white person in the UK we simply are not often exposed to it in our daily lives so the reports as part of the BLM movement (especially American influenced ones) feel exaggerated and unreal. Black people only comprise 3% of the population, and populations are often more concentrated in particular cities and towns, leaving swathes of the country with few/no non whites.

I live in a village, where there are few non white people. It's an affluent village and that includes the handful of non white families (both black and south asian). People of every skin colour are welcome where we live and I honestly have never seen or heard of any racism at all locally.