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.

I am clear not all white people are racist, but why would certain posters keep accusing me of saying something I didn't and in turn accuse me of baiting.

Some posters offered insight, thanks. I will not subject myself to this hostility. I am out.

People of every skin colour are welcome where we live and I honestly have never seen or heard of any racism at all locally.

Arghhhhhhhhh

I'm sure the lower and working-class individuals throughout history felt they had "white privledge".

@Warsawa31 completely agree. Shocked this thread is still up. But I suppose because it's too white people, mumsnet see no offence.

I'm white. I just see people all around me with barriers of all kinds. The colour of their skin is just one of many barriers all types and colours of people face. i wouldn't say i get offended; its just more that I feel weary with all kinds of injustice to the point that I want to ignore it all and not think about it

@Memememem20

I'm sure the lower and working-class individuals throughout history felt they had "white privledge".

In places with slavery, I'm quite sure they did.

But when it's easier for a working class individual to climb the social ladder than a black individual, then that's white privilege. You can change your manners and accent, but you can't change the colour of your skin.

Isn't the fact you can just decide to ignore it all, pretend it isn't happening, white privilege itself?
If you were black you wouldn't have that luxury of being able to do that.
It'd be your actual every day life just by being you.

@Lweji excuse me? There's many times in history when lower-class and working-class were treated awfully whether they were white or black. Think of the Titanic - most lower-class people were not allowed to the top.
Please don't belittle one groups struggles over another.
We are human, we've all had a history, please do not use the "they have it worse" line to contradict an argument.
That's just like telling someone when theyre upset "well other people have it worse"

That was to @member869894

Krampusasbabysitter

I am also not going to bow to demands and pressure for my business to adopt prescribed social media messages, i.e. have a black square or otherwise be forced to signal my unquestioning support for the actual BLM organisation.

Sorry, but I don’t understand this. What do you mean ‘have a black square’. Is this something that’s happening?

@Questionspandemic maybe thinking about wording your question more carefully next time

I’m not embarrassed by it- I’m glad these conversations are happening in public.

I am white and I am absolutely not offended by black people talking about racism

Likewise - don't have any friends who are offended by it either - why would we be?

Nope 🌺

As a white person, I wholly welcome the racism discussion as it's an issue that disgusts me and I think it should be talked about as much as needed until it is just a word in the history books.

I also fully support Ashley Banjo and the people complaining infuriate me. There have been many "political" issues on BGT. And I don't know if I agree that requesting basic human rights should be considered "political" but rather "necessary"

Sharonas Corona
*People of every skin colour are welcome where we live and I honestly have never seen or heard of any racism at all locally.

Arghhhhhhhhh*

Seriously? This is the problem. I live in a tiny rural village with basically no non-whites. Why would I be encountering daily racism? I dont watch a lot of tv etc.

You have to accept that for some people living remotely, it's not just an absence of overt racism, there's literally no visible racism in daily life. It makes it hard to associate/engage with the issue.

I'm not denying there is racism of course there is, loads of it. But it is possible for there to be pockets of the country where we just don't see it much.

I don't think white people are offended by black people talking about racism. But I think as a white person, I find it difficult to accept personal responsibility for the atrocities of the past of which I played no part, and feel that I am expected to feel guilty about events out of my control which happened years before my birth. I refuse to accept responsibility for what my ancestors did- but this seems to be what some want.

But when it's easier for a working class individual to climb the social ladder than a black individual, then that's white privilege.

Have you got some data supporting that's its easier for a working class person to climb the social ladder than a black person? Social mobility is at a long time low in the uk, its bloody hard for either.

Freekstar yes, I feel that way. I'm happy to take affirmative action today wherever I can to try and create a more equal society and level the playing field, but some factions of the campaign seem to want me to assume guilt & responsibility for the past on a personal level which I find challenging. All my ancestors were bloody poor as church mice.

because they dont want to be treated equally they want to be treated better. take stop and search - stats show young black males to be most likely to be carrying so they are stopped more, thatis not racially motivated its simple response to threat but they dont want that, they want some kind of exemption

@honeygirlz Sorry, but perhaps my post has been misunderstood and I didn't word it in the right way. I was not equating those two things. My reply was in the context of answering the question in the OP, and not as it appeared to come across, which is how you have interpreted it. Sorry again for the confusion. Perhaps if one thinks in the light of the accusation being true or not rather than the crime itself, as in that white people might be offended if they believe they are being accused of something they don't believe they have done. Which answers the question in the OP. And that is all that was being attempted here.

I'm not offended at all by discussions of racism, especially when I learn how it feels from someone else's point of view, because I can never experience it in the same way.

Hatred and intolerance offend me, but discussions don't.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

Sharonas Corona *People of every skin colour are welcome where we live and I honestly have never seen or heard of any racism at all locally.

Arghhhhhhhhh*

Seriously? This is the problem. I live in a tiny rural village with basically no non-whites. Why would I be encountering daily racism? I dont watch a lot of tv etc.

You have to accept that for some people living remotely, it's not just an absence of overt racism, there's literally no visible racism in daily life. It makes it hard to associate/engage with the issue.

I'm not denying there is racism of course there is, loads of it. But it is possible for there to be pockets of the country where we just don't see it much.

The problem is you’re looking at it from your perspective. Try living in a tiny rural village as a BAME person and it would be very different.

I think I would just like it if the whole BLM campaign was more positive. Sometimes I feel like it's just about belittling, anger, insults, negative messages.

I would like positive messages about what people can do to help that are not angry, defensive, or aggressive.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland completely agree. As someone said earlier, we wouldn't make a murderer's child apologise for their fathers/mothers actions.

I am all for fighting the cause that we should all be equal and there should be no racism, but white people shouldn't need to apologise for their ancestors.