to think if someone boycotts a major supermarket because it is supporting Black History Month, that says a lot about that person.

[chomalungma]

A well known actor - who is against cancel culture - has said that he will boycott Sainsburies because it is supporting Black History Month and will not tolerate racism.

But he's not racist though. He just doesn't want to boycott Sainsburys.

What does it say about him?

He’s an arse!

It depends on their reasons.

If it's because they don't think black history matters then it's racist.
If it's because they would rather not give their custom to supermarkets who seem to be running a themed month to backwash/greenwash/try to argue they're an oh so caring organisation then that's not racist and fair play to them.

Whilst I don't boycott companies and do believe that Black History Month is good, I do find myself rolling my eyes with cynicism each time large companies try to hop on whatever issue they think makes them seem nice.

Someone said they are against cancel culture so they are going to boycott sainsburys for supporting black history month? That is cancel culture.

Who is this someone? I can't make sense of the OP.

Is he boycotting or not?

If he doesn’t want to boycott them then why is he boycotting them? I feel like I’ve missed something, who are you talking about?

Laurence Fox is the man in question. He's off on one again.

Thanks Dahlietta

As I've just put on the other thread, people are up in arms over the fact Sainsburys are creating a segregated space for Black People only, Which is taking us back to the past. Lots of black people are unhappy.

Celebrating BHM is a way for people to feel like they are doing a good thing but forgetting as soon as they have patted themselves on the back. Black history should be taught in schools, be a celebration of success and a discussion of the horrendous actions of the past.

As a mixed race woman all I see is a marketing department virual signalling and creating divisions, I cannot wait to see their ethnic pay gap review. I read it as they pay Black people less. Horrendous in 2020.

www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/gb/groceries/new---trending/black-history-month?storeId=10151&langId=44&krypto=ukVwF8nGW9UFWaiwSYPOGm%2B2%2FR4GY07qNn6OegoFZSu61Yi8N7t4sUlFqw36l%2FLfr5QyNEh2EI2aOrJ9gXBCSZR4kX9Tlh5EDHZtFt0PhtscxSxOL17SjGAtT9hQa2YCpF2rSb7oUpmYinM5F6gm6Kq%2F%2BBhxyRJpKTgxHP0r8Yc%3D&ddkey=https%3Agb%2Fgroceries%2Fnew---trending%2Fblack-history-month

When the first lot of criticism came out about this actor I thought it very unfair, I didn’t believe him to be racist.
But the boycott has entirely changed my opinion unfortunately.

Celebrating BHM is a way for people to feel like they are doing a good thing but forgetting as soon as they have patted themselves on the back. Black history should be taught in schools, be a celebration of success and a discussion of the horrendous actions of the past.

As a mixed race woman all I see is a marketing department virual signalling and creating divisions, I cannot wait to see their ethnic pay gap review. I read it as they pay Black people less. Horrendous in 2020.

You've put it much better than me. I'm white but find many of these sort of campaigns by companies to be superficial with little meaningful change.

Well, I would prefer it if my supermarket stuck to selling groceries, thank you very much.
Also the company is largely owned by the Qataries, so perhaps they could concentrate on the terrible human rights abuses going on at home.

@Dahlietta oh. him sigh

I understand his arguments for boycotting Sainsbury’s at all, I just don’t see how a company supporting or celebrating Black History Month can be seen as them promoting racial segregation and discrimination.

Although I am sceptical about whether Sainsbury’s support for Black History Month goes any further than them putting up a few virtue signalling banners.

Is he going through the male menopause?

@MinaMurray
I just don’t see how a company supporting or celebrating Black History Month can be seen as them promoting racial segregation and discrimination.

@BlueisthenewGrey
people are up in arms over the fact Sainsburys are creating a segregated space for Black People only, Which is taking us back to the past. Lots of black people are unhappy.

Also the company is largely owned by the Qataries, so perhaps they could concentrate on the terrible human rights abuses going on at home.

They own 22% of the company. They are the largest individual shareholder, but that doesn't equate to largely owning the company.

Im not quite sure what a food supermarket has to do with black custody month tbh.

Surely it’s schools/museums and politics that need to be doing the right thing here for sainsbos and whoever else.

Not*

The OP is very unclear, but I guessed this would be about Laurence Fox.

I might boycott Laurence Fox if he's going to be an arse.

This is what he's upset about

www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/gb/groceries/new---trending/black-history-month

Maybe it's the safe space that's upset him?

And the irony is that someone who is against cancel culture wants people to boycott something and is calling it out on Twitter. He's also virtue signalling his beliefs.

As PP have said, it really depends on the reasons for doing so.

I wouldn't boycott a supermarket over BHM. I do have some concerns over BHM itself, and about corporate wokewashing (it's easier to plaster some nice-sounding message on posters and Twitter messages than it is to pay your workers properly etc.).

I dislike wokewash too - in all its many forms. I feel uneasy with the way some gay friends have been obliged to go to Pride to represent their organisations (going if they wanted is one thing - going to show "diversity" is another).
There is a lot a retailer could do for Black History Month - displays on Slavery by the sugar and bananas. Ones on the circle trade near the clothes. Maybe one on Mary Seacole in the Pharmacy, etc.
But shouting about looking at the pay gap, and organisational groups - this is not about history and seems like celebrating a cover up.

But I wouldn't boycott - I'm sure the alternatives are doing no better.

And the Actor just comes across as a racist arse.

History in our schools is carefully taught to avoid topics pertinent to black history. A couple of weeks on the slave trade (the British put an end to it, arent we amazing) and back to the Tudors. Or skip ahead to WWI and dont talk about the empire.

Until that's rectified, Black History month has a role to play.

Question is if he boycotts Sainsbos where will he buy his Gammon from?!😄

I can’t see how any of this could be a bad thing?

“ We've relaunched our network that supports ethically diverse colleagues. I AM ME @ Sainsbury's, now has over 2600 members and a very active schedule of events. We run mentoring circles, awareness days, learning sessions and celebrations.

Recently we created online support groups for black colleagues across the business, in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. These groups helped our black colleagues come together, share their experiences and support one another.”