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?

A boycott isn't the same thing as cancel culture and I am surprised people don't understand that.

I do think a boycott seems an overly strong response for what's going on in this situation.

However, as far as the premise, that if someone objects to the BHM tweet put out by Sainsburys, no, I don't think that a person who objects to the idea of BHM is necessarily a racist. They may simply have a different idea than you do about how to promote racial equality, how it works in terms of teaching history, what the effects of these sorts of special history months are.

Certainly so far as their segregated safe space areas, I think it should be pretty obvious why many people might think that was a bad idea that will have negative effects. Even if you don't, on balance, agree, if you can't wrap your head around that you need to expand your thinking a little bit because its become very blinkered. Maybe listen to a few John McWhorter podcasts or something.

@Elsewyre that's a very interesting interpretation of history you have there.

Which "local black population " was consulted on ending slavery across the continent of Africa btw?

Win to Sainsburys (and all their customers) I should have thought. Bye mate. 👋

I’m bored with the term ‘virtue signalling’. It’s a lazy way to dismiss something you don’t agree with but are unable to come up with a valid argument without looking like an arse.
Black History Month has been going on in schools for years. Supermarkets (it isn’t just Sainsburys) have adopted this in the light of the BLM movement, and others, highlighting the huge discrepancies in the way black workers (and shoppers) are treated and discriminated against. It’s not virtue signalling, it’s not jumping on the band wagon. Hopefully it’s a recognition that they need to sort things out.

Virtue signalling has a pretty clear meaning. It has to do with in some way claiming to support some cause that is seen as moral and good, without any real pain to yourself or doing anything constructive, and actually probably helping yourself.

Mentioning BHM without it being anything usefully connected to what your business is or having any forum to seriously be involved in it, using your advertising budget, to appeal to customers, is a pretty good example of the concept.

Sainsburys have already stated that they are making changes. Ergo not virtue signalling.

[quote BlueisthenewGrey]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[/quote]
As a mixed race woman myself, I’m of the same opinion as you.