Is racism on the Isle of Wight worse than it is on the mainland of the UK?

[FlatScreenTV01]

Worried my mixed raced and obviously disabled Son and I will experience racism. We currently live in a multi cultural city on the mainland.

@marmaledegin

We really don't have several schools for severely disabled children. There is one primary (Medina House) and one high school ( At George's) that is literally it, and places at Medina are limited.

Is the weather better there?

According to wikipedia it is 0.1% black @FlatScreenTV01 so you could be waiting a while for a black Isle of Wighter.
That's 141 black people on the isle of wight.

I visited with DH once about 5-6 years ago. It's definitely not a diverse place. We were both shocked that there seems to be a few shops selling golliwog toys. I wouldn't live there tbh.

I've lived on the Isle of Wight for most of my life.
I am white British though so can't comment on the racism here although I've never heard anyone here make racist remarks to or about any ethnic minority living here.
It is a truly beautiful place to live. Yes there are downsides, mainland medical treatment, expensive ferries and lack of job opportunities.
I think schools on the Island are beginning to improve after a major restructuring a few years ago. My dd did brilliantly in her Gcse and Alevels despite being in the middle of the Island changing from the three tier to the two tier system.
I find most people are friendly and kind.
Yes some posts on Facebook are strange but isn't that true of pretty much everywhere?
but you certainly can't help thinking 'Isle of Wight by name, Isle of White by nature' I find that incredibly offensive actually.

@Izzabellasasperella

I've lived on the Isle of Wight for most of my life. I am white British though so can't comment on the racism here although I've never heard anyone here make racist remarks to or about any ethnic minority living here. It is a truly beautiful place to live. Yes there are downsides, mainland medical treatment, expensive ferries and lack of job opportunities. I think schools on the Island are beginning to improve after a major restructuring a few years ago. My dd did brilliantly in her Gcse and Alevels despite being in the middle of the Island changing from the three tier to the two tier system. I find most people are friendly and kind. Yes some posts on Facebook are strange but isn't that true of pretty much everywhere? but you certainly can't help thinking 'Isle of Wight by name, Isle of White by nature' I find that incredibly offensive actually.

What exactly do you find 'incredibly offensive'? This thread in itself proves what I mean by that. The op asks if the area is known for racism and many white people jump in saying 'well I've never seen it and even if it does happen then it's from a place of ignorance not malice'. You cannot possibly know the truth of how racist a place is based on your own white experience, especially when the majority of people around you are also white.

It certainly isn't very diverse, that's true.

I can't say I've ever seen any racism displayed, people here are much the same as people anywhere. It isn't a strange enclave that is radically different to the rest of the country. Which means of course that there will be some racists around.

What special schools there are are very good by all accounts.

You may get more results posting in the black Mumsnet area? Have holidayed there and didn’t notice anything towards me though outright assault and racism in Marrakech not long before may have affected my bar.

@BrumBoo to me that statement sounds like you are saying all white Islanders are racist and that's why I found it offensive.
The doll issue is different but as far as I'm aware they are no longer being sold. That said I saw a hand-knitted one for sale in Kent and another in Wales a few years ago so not solely a thing here.
Of course as a white woman I cannot comment on direct racism but I think can talk about what whether I have seen or heard racist remarks.
Also many people who actually live here (unlike yourself) have given other observations, both good and bad, around moving here which I know wasn't the ops question but hopefully she found those helpful.

to me that statement sounds like you are saying all white Islanders are racist and that's why I found it offensive.

That is a huge leap in assumptions, and comes from your own insecurity about how you and the place you live is perceived.

Of course as a white woman I cannot comment on direct racism but I think can talk about what whether I have seen or heard racist remarks.

As a white person, saying you've never heard or seen racism (especially when the huge majority of the population is white) is of little value to the OP. Even a quick Google comes up with some quite contradicting views on racism on the IoW.

I'm sure many people on the IoW aren't racist, or any form of prejudice. However, it is near impossible for a white British person to give an accurate view of that, as the WB view of racism is distorted at best.

The name of it doesn't really help!

Wight is an old English word for man, not the colour, so really it is another Isle of Man

@MsAnnThropic there's also St Catherine's. Those were the only 3 I was thinking of, although there's also a couple of specialist units for SpLDs attached to mainstreams. Maybe 3 was a bit of a stretch for "several" though!

@BrumBoo I agree with @Izzabellasasperella - you do sound a bit offensive tbh. The islanders who have replied to the op have repeatedly said that they can only offer a limited comment on racism due to their skin colour. As someone else said, there's statistically little chance of the op hearing back from a black islander. People who've been on holiday here (probably during holiday season) can only offer a limited snapshot too, and if they've experienced racism it's difficult to know whether it's from islanders or other holiday makers. I'm sure the OP is well aware that by posting on an online forum she can only expect people's own experiences which will all be limited in some way or other!

Maybe take a short break there with your son and see how it goes?

I went as a kid on a school trip, shocked reading some of these comments I didn't realise it was this kind of place. Shame really.

Small island, OP, and island ways. If you need access to a hospital, the nearest is in Southampton. Reconsider. Lots of nice places to live in mainland Hants and Dorset.

Thank you for all of your replies. I truly appreciate each reply. I have been in touch with Black people on the island and recieved positivity and encouragement.

People on the Mainland say "Black lives matter".

People on Isle of Wright say "Wight lives matter".

@BrumBoo

I've not lived there, but have visited a few times. Not out of choice, and it's at least 50 years in the past culturally, and in terms of accessibility. They sold golliwog memorabilia in some souvenir shops, who still does that??!

From what I understand, if your need constant medical attention, it is a huge pain as major appointments can only be done in Portsmouth.

I cannot comment on racism (bar selling racist doll shit), but you certainly can't help thinking 'Isle of Wight by name, Isle of White by nature'.

The Land’s End visitor centre shop had golliwogs for safe a few years ago.

Op can’t comment on the inclusivity side, but when we have holidayed there with DD4 (sometimes in a wheelchair, sometimes a SEN buggy) we’ve found lots of places accessible.

My DHs family come from there and it is lovely but we wouldn't move there. The ferry is expensive and it really does cut you off from the mainland - putting people off visiting.

Recent experience when my SIL and wife tried to buy a holiday hone there they were eventually told the owners would not sell to them - i was shocked in this day and age!

@TrickorTreacle I have heard/seen literally no one say "wight lives matter". However there was a very well attended protest in support of Black Lives Matter.

@longwayoff that's not accurate. We have a hospital. Sometimes people need to attend the Southampton one for more specialised issues, because it's bigger.

OP I'm so glad to hear that black islanders spoke positively about it

@bilbodog I'm so sorry to hear of your SIL's experience- there is a very large elderly population which undoubtedly holds antiquated views sometimes. We did also host UK pride though- we're really not all like that.

I think generally going from a multicultural large town or city to a small rural community is going to feel different in many ways. However as a mixed heritage family who lived there up until a couple of years ago we have never ever experienced racism there at all, in fact, people were really laid back and friendly. It surprises me that there would be this reputation.
Of course there are other areas you could consider such as Hampshire or Dorset, but these places really dont have the variety of beaches and have a completely different feel to them. House prices are a lot cheaper on the island due to lack of economic activity too so worth going for yourself or finding out more from other sources too, as lots of potential.
Plenty of people who live there work on the mainland or have moved over from the mainland so the view that everyone is stuck in island ways isn't always true

"I think generally going from a multicultural large town or city to a small rural community is going to feel different in many ways."

Yes, that's a sensible point. I also agree that it tends to be very laid back here... and that comes with both pluses and minuses.

I am praying as a mixed race person myself me my mother and my sister have all being verbally abused do not put you or your child though that it's horrible

It’s not hugely diverse - but most of South coast isn’t. Demographically, it is comparable to many mainland towns.
Places like Thanet are far more tunes visioned.

The trust board has one black director. There are no black councillors.
There was a well attended BLM protest.