Group on FB

[UnshakenNeedsStirring]

So I joined a group of women on FB. To support each other during lockdown and generally have a chat and a nice time online. Ater a week or so the admin changed a photo of the group to one with 5 women holding hands, the pic was taken from back, so no faces. IT was a painting or so from 50's I think or could've been done in retro style. I pointed out that the picture was not inclusive as it was only showing white women and didn't have other women of colour or ethnic minorities. I got a lot of abuse back. Was I wrong? I am a bit shocked and disheartened that in 2021 I had to raise this and no one really was bothered and nearly all the women asked me to shut up and not talk about it

Weary that's exactly what she did. And what she's doing now.

Of course none of condone racism. But people seeing it all the time where there is none is irritating.

@AwaAnBileYerHeid you must definitely belong to that FB group then

Does every photo from now on need a token person included, whether that be black, white, disabled etc?

No people who aren't white aren't 'token' anything AwaAnBileYerHeid, they're people.

Sure this happened. Are you sobbing and shaking?

@Gingerwhinger0 plenty of other photos were suggested. but not chosen

@Tellmetruth4 why would I be sobbing?!

[quote UnshakenNeedsStirring]@OhCaptain no idea what you are trying to read[/quote]
What?

@AwaAnBileYerHeid

If I were part of a group with a pic of 5 black women as our logo (which has never happened to me before may I add) and a person of a different colour asked for a more inclusive picture, I would be more than willing to find one, even if it involved a bit more effort on my part.

@yellowmaoampinball

Well she's basically being told to shut up and not talk about it on this thread so I wouldn't be at all surprised if that's what happened.

Yep.

I agree with you OP, and the reactions you're getting from here and the group prove why you were right to bring it up. Its also ridiculous to suggest that you cant be annoyed about it because there is a more serious pandemic happening.....well this is what happens isn't it? Racism can't be spoken about because there is other stuff going on....the BLM movement wasn't taken seriously enough because everyone was complaining it was done at the 'wrong' time. When is there a right time? If everyone tackled it in the moment then surely we would be a better society?

Why should discussions about change and diversity have a 'time' im not sure that I would have viewed the picture in the same way as you did BUT I do think that if it made you feel the way it did then absolutely voice it!! The fact you were being told to shut up about it is shocking! Why people are saying your tone and the way you are responding is probably the reason you were spoken to in that way, is an example of closet racists not wanting to talk about actual racism and how it affects the BAME community.

Good for you for speaking up about it even if others think its not worthy just because it doesn't affect them or isn't a deadly virus that we must all talk about 24/7

Also, being petty to say that it must then include a person with disabilities etc....its about inclusion and oppression, not about scoring points with any community that isn't white privilege, and this is what they do to avoid it. 'Well if we include you then why don't we include every minority community' give it up and accept that its time we stand up to racism and give ethnic minorities the SAME rights and freedom and inclusion as white people.

@OverTheRainbow88 good for you. I don't recall asking you though, I was asking the OP. Besides if I messaged you and demanded that you replace the pic with people from all walks of life, ie one white, one black, one Asian, one in a wheelchair, one with a headscarf. No wait, you need more than 5 to represent everyone... and so on it would go...I doubt very much you would do that. And I wouldn't ask that tbh, I'd realise that some photos will have all white, some all black, some a mix. You know, a realistic snapshot of friendship groups up and down the country.

Ethnic make up of the country was different in the 50s. It might well have been reflective. But why does it bloody matter anyway?

@thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter

Does every photo from now on need a token person included, whether that be black, white, disabled etc?

No people who aren't white aren't 'token' anything AwaAnBileYerHeid, they're people.

Can you read? I already said people. She wants people to be some kind of token to represent every demographic in society. And people are people, not tokens. Stop attempting to twist folks words, it's tragically try hard.

@AwaAnBileYerHeid

You know, a realistic snapshot of friendship groups up and down the country.

What does that mean?

You don’t know any multi ethnic friendship groups?

Anyway I'm not wasting any more of my time on this nonsense. OP, you're trying so so hard to be woke and offended. Perhaps put your energy into something a little more useful. Campaigning for the rights of underrepresented people. Volunteering with them. Instead of wasting your entire Sunday arguing with strangers over a photo which is 100% inoffensive. Have a lovely day.

@OverTheRainbow88 yes I do know of multiethnic friendship groups. I also know of white only friendship groups. And Asian only friendship groups. Either of these are snapshots of realistic friendship groups. And you know this.

Anyway as I said, I'm not wasting anymore of my time on this nonsense. Good evening.

You’re making a hoo-haa about nothing, in my opinion.

It’s just a picture of some people - apparently the only person who noticed the colour of the people in it was you.

It does seem like someone looking for something to be offended by.

We can't "represent" every single possibility in every single photo/picture, nor should we.

YANBU. Ppl who can't see that were probably up in arms about black families being featured on tv ads over Christmas.

Seems a bit trivial really. No point getting upset. It's only a Facebook group. 🤷‍♀️

@FrostyChocolateMilkshake

It’s not trivial to those excluded. It’s not just a Facebook group- it’s sad that no one on that group agreed and stood up for OP/

@TrixieTrouble

YANBU. Ppl who can't see that were probably up in arms about black families being featured on tv ads over Christmas.

Well, no... I think the OP is being unreasonable but I had no issue at all with the black families featured on the ads. Don't make generalised assumptions about people.

[quote UnshakenNeedsStirring]@sst1234 I am really interested in knowing how, I, in this case of merely pointing out that the photo wasnt inclusive, been self promoting?!! Mind boggling.[/quote]
I didn’t mean for it to be personal in saying that it was self promoting. I am sure you are genuinely trying to raise awareness of an issue which is all too real. The point I was trying to make is that the approach is not practical, it doesn’t change anything in the real world. Real change comes from action. I am also not suggesting that you don’t take action in the real world, just that picking on a picture for inclusivity feels like a gesture, not an action.

@overtherainbow88 But...it's a picture.