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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think Eammon Holmes needs to go now

365 replies

Hugolugo · 12/08/2021 20:14

He's always been a chubby misogynist with questionable.comments to make about his wife but now he has compared a woman's afro hair to the fur on an alpaca. Has the world gone completely bloody mad? How come he still has that job? And, no, the 'I have old fashioned northern Irish charm' act doesn't make up for it. I for one am certainly not feeling charmed! I have no idea how Ruth puts up with him tbh.

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MrsPumpkinSeed · 14/08/2021 12:43

Dr Zoe wrote such an amazing response. She made a very clear point but in such a lovely way. I always loved her but now I just admire her even more. What an amazing classy women.

Heiferr · 14/08/2021 20:27

@Allthethingsyouknow yes, I'm aware. But with respect, it absolutely does matter what you're seen as in this context. We can't pretend that the Uppity trope doesn't apply to Meghan. We can't pretend it's not racist because she's biracial when we are in the full knowledge of what she is generally seen as and why she is seen as a black woman as you yourself have pointed out.

Allthethingsyouknow · 14/08/2021 21:01

@Heiffer Love your name btw.

I wasn't referring to her being called uppity - that is clearly a racial/racist trope, whether she is biracial or black. I was referring to who/what she is, in reply to your post and a pp's about it.

Also with all due respect (I'm being sincere, not mocking), it seems that you've made the same mistake as many who call biracial people 'black' because/when they experience racism. Why is that? Does being black = experiencing racism? Can't you experience racism and still be a biracial woman? Is black = suffering? This is a huge problem people don't understand (or maybe they do) is in itself racist.

What Eamonn or anyone called her doesn't change the fact that she is biracial and he said it about a biracial/mixed race woman with a black mother.

Meghan, before it was known she has a black mum, was generally seen as either white or Mediterranean or Spanish or mixed race. I knew her from Suits long before she met Harry. Aesthetically, she also presents as such. Look at a picture of her amongst black people and amongst white people and tell me where she blends in more.

So, all that "being seen as black" statement once someone is known to have one black parent is more of a social expectation based on being half or quarter black and not that if she goes where she isn't known, anyone would think she's black or even has a black parent. Most wouldn't. Unless she wears her hair in its natural state, then she'd would look more mixed/closer to black.

Some biracial and mixed race people can be seen as black but because they look like they are, not because they have one black or half black parent and the racist 'one drop rule' applies.

derxa · 14/08/2021 21:14

He's not been living on a farm in rural northern Ireland What on Earth do you mean by that?

Recessed · 14/08/2021 22:33

He's not been living on a farm in rural northern Ireland - What on Earth do you mean by that?

I imagine she means he has no excuse. My FIL lives on a farm in rural Ireland and he lives an incredibly insular life. I don't think he's ever even made it as far as Dublin, certainly never left the country. Lives in a homogeneous area and possibly has never even spoken to someone who wasn't white. Doesn't use the internet, mostly listens to local news. Nothing intrinsically wrong with any of this but he wouldn't have a clue what a "micro-aggression" was and holds views that would never wash in a public forum but he literally wouldn't know any better. Eamon Holmes can't claim such ignorance.

powershowerforanhour · 14/08/2021 22:35

I live on a farm in rural northern Ireland. I try not to say stupid racist things. The internet helps me to learn what stupid racist things not to say. It only costs a few pounds a month. The connection isn't always good...but good enough to learn quite a few stupid racist things not to say.

Dr Zoe's carefully considered reply was excellent, especially the emphasis on taking a wider view and using this incident to encourage people to think how to progress.

MrsPumpkinSeed · 14/08/2021 22:46

recessed
My in laws are virtually the same. Fil has never ever had a night outside the home he was born in. He wouldn't understand most of the language around racism but he's well read and a quiet man so he wouldn't say anything offensive either.
Eamonn is in the public eye with a savvy wife. Young adult children who surely keep him up to date. Managers and he works in current affairs. It makes no sense.

mustlovegin · 14/08/2021 23:45

he wouldn't have a clue what a "micro-aggression" was

To be honest, the first time I heard about the term 'micro-aggression' was on MN. Most people have no idea what it means. I assume it's used in certain academic circles and media with a certain slant and that's it.

Also, the prefix 'micro' can be confusing. It implies that the offense was minuscule, imperceptible, but the consequences can be as severe as someone losing their livelihood over it or be 'cancelled' as per this thread

derxa · 15/08/2021 06:34

@powershowerforanhour

I live on a farm in rural northern Ireland. I try not to say stupid racist things. The internet helps me to learn what stupid racist things not to say. It only costs a few pounds a month. The connection isn't always good...but good enough to learn quite a few stupid racist things not to say.

Dr Zoe's carefully considered reply was excellent, especially the emphasis on taking a wider view and using this incident to encourage people to think how to progress.

I object to the implication that living on a farm in 'rural northern ireland' means that you must be a racist idiot. I know lots of farmers from Northern Ireland and they are generally lovely decent people. But they are not a homogeneous lump. Condemn Eamon Holmes all you like but don't use your own prejudices to do it.
ttcsucks · 15/08/2021 08:52

I agree that people who have little to no interaction with black people or ethnic minorities are more likely to ignorant than race. Not necessarily racist but have not much of any awareness to it and what they should/shouldn't say etc.

ttcsucks · 15/08/2021 08:54

I honestly think those who truly understand are those that have close friends or partners that are non white. I tend to find in my experience those people are the most in tune with what is and isn't offensive in reference to race.

For most people, it doesn't affect or involve them on a daily so they don't bother understanding.

Heiferr · 15/08/2021 10:40

@Allthethingsyouknow

I wasn't referring to her being called uppity - that is clearly a racial/racist trope, whether she is biracial or black.

I haven't made a mistake, this is literally all I was referring to. I'm in full understanding of the complexities of racism surrounding Mixed Race people but it's often trotted out that phrases like Uppity being directed at Meghan can't possibly be racist as she isn't black/doesn't look black enough. It's tiring.

Allthethingsyouknow · 15/08/2021 12:39

@Heiferr
Ok. Well that's stupid of people to say. Never heard that part before. Half Black/Biracial and Mixed Race people can and do experience racism too.

Eamonn was racist, classist and snobbish to call Meghan 'uppity'. I've known him to be the last two, so not surprised he also displayed racist tendencies.

Heiferr · 15/08/2021 14:19

[quote Allthethingsyouknow]@Heiferr
Ok. Well that's stupid of people to say. Never heard that part before. Half Black/Biracial and Mixed Race people can and do experience racism too.

Eamonn was racist, classist and snobbish to call Meghan 'uppity'. I've known him to be the last two, so not surprised he also displayed racist tendencies.[/quote]
I remember that odious little weasel Andrew Pierce proclaiming words to the effect of comments towards Meghan not being racist because when he looks at her he sees an attractive woman not a black woman like Oprah. It was so insidiously offensive. Essentially, people often try to erase Meghans blackness in order to invalidate claims of racism against her. To some people it's all semantics but when you're part of the demographic affected by it all, you become hyper conscious of reading between the lines and cutting through to what's really being said.

TryingToBeFunny · 17/08/2021 17:24

www.instagram.com/p/CSrA1yTtT4o/

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