Does the UK have a racism problem?

[JolllyBee]

In just the last 24 hours alone we've had in the news:

Prince William’s godmother quits palace over comments to black charity boss

Meghan Markle had several 'disgusting' and credible threats to her life, Met cop reveals

Various people's census rants going viral and getting a scary amount of support

James McAvoy shocked by hometown racism in Glasgow after castmates abused on street

and a few days prior:

London Fire Brigade houses a toxic culture of bullying, racism and misogyny, inquiry finds

Of course I'm not suggesting people don't 'moan about' the British Empire. If you're talking about Mumsnet people are probably more interested in the BE rather than other ones because this is a British website?

500, O00 in ONE Year.

The other examples you choose : Vikings, Romans etc were all invaders and military conquerors ( except possibly the Picts, no one really knows about them since they were illiterate), so quite different from modern immigrants.

Well, yes I understand that. But Africa, for example, features prominently in the worst offenders for modern slavery with Africans still being the people most at risk of being enslaved. It's arguably a bit rich to be moaning about the transgressions committed by other nations several hundred years ago when your home territory is still one of the worst offenders.

No need to say you aren’t racist at all. Just don’t be racist. If you have to tell people you aren’t, you are doing it to virtue signal. Or you are racist but you’re trying to defend something racist you just said or did.

Just don't be racist. Why do you need to make a statement about it at all? If you have to say that you aren't racist it's usually to excuse something racist.

Love the stupidity of that last sentence, it's akin to my saying I am not a murderer, hence I must be a murderer.
Because this site does not allow honest discussion on this topic it's really a pointless thread, anyone whose views don't tick the self-determined boxes is 'racist', it's an extreme position that causes more harm than good.

I think you need to be a bit clearer about which group of people is 'moaning' and what you mean by 'home country' here for me to even enter into a discussion about it. Which actually I'm not going to because whatever else this line of argument may be, it's definitely whataboutery and so I don't think that stands as a valid argument.

So my point is 'definitely whataboutery' although you admit that you don't actually understand it and need clarification. 😂

Sad that you’re more upset about the defunct, dead British Empire being insulted instead of racism against black people who are alive right now.

If you are vague, how can she understand?

To be clear: I don't need clarification. I just think that

1. you can't call a group of people moaning hypocrites when you're not prepared to say who is 'moaning'.
2. I'm interested in what you mean by 'home country' - except I'm not interested, I think you are being racist.
3. I don't see the value of talking about one bad thing and then saying 'well this is worse'. The effects of the slavery that happened hundreds of years ago are still existent. That's got nothing to do with modern slavery, a separate issue. Talking about it is a diversionary tactic. That's generally what is known as whataboutery.
4. If you hadn't used the fucking bellend crying with laughter emoji I would have left you alone.

How can she call it whataboutery if she doesn't understand the point.

I'm all for not virtue signalling but if someone is accused of being racist for any reason, is there any way to say they're not without proving to you that they're racist? Or is the accusation enough to prove that they're racist?

A lot of people believe that we need to pay reparations to Africa for what happened in the colonial era.

My point is that it seems slightly peculiar to pay slave reparations to one of the current worst offenders of slavery.

Perhaps they could give the reparations to the families of the people they currently enslave. 🤔

Of course it does, but so does everywhere else - and worse in some cases. Anyone who thinks other European countries (just for starters) don’t have as bad, or an even worse problem with racism, is extremely naive.

You mean like white companies whose demand for diamonds drives slavery?

The West is still a big problem in Africa, and increasingly, China.

I'm all for not virtue signalling but if someone is accused of being racist for any reason, is there any way to say they're not without proving to you that they're racist? Or is the accusation enough to prove that they're racist?

Yes. That's the beauty of it. You're unable to defend yourself. If you don't defend yourself you're racist, if you do, you're also...you guessed it racist! They always prevail in any discussion around these matters and you are supposed to just just slink away chastened and too frightened to challenge again. Reality and truth is meaningless. That's why it's just a huge crock of nonsense and best ignored where possible. If you can't ignore you have to learn to challenge without rancour and accept that you'll be called racist. I promise you, you won't care after a while.

@Squeezita but it is not just black people who are affected by racism you do know that right ?

We continue to have a massive racism problem that has been covert for years but now people are speaking out more, particularly at work. The police, fire service, Red Arrows, Navy submariners etc WhatsApp groups using racist and sexist language and incidents will lead to changes in those largely masculine sectors. But it is too little, too late. We need to make drastic changes, call out every example of racism, misogyny etc rather than turning away.

@Mardyface and my famiy worked in a work house so thats just life and how things were, other countries were not all innocent then either and the current RF are pretty far removed from it , there is also countries now that treat people like slaves basically , is it not more important to be helping them here and now , but then thats blamed in the west as well
Lithium for electric cars that prob most of you are preaching for , do you know where its from and who is expected to dig it up?

@DailyMaui yet I come from a similar area and know many that grew up in that area and live there now and its not how it is now or was in the 90's even
Times change

@Mardyface the BE is always getting pulled up and yes by many who live in britain but they ignore modern slavery

Yes, I live in small and very white village down south and have seen so much racism over the years. My mum is mixed race (Arabic), not noticably so these days though,she used to have darker skin when she was young, she's paler now as doesn't get much sun! When I was around 10 years old a neighbour somehow found out about her heritage and approached me in the street when I was walking home from a friends house and said "oh your mum's that P**i slut isn't she" leading me to going home and having to ask my mum what either of those words meant. 30yrs on and he still hates our entire family. People around here have shown a lot of fear and suspicion around anybody foreign or whose skin is not white and I've heard some horrid comments people have made in conversations with each other. All falling over each other to support those nice white Ukrainian families now though.

My stepdad's mum just about lost her mind when her precious granddaughter had a relationship with a black guy, she was convinced she'd be beaten up or murdered if she was seen out with him. She also hates all German people with a passion, she is one horrible old bag.

@healthadvice123 stop @ ing me. Not that I think your arguments are coherent in any way, but the point is not about other countries' racism problem it's about racism in Britain. Which exists and only British people can do anything about.

Is it? Legal definitions can change. The legal definition if 'rape' for instance has changed significantly in recent times.

That's why it's just a huge crock of nonsense and best ignored where possible. If you can't ignore you have to learn to challenge without rancour and accept that you'll be called racist. I promise you, you won't care after a while.

"The Dummies Guide on How to be Racist and Get Away With It"