The Lady Hussey racism thing

[Tiiiiiiiiiiired]

I am really conflicted about this.

If went to live in Japan (I did live there for 3 years several years ago) I would be expected to be asked about where I'm from because I don't look Japanese (and in fact I was asked many times! I didn't mind at all, it was my choice to be in Japan and I knew I didn't look japanese). If I chose to stay in that country and have children, I'd expect my children would be asked the same, and their children and that although they would be Japanese by birth, I would hope they would be happy to talk about their heritage and where they are from and not mind being asked why they don't look Japanese and what the history is. I wouldnt think it racist and wouldn't want such questions to be stopped because we only learn from others, and about others, by talking and feeling safe to ask questions.

So why in the UK does everyone have to be sooo careful with what they say? This woman has a non English name, was wearing some non western clothing, as was asked about her heritage. Why is this abuse?

We need to stop being so sensitive and allow dialogue.

Having lived in other non-white countries, I have had the same experience.

I think it was the repeated questioning that was so offensive. Lady Hussey didn't seem to accept the fact that someone could be from the UK if they were black and had a foreign sounded name and kept pressing. The actual transcript of the conversation is pretty shocking.

Yes I agree.
Asking people where they are from is not really on, especially in a very multicultural society, which the Japan is not.
If that person’s response is Hackey, just bloody leave it

This ^^ there are respectful ways to have conversations about heritage and that was absolutely not one of them.

Also didn’t Lady Hussey touch/move Ngozi Fulani’s hair??

as I understand it she moved the woman’s hair to see her name badge and then asked where she was from. Not content with “hackney” as answer she pushed and pushed about where she was “really” from - the implication being you can’t be black and British. If she’d asked a question about her family heritage or the origins of her name that would have been very different

There's another thread already. She was racist. Can't see how any one could say she wasn't when she went on and on and on and on with her questioning.

Yes, it's the twisted trying to trip her up over and over again that's the problem, not an initial question. Have you read the diet transcripts? They're very damming.

To be honest it's not just "non-white" countries - I've been asked where I'm from in various European countries and in America.

The mistake Hussey made, in my opinion, was to persist in her line of questioning. If someone obviously doesn't want to answer a question then it's usually obvious that you shouldn't keep pushing, at least when it's in a bullshit chit chat social setting.

If you were BORN in Japan though, you would be Japanese, and would probably identify as such? If someone kept asking and asking, despite you telling them you were born there over and over, wouldn't you be annoyed?

But Ngozi Fulani did answer the question. She was asked where she was from and said 'Hackney'. Which is where she's from.

Lady SH repeatedly dismissed NF telling her she was British. At the end of the conversation she said that NF was "Carribean". Calling a British woman carribean because she is black is racist.

Ngozi Fulani is British.

Once the person has answered you. You leave it.
You do not badger someone until they give you the answer you deem suitable.

Have you read the transcript?

I thought the same thing.

I think the way Lady Hussey worded her questions was clumsy and she could have chosen a much better line of questioning if she was interested in her heritage e.g. "Your outfit is beautiful, is it a traditional dress? Tell me what it means to you" etc. Or "Tell me about yourself..." and then the conversation could evolve from there. Her questioning came off as an interrogation rather than a natural conversation and I think it must have made her feel very uncomfortable from the outset. So I get that.

I agree the transcript reads badly but I also agree with OP and think the woman questioned was being obtuse. A simple, 'I'm British, born and bred, but my ancestors came from X in 19xx' would have answered the question and may have led to a friendly discussion about culture.

I think it’s the words she used and the fact she would not accept the woman’s answer.

she Even asked her when she came to Britain and she asked where her people were from, it was really unacceptable , racist and downright rude. The woman was born in Britain, she’s a British Citizen. In addition she led with it. Not what do you do or any other stuff, she went right in with racist questions and kept going.

im dismayed at the people who can’t see how bad it was.

I don't think I would be. I wouldn't consider it a slight, just curiosity on the part of the person asking. I might be Japanese by nationality but still have a certain level of pride in my ancestral roots and not have a problem telling people.

This is a key point perhaps - to me, my ancestral heritage is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of - it's not like I had any choice in the matter. I don't mind telling people where I'm from and why I don't live there now.

if you read what was said, it was very much "oh, you can't be from Hackney, you're Black". No two ways to understand it. She answered where she was from. She is British born. There is only one answer. Should I explain where my entire family was born if I am questioned about where I am from? No. "Well, I'm from Lincolnshire, but my hair and skin colouring come from my Irish Celt heritage". She wasn't asking a woman where she came from. She was asking where her SKIN COLOUR came from.

I assume you haven't read the transcript which is embarrassing as you have started a thread.

I agree that Lady Hussey's error was to not politely take the hint that her line of questioning was causing offence. She's of the generation where you were expected to work out hints far more readily than nowadays, so I am rather surprised at her lack of tact and manners.

I do agree with thr general point OP makes about such behaviour being normal elsewhere though (e.g I grew up in Dubai. If I said I was from Dubai people would be like 🙄because only Emiratis are from Dubai).

This

Susan Hussey was very rude to just move Ngozi Fulani's hair away, she was even more rude to continue along the line of questioning she was when it was made very, very clear it wasn't welcome irrespective of what those questions were about. She was right to resign.

She wasn't asked about her heritage, she was disbelieved about her Britishness because she'd black.
Japan is very racially homogenous; white people there are almost always foreigners, so the question isn't offensive. Black/brown/Asian people in the UK are usually as British as the average white person so to insist they aren't is both offensive and racist.

She wasn’t asked about her heritage, though. She was asked where she’s from.
My relative (Ethiopian/British) had this once with a neighbour of her (white British) grandmother being insistently asked about where she was from -grandmother firmly saying she was from Cambridge.

I'd probably say 'well I was born in Osaka and my parents were born in Tokyo, but I see what you are getting at - you can see I don't look Japanese. Well, my grandparents came over here from England in the 19xx's as English Language teachers and loved it and stayed. I've never been to the UK but would like to go. Are your parents and grandparents Japanese? Anyone in your family migrate? ....' and see where the conversation goes.

I just think we can be so so easily offended these days. Who cares if a Japanese person can't understand I am Japanese even though I don't look it. It's ignorance not abuse. We move on. The older generations grew up in a different era, particularly in the UK and older person asking about heritage may do so clumsily, but if we ever want to move towards a more accepting and tolerant society, we need to call racist and abuser less, and start moving towards change through education and compassion

Her question came off badly because it was motivated by racism, not politeness or genuine interest. It wasn't an accident that it sounded racist, it's because it was racist.