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.

A 'race argument'? What does that even mean?

She didn’t ask about her heritage though -that’s the entire point. She asked where she was from.

Assuming she wasn't from here or one of us due to her race..

Ahh ‘stereotyping’ so that’s ok then 🙄

I am white I was born in the U.K. and have been asked these questions in the U.K.

Were the people asking being racist to me.

Me too

completely agree

poor Lady H in my view

Can no one see the discrepancy between how on the one hand, she is happy to say where her parents came from, on a web page, and her heritage, (when it suits her) but behaves like this when she appears not to understand what someone is asking?

It’s literally just a dress. You’ve embodied it with your own preconceptions and prejudices.

She was utterly dedicated to the monarchy.

She is very elderly

she resigned to avoid the monarchy being dragged in to this issue and because I don’t suppose she has the stomach for it

@NosnowontheScottishhills totally agree.

storm in a teacup.

I agree it was the repeated questionning that really was quite rude. It proves this person isnt suitable for that role if she could be so insensitive.

No. LH was being racist out and out. Elderly woman? She’s a diplomat, especially appointed to this role, knows how to make polite small-talk with strangers at an official function. She’s not your doddery old granny brought out only at Christmas.

Ah, “the racism card”. I call bingo!

As my friend says of the non-existent racism card, the front says bitch and the back says please.

Of course she knew what was being asked: she’ll have come up against this micro aggression before. When someone is racist at her, as Hussey was, your hot take is she should just roll over and allow it?

Thing is she’s have probably been asked where she was from had she friend up in a periwinkle two piece and pearls.

As the mother of mixed race children is REALLT REALLY REALLY wish we’d STOP attributing being western to being white.

I must remember to write transcripts of my interactions with people more often.

I don't care if Ngozi was pretending not to understand. I don't care if she was there trying to reveal racism. I don't care if it was a deliberate set up. The point is that she did reveal racism. I think that's really clear. Ngozi's motives are actually irrelevant.

NF said she wasn't naming who was involved and wanted the issue handled kindly.
There seem to be a lot of people determined to ignore that part of NF's statement yesterday whilst pretending they are arguing on her behalf. She suggested the system should be revised.

She was pretending not to understand Lady H.

Even if that's the case, why didn't SH pick up the cues & talk about the charity?

That's her fucking job, not to repeatedly ask the same question because she doesn't like the answer/doesn't believe the answer/thinks that she knows better.

She resigned because she was found out.

Good riddance.

‘Actual transcript’

is it an actual transcript from a recording though? Or was it the offended person’s recollection where the other party (Lady Susan) is unable to put her side or defend herself as she wouldn’t wish to further embarrass the royals?

And even from the report of the conversation it seems clear that the offended party would have known full well what was being asked and was making a point of not giving the answer requested. ‘I am born and bred British but am proud of my family’s African heritage hence the clothes’.

Posters have been quoting the "transcript" as if it was an recording of the conversation.
If it wasn't recorded could someone really remember a conversation this exactly? Also non verbal signs, manner and tone can be misinterpreted when speaking with a stranger.
As the late Queen said "recollections may vary".

Agreed. The questioning was clumsy and I'm sorry that Ngozi was upset, but I wouldn't personally term the conversation an 'interrogation'. Words are very important. The Cambridge dictionary defines interrogation as 'to ask someone a lot of questions for a long time in order to get information, sometimes using threats or violence'. Lady H didn't interrogate her.

I think she did and I've heard previously that this is a real issue for black women when people want to touch their hair out of some weird curiosity. It's clear that we wouldn't go around touching the hair of non black people that we come across, so why do black women have to tolerate it? It must be awful to experience, especially from a complete stranger who was also patronising her.

I see no problem with being asked where I am from when I am in different countries

@RandomPerson42 and if you were in your own country and the person didn't believe you were from there? Would you have a problem then? Because that's what happened.

Ngozi was not in a different country, she was in her own.

My first thought when I read about this was - Ouch! That was awful, so racist, good job she's gone. She should have known better with her experience! (How has she managed to avoid causing a racist incident for so long if this is how she carries on?).
My second thought, on reading what people are calling a transcript - Wow! That woman's got amazing recall. I'd never be able to remember a conversation word for word like that. Did she get her phone out as soon as it ended?
It's not a transcript of course because it's not transcribed from a recording. It's a reported conversation.