To visit new neighbours after racism

[Camsclownshoes]

we moved into our small neighbourhood 5 years ago. It is very ‘white’. Most people have lived here for more than one generation. We are not local but we are white. This year has seen a Pakistani couple and two Indians renting properties on the road. I have never met them but heard about them from a neighbor. Last week someone painted “no blacks” on a wall near where they are renting. I have no idea who it was but clearly someone local as there aren’t many passers by who don’t live here. I feel horrible to be part of a neighborhood where this would happen. AIBU to go to the new tenants home and introduce myself so they know there is someone friendly nearby? Or is that horribly condescending? I feel that I have to do something. The graffiti has since been washed off and it was not reported. I don’t even know if the new people have seen it.

Do you have a street WhatsApp or similar? If someone wrote something like that on a wall on our street there would be outrage on the WhatsApp and everyone would be checking their cctv.

That's so awful. It would lovely of you to go around and introduce yourself and say welcome or something. It might make them feel a bit more supported too.

Some use ‘black’ as a catch-all for non-white. Maybe they didn’t have time to write ‘black, Asian, South East Asian and mixed race’!

Anyway OP you sound lovely. Yes please go and say hi. Chances are the graffiti wasn’t the first time they’ve experienced racism there, so would welcome a friendly face.

Don't see why you shouldn't go around with some goodies even if it's been a few weeks. Just say you haven't seen them around and figured you'd wait to pop by until they'd had a chance to settle down a bit.

The house of someone in our family was graffitied (anti-semitism) and a couple from across the road knocked on the door and told them that if they ever felt scared or in danger they should go to them. At least you could go over and introduce yourself and say you are sorry about what happened to them and if they ever need anything they can ring you or come over.

You could take some biscuits or a cake round and just say "welcome to the neighbourhood, I'm X and I live at Y...give us a shout if you need anything". If I received a visit like that I would be a bit surprised, as we are quite a standoffish society, but very touched and pleased. No need to mention the graffiti.

Just say you thought you’d give them chance to get settled in before you visited.

Some use ‘black’ as a catch-all for non-white. Maybe they didn’t have time to write ‘black, Asian, South East Asian and mixed race’!

Well obviously!

I would pop in and introduce myself without mentioning the graffiti I think .Always good to be friendly,just say "Hi my names Ann,I live opposite you,just to say welcome and if you need anything just pop by"

I disagree. New neighbours moved in opposite, chatted to the husband and waved at the wife over the years since- caught up with her properly and swapped numbers chat regularly now only after I went over and properly introduced myself just before Christmas.

I think I'd want to pop over and show some solidarity too, OP.

Sometimes in life it's important to show support where needed and to let others know where you stand on a matter.

Your new neighbours won't have missed the scarcity of non-white faces in the area, even if they didn't see the graffiti. It wouldn't hurt to drop them a Vicky Sponge in and say welcome to the neighbourhood, even if you just leave it as a card/message on the doorstep.

I'm sure they'll appreciate knowing they ARE welcome to some, if not all.

I'm Asian and knowing someone was kind and friendly in an area where some people are racist would mean the world to me. The graffiti would have made me scared and vulnerable- especially if I was out and about alone - so knowing there are people who are supportive and welcoming would really help me feel less worried.

Yes, please go over and say hello. Lived through a lot of racism growing up. It’s said that to be silent is to be complicit. Let these neighbours know you are not all the same. It’s a shame the graffiti wasn’t reported but it seems your neighbours are all sticking together/protecting each other. 😤

This is 100% my feeling too (also Asian).

Pop by and say hi... drop a poundshop gift off for the kids and say "to keep them busy while you unpack"... my neighbour did this when we moved in and still remember it (and bloody love her to this day!).

I would definitely go and introduce yourself, but without mentioning the graffiti

I was going to say this, but on reading the comments can kind of see I'd be wondering if they were thinking I was just doing it because of the graffiti.
I'd make extra effort to be friendly whenever I saw them, smiling and saying hi in passing, it's always nice to have a friendly face about

So would I, they will appreciate being welcomed.

That’s really thoughtful OP - you def should. I would be surprised if they didn’t pick up the racist vibes from the area and it would help them perhaps realise not everyone’s against them.

I would really appreciate this OP. I’m black and would do similar. As pp said racism like this is quite scary. I would be thinking about Fatoumatta Hydara and her daughters. Definitely don’t bring the graffiti up but if you take round a cake or something that would be lovely and they might feel better knowing there was a friendly face.

@BarbieDangerous I agree if I continue to live in the UK, I will always live in London. We can never catch a break.

Probably couldn't spell those words, anyway.

As a poc why go where we are obviously not wanted. Even if there a few locals who don't mind the diversity - the whole tone and general feeling would make me feel very uncomfortable and you can't put a price on that and my families safety/security.

Go round and introduce yourself, I would mention the issue in a roundabout way something like some people round here aren't that friendly but most of us are and if you need anything come and get me - that sort of thing.

If I was your Asian neighbours living in your street I would want that, to know there are nice people around.

I would hate to live in your street tbh around people who have that in them and to graffiti that.

Go say hi. Can you imagine how terrified they must be

I’m unsociable but I totally understand wanting to be kind. Not everyone is interested in being friends with people who happen to live nearby. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t step up if required.

Take a small box of chocolates and just say you’ve been busy and didn’t want to butt in while they were settling in. Tell them to feel free to ask if they need any info and then leave it at that. At least they’ll know not everyone in the street is a racist cunt.