To wonder why it's so controversial to talk about white behaviour throughout history?

[BeachParty]

It's an interesting discussion to have, and makes you think.
Why do so many immediately go into "how dare you!" mode or "why are you being racist towards white people?!"
Instead of actually listening to what people are saying? History is whitewashed in this country, we usually learn it from a "hero" viewpoint.

White is right. So predictable.

I teach Yr 8 History (so compulsory) and teach about colonialism; the slave trade; the way the English treated the Irish during the famine; treatment by the wealthy of the poor in Britain such as factories, growth of towns and mines. We also use David Olusoga “Black and British” to allow pupils to read independently about this topic.

My DC in Yr 5 at the same school studied the Slave trade this year and took in a number of my books to share with her class (inc Olusoga’s picture book version of “Black and British”) and she learned about the horrors committed by the English.

I don’t think we (as a school) whitewash History. In Media we discuss the narrative of the white man being a “goody” and the native being a “baddy.” In English we teach a selection of texts that challenge stereotypes and read literature by non-white authors and explore their cultures.

I don’t think we do anything which is rocket science TBH, but we are an indie school so have freedom to teach what we like.

Who said that?

You haven't been able to prove that these behaviours are entirely "white" behaviours.

It must really grind your gears that people are getting sick of attitudes like this and starting to call it out for what it is.

The card your waving is becoming worthless more and more every day. 😂

That comes across like a toddler throwing his toys out the playpen because he didn't get his own way.

I can't believe people carry do much hate for people of a nation just because in past, some unrelated people from that country did bad things. I am Indian but I don't live with hate for British, Dutch, Portuguese and middle Eastern who colonised my country in past. People of today have nothing to do with it. People who don't like being stereotyped are stereotyping others.

What I take to be the impetus behind the OP - (roughly) that discussions of historical racist oppression tend ubiquitously to be derailed by contemporary racism-informed whataboutery - is well exemplified by this thread itself.

In response to OP's question: the reason it's apparently controversial boils down to its being another shadow of empire. In brief, the apparent controversy is caused by (mostly past) British and other western European imperialist oppression and present-day effects thereof.

Those who rail at "racism against white people" would do well to think about their own status as victims of this ineluctable shadow-of-empire mechanism. They won't, of course. They can't.

What's so bad about imperialist oppression? This is one thing. There are others.

Your never going to get British people to hate Churchill as he steered us through the war with Germany.

Yep he also did shit things. Through out history other leaders have done the same. Just look at the Middle East.

What you’re doing is instilling hate in to a small child rather than balance.

I said way up thread about a convo I had with my dd about some of the things the British did and she was shocked - but I also pointed to the rail ways, roads, canals, telegraph poles and bridges that were built under great hardship but massively benefited the country- even to this day.

How is your child going to feel taking on an adult history teacher who will basically be able to point out the transformation India went under British rule? You should be teaching them balance so they don’t embarrass themselves in front of their peers

Yes Churchill got us through a war .Different times

But a lot of English people hated Churchill. My parents and FIL did and they would be over 100 years old now. He was voted out after the war. He was just a good orator who led the war cabinet. English people then were just like now, some Reform voters, some Jeremy Corbyn fans and various shades of middle ground. In general the way history is taught has become less Britain centric. It’s the stereotyping and phrase “white behaviour “ that’s bothering people.

You won’t get people to hate Churchill in the UK, racist yes, he is the reason why we aren’t speaking German. He was a racist, but he’s also inextricably linked with the freedoms we all have now in the UK and Europe.

Lots of British people love Churchill but don't scratch beneath the surface. I do know plenty of British people who don't love him!
It's not right to say all British love him.

Nobody said you have to hate Churchill. Dont have to worship him either. It doesn't have to be one or the other. He got us through the war and he was horribly racist etc. You don't have to choose and you don't have to end every sentence with "but xyz"

The wartime government Churchill led was a coalition- the National Government. He didn't win a general election. Chamberlain resigned & he took over. After the war there was an election, the first for 10 years, and Labour won with a landslide. Churchill got Britain through the war but this didnt mean he was popular. He and the Conservatives were shocked by the election result.

Well I don’t love him either but he was an extraordinary man during the war - and the right man for the job. After the war we needed to rebuild and have a fairer society. He wasn’t ever going to do that and wasn’t interested in doing so.

Yet you would be speaking German now and all the Jewish people, disabled people, romanies would have been slaughtered in the U.K. if it wasn’t for him.

He was the right man for the job.

I think what you teach your children is to build resentment over the past rather than embracing the future.

Regarding Africa - there are currently 7 million slaves today - that’s nothing to do with Churchill but to do with Africas own people.

Africa was given its own opportunity but it is one of the most corrupt dangerous places in the world - slaves and mass slaughter. Government stealing aid a building huge mansions with pools whilst the people don’t have water to drink.

England left India in the 40s - they have had nearly 100 years to get things right but their own people choose to govern they way they do.

By the way there are 11 million slaves in India today - is that also Churchills fault?

I refuse to be guilt tripped by countries who will not accept responsibility for their own failures in modern times.

I don’t love Churchill either but I’m glad he got us through the war!

The men in charge of these countries are just that - in charge of their own countries.

I will not be blamed for dictators on the other side of the world.

11 million slaves in India and 7 million in Africa today and it’s the white mans fault 🤔

Why don’t the leaders of these countries just say - no?