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.

What is this "white English mentality" that you speak of? Is there a white Scottish mentality? What about the Welsh?

Lol I have been quoted in a few posts and people are just being deliberately obtuse but it is Mumsnet I suppose so I wouldn't expect anything less

The main reason for colonisation was based on white superiority. We are sweeping the reality under the carpet by saying “but the Irish were persecuted too”. Yes they were. However, the main reason for the colonisation of places like India, North America, Australia, parts of Africa, places in the Caribbean was white superiority. The indigenous people were sub-humans to the colonists (the white British) and the land needed to be civilised. This narrative of the British saviour has been taught in schools until the last 5-8 years.

It is reductive to say “but white Irish people were also targeted” or “other skin colours have created atrocities”. Yes they have but that once again skirts over the issues created by white superiority over the centuries that we still see today.

What the fuck is "white behaviour"?

So true - left wing university teachers pumping out divisive theories that will promote racial discord and push people away from the political centre. White behaviour, white privilege, etc, what do these ideas add to the debate? Nothing. Labels that reduce people to the colour of their skin as a homogenous lump. Sadly there is big money in stirring up racial hatred nowadays - research grants, lobbyists, charity grants, EDI advisors, EDI trainers, etc etc. I think Reform will replace the Conservatives as the official opposition at the next election because of stuff like this.

No it was for raw materials to feed the Industrial Revolution.

Balanced how?

So true - left wing university teachers pumping out divisive theories that will promote racial discord and push people away from the political centre
So what do you suggest, that we don't talk about racism, that we don't mention colonialism unless it's through being white's lens/viewpoint in case people get offended,, in a kind of like a "look at what you made us do?"
Why can't we look at it through both sides?

Yes, well pedantry is easier than opening ones mind.

The Industrial Revolution started in the mid 1700s. Colonisation was well under way by that point.

The main reason for colonisation was based on white superiority.

It really wasn't.

It was so we could take resources to make us richer.

Consequences of the slave trade rather than getting students to draw slaves in a ship (this used to happen), consequences of the British Empire and atrocities created by the British rather than how the British introduced trains and cricket, kingdoms in Africa pre slave trade and colonisation so students can see the wealth and prestige many of these places had rather than the pictures many see of Africa now, the idea that civilisation didn’t start in Europe during the Reformation.

Yes its an interesting and important discussion.

I was brought up in France and am constantly finding out about huge parts of french history which i was NEVER taught about - e.g its past colonies and current departments abroad. You would not believe how little I was taught about that. I didn't know even a third of the countries that France had invaded and which had played a significant part in our historic in part 100 years. I was so surprised when people spoke French in Vietnam!

Found out the other day that France made Haiti pay back the cost of its 'loss of property' - including Haitian slaves - when it got independence I 1825. Its a huuuge sum and they only paid it off recently. it's a big part of the reason Haiti is so poor

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiti_Independence_Debt

I'm white and none of this offends me, it's interesting and important and it's the truth. Also its my history so I feel annoyed it was hidden from me.

Why did they think they could just go and “take resources” when people already lived there?

By reading the comments and the thread, I take it to mean that schools are starting to have a more balanced look at history.
Which is great if so, it wasn't 30 years ago.
As in, not just painting the white guys as the heroes (Native Americans and "cowboys" for example just off the top of my head if you're wanting an example.)
We trampled all over their lives, so why do the "cowboys" get painted as the heroes of the day?

Yes, we still need it because it's not yet integrated, which is a problem in itself.

Cross post, think you're trying to say what I'm essentially saying

Yes this

Why did they think they could just go and “take resources” when people already lived there?

Because we could, through force. It's the same reason we did it to all the other countries, including the white ones we took from.

If we are going to lay the blame for colonisation how far back do we go? Do we blame Christopher Columbus (Italian) for discovering the new world? How about Vasco de Gama (Portuguese) for opening up European trade routes.

It's a human nature, or dare I say it, mainly male thing. The colour of skin is more circumstantial due to historical country and climate conditions more than anything else, I would guess.

I’m perplexed why you think “History is whitewashed in this country, we usually learn it from a "hero" viewpoint.” I went to school,in the 1980’s ,we studied the transatlantic slave trade, we visited the fantastic International Slave museum in Liverpool. I read “ Roots” by Alex Haley, which was an incredibly well selling book that was made into a well known TV series. We learnt a lot about the American civil rights movement. We were equally aware of the problems with racism in society ,it was a time of race riots in a number of cities, we saw the problems that black football players had with the racism from the crowd.

…to carry on, we boycotted certain products because the companies supported the regime in South Africa, we were listening to “ Free Nelson Mandela” , Del Boy and Rodney in only fools and horses lived in “Nelson Mandela house”….unless you lived under a stone why do you think people knew nothing about the world ?

Yep just have a look at the East India Company or the lesser known Hudson Bay Company.

Their history is closely linked to the British Empire... it's about raw materials, trade, arrable land and the money to be made.

Which predominantly white countries did we invade, pilfer and then colonise?