Fear of safety for my mixed race family

[Kayakinggg]

I feel a lot of worry about the safety of the country for mixed race people. They are the most precious people in my life. They are my family. My son, my daughter and my husband are all mixed race. I don’t have a close relationship with any other family members and I have a few other friends but they are white so don’t really
Get it.

I know I am not overreacting as racism is clearly on the rise and rampant and the politicians are deeply corrupt in their tactics to turn us all against each other.

I feel guilty to be the only white one in the family. I feel so angry that when I choose to have children, race was not an issue in the UK 🇬🇧 I hate to see it but I feel like I’ve failed them to raise them here even though I didn’t know what the future held. I have this desire to make a plan to move abroad but logistically and financially o don’t think that will be possible.

I feel like everyone else (that I know) is safe and protected but my little precious family is at threat. I can’t even speak to my own parents about it as they don’t believe reform are racist.

I feel like I’m stuck in a nightmare and it’s only going to get worse.

In my deepest darkest moments I fear my family being taken from me as there is a hate group towards mixed race people that is only growing. I’m scared of history repeating itself.

My feelings are worry, fear, anger, loneliness.

AIBU?!

Are you Black? Do you have to run the gauntlet of racism in your daily life? So how can you state what you have, with so much confidence. I think you are totally wrong.

I am mixed race myself and I do think there is a difference between actual discrimination or violence, and the rest of it. As you point out, many Jewish people are experiencing real violence or threats of violence, or are being discriminated against in real, tangible ways. That's the kind of thing we should focus on and fight with all our will. However, there's also a lot of vague fear or talk about 'microaggressions' and 'colonialism' and honestly that is just a distraction - thinking about it only makes you feel like a victim, makes you suspicious of and divided from white people, and makes your life worse.

I have been a victim of what I consider 'real' racism, but thankfully only a handful of times.

I'm so sorry op, but unfortunately I can see why you'd be scared.
There is no doubt that racism is becoming much more socially acceptable, you even see it on Mumsnet. It's really shocking.

I'm talking comparatively. I remember what Britain was like in the 1980s and I have been to other places that are way more racist.

Oh I see. Nothing to see here then. Goodnight.

I feel the country is getting scary for everybody. Obviously there is the race factor which adds another layer of fear but there's also all the feral twats carrying knives and gangs of young lads all over the place acting threatening to anyone passing by. I hate my partner going out to do his steps for fitness in the evening now it's dark.

My kids are experiencing racism in the community so much more openly now, at least once a week where before it would be every few months.
My husband works for the NHS and gets it daily as so many in the NHS do working with members of the public.
You can do your bit by putting others straight, raising awareness and being anti-racist. Silence is as bad as doing nothing.

Yes, my kids are experiencing regular racism within the community, people seem to be proud to share views that in the last twenty years or so they'd understood shouldn't be shared.

I have literally just been thinking this so glad to see this thread so I know it’s not just me but feel sad that others feel this way. I’m mixed race but look white but my kids are black (1/4 white) I actually feel extremely sorry for them and the world they will be growing up in now and worried about their future and safety. It’s scary.

This is the third wave of racism that I have experienced in my lifetime. National Front, BNP and now this. The violence in the 80's was horrendous and made worse by the lack of sympathetic authorities when reporting racist attacks. I'm not afraid for myself but alert and will not back down in the face of racism. I come from a family and community of like minded people. We live our lives and try not to get caught up in the fear of what might happen but as I said, we are alert. I understand your concerns and feel for you.

Racism never went away. The uniform changed, they got rid of the skinheads, Dr martens and bomber jackets. Now it could be anyone. Which is why it's so unsettling.

My school once had to be released early due to a planned NF march in the area. I was 12. Just over 30 years ago.

Yes, DD (black, teenager) has had racist abuse.

Reform are racist - their attacks on immigration do not e.g. include white Australians / New Zealanders who overstay their visas.

We live in a diverse community. But I do worry given how racists are gaining political power - because backed by so many who feel comfortable scapegoating 'immigrants', including those of darker skin born and grown up here.

Oh I think they do realise.

They are not good people.

I agree.
Flags for sporting events / jubilee / national events - great.

But that's not the reason for the recent explosion of flags on lamp posts. It's to dominate and threaten.

Do you know, as a community, we've held events for everything you've listed. With flags.

And the one family in our street flying flags and with huge reform posters in their garden now, in the current climate, has not attended one single community event in the twenty years I've lived here.

Speaks volumes doesn't it?

Yep

And yes, I have had racist abuse recently. I've posted about it before. I've rarely had it before recently, the worst being told I'm a colonial leech.

Recently it's mainly been flag stuff, people waving them and pushing them in my face. Flags appearing outside my house. This is from people I know. I'm white without an accent.

Some I know told me I should be locked up then deported a few days ago though. They said I'm not good for this country.

As I say, I'm white without an accent. I can only imagine the abuse people who have a different skin colour or speak with an accent are suffering.

My world is shrinking very quickly and I'm finding it very hard to trust people. A lot of people are minimising my concerns.

I have reported this to the council and the police, but nothing has been done apart from big sighs, as if I'm creating the issue.

My local reform council actively told me that report was being dismissed as they don't class this an issue any more. Racist graffiti.

Hate that you're getting minimising comments on here already just by reading the first page.
MN isn't the best place to ask and I say this as someone who is white.
Maybe ask on the Black Mumsnetters board? Might get more understanding people there

The OP doesn't need to move. Nor is her experience of racism a mental health issue. Neither if these are a solution to racism. The solution to racism lies with racism. Let's tackle this AND tackle the misogyny of misogynists. One doesn't tackle or excuse the other.

Can you link to those thread from last Friday? Thursday? Wednesday?

Racist attacks have increased. They've increased massively in my area. And that's IRL. What's your evidence that racism has reduced massively?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3vg33nje4o

You’re in no more danger than anyone else in this country right now. Stabbings on trains between Peterborough and Huntingdon, attacks on young girls at Taylor Swift workshops etc seem to be equal opportunity events.

I agree with you @Katypp

Also good to see that poll stands at 60% YABU.

I think your worry is valid OP.

There have always been racists, obviously, but I feel many of them have been emboldened by online rhetoric, by skewed reporting in tabloid style news, by the proliferation of the damned flags, and the anger over immigration encouraged by certain government members or would be government members looking to get elected.

At this point, I think that people who deny that racism has grown louder and more common are fooling themselves, or trying to gaslight others.

At this point, I think that people who deny that racism has grown louder and more common are fooling themselves, or trying to gaslight others.

Yep.

But we shouldn't be surprised at the denial. The "clever" racists are intentionally gaslighting some of the population, particularly the most vulnerable with lies.

Look at the racism has reduced/isn't a problem posts on this thread.

Don't be so ridiculous. Every country has its own flag. It's seems only England that should apparently be ashamed of their flag. I'm proud of my flag, are you saying I'm a bad person?