If you heard of a nice town/village where black people were moving to, would you join them?

[Sugarintheplum]

I'm just wondering.

I used to live in the US and they had black areas with good schools, attractive houses (like Fox Hills for eg), and we just don't really have that here.

If one emerged, would you be tempted?

Any other community of people is allowed to congregate peacefully without suspicion - until Black people do the same. It's disturbing the level of vested interest in meddling in Black people's business as well as wanting to have an opinion and authority on what we do...almost as if we are being infantilised.

Jewish people live in Jewish communities, patronise Jewish establishments and businesses but God forbid Black people want to do the same! Immediately it is a topic for all and sundry as well as immediate opposition.

GTFOH!

It just seems strange to be given a list of reasons that this wouldn't be a good idea, by someone who has no experience of it. As white people make up the majority, most villages, etc, are occupied by them. I've been to some rough villages, which were crime-ridden, but I never thought that the white people were being 'insular' or 'ghetto'.

And, so I wonder how these terms are bandied about so freely? Yes, I understand that a ghetto is a place where ethnic minorities subside..so, for example, would you say that White South Africans live in the ghetto. They occupy large parts of Africa, and they are the minority. Or places where other White people have inhabited, Australia, New Zealand, amongst others..

This isn't a dig at anyone, I just really need to understand that if the terms 'ghetto' and 'insular' aren't just directed at black people, then who are they directed at?

I just quickly put "ghetto" into google, and this came up.

While I knew knew meant a deprived area, I wasn't aware that ghetto was exclusively applied to minority groups (read non-white). Every day is a school day!

It's never a compliment though, is it?

I live in the most rural area of the most rural county in Britain, and I would love, just love, for people from different ethnicities and cultures to move here. It's the one thing I miss from our previous life down south, and our life is poorer because of it.

I know it would be difficult, especially for the first brave pioneers, but our small local town already does have black and Asian families, not huge numbers but some, and my son's school is the one their children attend - it was one of the reasons we wanted him to go there - and the local deli is gradually selling more and more ethnic foods.

Please come. We'd love you to.

@BananaPop2020

There would be a very distinct ‘us and them’ culture - homogeneity is not always a good thing. What about people who don’t want to be classified this way? Also, you would need to have a far more equitable distribution of wealth and resources if you are going to have distinct communities, or ghettoisation will occur.

Homogeneity is never a good thing when we are talking about black people, but we are often reminded that right wing extremism is a result of the changing face of white communities being forced to accept minorities and them not recognising the areas they grew up in i.e.: homogeneity must be protected for white people at all costs.

Tbh this and this poster's other comments were so offensive. I don't even know why on earthnthey insist on telling black people how they should feel and react to racism and then subtly blame them for the racism they endure all in one go.

I live in the most rural area of the most rural county in Britain.

If you don't mind saying, which one is that? Despite being born in the uK, and having lived here all my life, I have no idea where that would be!

Its happening for other communities so o can't see why it couldn't happen as you describe. Look at the burgeoning Jewish community in Canvey Island for example.

Well obviously when Black people do it, it is insular and ghetto (paraphrasing banana).

But you are right, it is possible for other communities and therefore should be for us as well-but we all know somehow it isn't that simple whenever Black people are concerned

Cumbria - population density just 74 people per square km

Yes yes I will! I need easy access to some of my favourite things (food, hair products, etc) that I can only buy online.

Yeah, look, I'm no Marcus Garvey, but somehow I think this is possible. Let's dream a little.

What are the barriers?

From others? From us?

Starseeking, no never. And, as you rightly pointed out, it's far from complimentary.

Right then @curlingtoes we'll look forward to seeing you! Out here in the sticks we do most of our shopping online anyway so it'd be no different...just a more gentle and happy way of life where people have time to help each other out and be old-fashioned neighbourly and community-minded.

We love it...get yourself up here, I'll put a brew on

It is reminiscent of the way slaves used to be separated from their kinsmen, lest they plot an escape. In my view, while these days it is more implicit, those types of suspicions haven't disappeared.

Starseeking Is that were you think the mistrust started? I think I do, to an extent.

To be honest, I always thought the title of theif, smelly and other negative words came from the slaves (rightly) stealing food because they weren't being fed . And also that they smelt (who wouldn't after 'working' 16 hours in the baking sun and not having access to a bath/shower).

There is even a term in the dictionary (can't remember what it's called) which basically describes the 'illness' that was of a black slave trying to escape.

The thing that makes me is that all the examples I've given are bloody normal reactions to an absolutely abnormal, fucked up, situation. I think most of you will agree.

So I wonder why these terms have still 'stuck' on us..

(sorry, OP, if I've derailed..)

I just googled Cumbria. While it looks beautiful, it's not the first place I'd think of going, probably due to conditioning.

Come to Huddersfield
Multicultural with lovely countryside not too far away.
To be completely honest I am white so can’t comment on racism/lack of but there is a strong Afro Caribbean community - we even had carnival pre Covid.
My non white friends seem to like it here so based on that I think (hope) not being white here isn’t an issue.

Probably @BlackIsBlackIsBlack. Then again if you were doing horrific things to people you'd stolen and kept against their will, you probably should be wary of them.

These days, not so much.

These days, not so much.

I hear you.

I definitely think so. A lot of white people can't believe we aren't after revenge.

I'd be shook, too, personally. I find that white people cant actually engage in conversations of what went on.

I remember being at Elmina Castle and my DP asked the tour guide how white people react to what they hear and see. The tour guide said they stay on average 10 minutes and at some point he turns around to look at the people he's talking to and he just sees their backs as they scurry out of there.

anyway, I think the main barrier is that we'd be blocked from buying and renting would be nigh on impossible.

OP, I didn't know about that castle. I'm going to read up on it now. Actually, I may wait until tmrw, when I'm feeling a bit braver!

And that's why it's good to have a space like this. So that we can talk about the past, and present, without being dismissed.

With regards to your original post. No, it won't happen and the only thing stopping it happening is from groups of non-black people who, by default, live in their own "ghettos" anyway, and wouldn't be affected.

It's a madness!

Due to its proximity to the coast, and position in Africa as a convenient port travel route to the Americas, Ghana was one of the main countries Black people were stolen from, and there are quite a few old slave castles still standing in Ghana @BlackIsBlackIsBlack.

Cape Coast Castle is another one. If you ever get a chance to travel to Ghana, I'd highly recommend visiting there and Elmina. It's pretty emotional for any Black person taking the tour, everything is preserved as it was back then, and you are able to visit through the rooms the slaves were kept in, as well as the "Door of No Return".

This is a good summary, plus there's a couple of videos as well:

theculturetrip.com/africa/ghana/articles/ghana-s-slave-castles-the-shocking-story-of-the-ghanaian-cape-coast/

I'm selling my house just outside London (North West Surrey) to move back in, it's a 20 minute drive from the old area to new area, so not that far really.

I must admit I'm dreading it, as I'm looking to buy in the part of my diverse London borough which has the nicest houses and greenest areas, yet is the least mixed ethnically, and has the highest proportion of white people living there. The DC will still be able to go to diverse schools, and all my food and hair shops are still close by, which is a saving grace, I don't think I'd move there if that wasn't the case.

As hardly any properties come up for sale in the roads I like, I really want to do a leaflet/letter drop as is so often recommended on MN, but get the sense that English people would be uncomfortable as soon as they see an "ethnic name" to reply to. I will do it anyway, but steel myself for no responses, and will probably end up buying through the conventional route and using an estate agent.

This is in a London Borough, the most ethnically mixed metropolitan area in the UK, so as much as people encourage us to travel and settle in far flung places if the UK, I get the impression that we'd be far less welcome than some posters have suggested, and although they personally would be nice, unfortunately I genuinely believe they would be in the minority.

Starseeking

Thank you for the info. I had no idea about these castles. And no idea that around 15% of the slaves perished at sea