Common racist comments you hear in 2023?

[SleepDreamThinkHuge]

Compared to 30 years ago, how is racism different today?

For me, racism terms such as the n word p word are less used than they were 30 years ago. However, people have looked at other avenues. See comments below.

1. "You have a chip over your shoulder" every time someone mentions racism or their lived experience it goes straight to denial mode. You are blamed for your lived experiences and told to get over it and how UK is not racist.

2. "The UK abolished slavery. slavery was a long time ago." Every time someone tries to put forward a view of reparations of people who are still suffering from the effects of slavery they are shut down. "that was a long time ago we have changed and evolved."

3. "I feel like a foreigner in my own country." Which is probably one of the most stupid statements considering that over 80 percent of the population is white. I always answer if you feel like a foreigner how do minorities feel?

4. "name the racists" commonly said for Megan Markle that she should name the racists she claimed in the Royal family. But lets be honest if you did that the other person in whatever circumstance would just deny it and ultimately you will not be believed and be called someone who plays the race card and tarnishing other people's careers.

5. "Why do black people have their own spaces if white people had it we would be accused of racism" This is commonly said by the same people who are not as vocal when other groups have their own space e.g. women, LGBT groups etc.. It just seems like whenever black people have their own space people have to put them down. Take Ngozi Fulani the media made it seem she was the bad person people argued why her charity helps black people suffering from domestic abuse. Sad how she was forced out Sistah Space due to the abuse she faced but the media never mention that and the racism she had to face.

6. "Racism exists in all communities" this is another common one used and is a whataboutery technique. We have seen this with people like Kanye, KSI recently but what people forget there was a lot of criticism from the black community with their actions. So to suggest the black community or any other community does not do anything about racism is for the birds.

7. "My best friend is black" This is something you would hear from the EDL or Britain First. But you would be surprised how often you hear this by a lot of people. Just because your friend or relative is black, Muslim, Asian etc does not mean you cannot be racist. Even if you are a white mother and your child is mixed race does not mean you cannot be racist. It is baffling how a lot of people seem to forget this and think that my saying I cannot be racist because of this automatically means they cannot.

As a 17 year old I have definitely heard the last one a lot, someone has said to me ‘how on earth am I racist if my ex was black’

another one I still hear a lot my people my age say is ‘move back to your own country, you don’t belong here’

or I hear older people talking about how muslims communities are ‘taking over’ certain areas, and people saying that certain races such as Asians are ‘less friendly’ or ‘harder to speak to’ which as a person with lots of asian friends I cannot say I have had any negative experiences, infant they are some of my closest friends due to their kindness

A new trend seems to be that on social media people have started being racist to white people. I see a lot of videos of people giving insults out and including phrases such as ‘ it’s giving white girl’ or ‘why is there no flavor in your food, are you white or something?’ Or ‘ don’t be a basic white bitch’ However some reason I have never seen this stuff be challenged like it would with other races

however despite all this, I do think racism is declining a lot in Britain, I think due to it being brought into education a lot of children are learning about it young

Woke, woke, woke....

Race card...

"What about the Arab slave trade?" or "the Irish were sold as slaves too"

Yes but are the descendants of those slaves still actively discriminated against?

Anytime someone says woke, I ask that they define it before I get into any debate. You will not hide your bigotry behind 'woke'.

Don't even get me started on black conservative darlings.

Agree. So tired of people using woke forgetting what it’s true meaning was before it was taken over and turned into what it is now.

The whole “Karen” thing which I will add with woke since it is only here in the UK where I see it said to be used often to shut a woman down whereas “boomer”, “snowflake”, “woke “ and the “woke brigade” are more used . The States still use it in the context of its original usage (entitled, shouting, asking for the manager disrespectfully to those doing their job) of any man or woman regardless of race and that of women being racist and also use the male form “Ken” the same way in both concepts but more in being racist as well as calling the latter racist.

The whole slavery thing is another since it’s very hypocritical considering there are countless tv documentaries and movies on different wars, Titanic, the Holocaust, even the Royal family; Henry the VIII alone has plenty of documentaries yet slavery can’t be talked about. How many channels on tv are dedicated to WW2 and Hitler alone shown on a daily basis? I will also add even then many of those documentaries the mention is small that there were non-white British soldiers that fought and died during WW2.

Health-wise. Having to explain my ethnic background when I say that I’m not African or Caribbean and being met with confusion. I thought something pretty rude when the hcp kept saying “trying not to be racist” even though I didn’t say she was nor implied it and she could have written down what was already written in my notes that were right next to her instead of questioning it which leads me into..

The lack of awareness and acceptance around unconscious bias and covert racism and that it’s not just something that happens with white people and black people but with black people and other races. Dealt with it when I was pregnant with my first with two female Asian hcps (reported them) who were a few shades lighter than me and in my second with an Asian male who treated me like an idiot about refusing a test that I had already agreed to an alternative with two other health professionals (in my notes and in the system) and had very bad reactions with. The assumption of offence when someone mentions to me about a person who happens to be black committing a crime or not liking someone from my country of origin, as if I somehow know that person. A lot of it, I’m pretty sure if I said the same to them, they wouldn’t like it or look at me some kind of way.

*whereas “boomer”, “snowflake”, “woke “ and the “woke brigade” are more used in the States.

I know this isn’t ‘racist’ as such, but ignorant comments about kids’ looks. I remember being told my daughter was ‘soo light’ in a sort of delighted way. Like what am I supposed to say to that? Is that like a dig that her brother is ‘so dark?’ Nobody ever said that he was ‘so dark’ in a happy way, so how am I supposed to take that? Another ignorant comment would be ‘are they mixed? What is the father?’ What type of question is that?

I know that isn’t racism as such because I’ve even heard it from people who are black or mixed or the same race as my kids. But it’s ignorant I think.

That's colourism @Kanaloa, and it's racism presented in a different form; expressing delight at proximity to whiteness, and disgust at proximity to darkness/Blackness.

So wrong and totally ignorant.

Yes Arab and Irish people are actively discrimated against in 2023.

Not Arab people, the descendants of those they enslaved. Mumsnet loves to go on about the white people the Arabs and Ottomans captured the moment anyone mentions the transatlantic slave trade.

To be fair it is normally white people who ask ‘what they are.’ Which annoys me just as much as being ‘sooo light.’ It’s extremely vexing, especially since they don’t see their bio father so it is awkward for them.

I had this with a neighbour when my youngest was newborn. She was commenting how lovely and light he was, my older son (alot darker) was stood right there. I was furious and obviously pointed out to her how awful it was. My eldest was 6 and he still remembers it. Racist cow

Are there credible statistics for the prevalence of racism amongst the various racial groups of in the UK?

When someone comments, "It doesn't fit the narrative", the code word for I am being racist, but I can't be seen as racist or a bigot.

On a thread recently there were lots of comments like ‘I just can’t keep up with PC language’ and ‘I’m scared to say anything in case I offend’.
These types of microaggressions are all over MN.

There was a recent thread where someone used the term "coloured" and when told not to use it, asked what they should use instead. Can people really not google? To top it off, another poster on the same thread got irate and said there was no difference between saying "coloured person" and "person of colour". Smacks of "I can't keep up/PC language".

‘I’m scared to say anything in case I offend’.

I always think this is such a BS answer because they still say things regardless without no thought. I know some is due to ignorance but that’s even a poor excuse when the same people wouldn’t want to be asked the same questions or in the same way that they ask any person of colour.

*any thought

At a nursery i work in the manager recieved a complaint about a member of staff having too much attitude and that she should keep that on the streets.

It was bizarre, the member of staff was a very posh black woman who never talks out of turn and is polite but firm and wouldn't take rudeness from one particular parent.

I was shocked at that and how blatantly racist it was and how management couldn't see it.

@phoenixrosehere I agree.
They are disingenuous comments designed to stir and provoke responses so that they can then act all innocent and feel like they are victims somehow.

On MN I wholeheartedly believe these are mostly deliberate microaggressions rather than ignorance but also the kind of comment where people can say/gaslight “I don’t see any racism on this thread’ when they are called out about it.

My parents always spun the line "I'm not racist because I'm friends with (African descent lady)" but then came out with all the classic lines.

Currently, I'm noticing comments like "we need to look after our own now" "the country is full enough" "send them back" type comments, rather than actual derogatory words.

It depresses me and I don't understand how humans can be like this.

😢

Hopefully your son can see it for what it is and not let it change how he feels about himself. Ignorant comments we hear at that age can really damage our thoughts about our looks and our self-esteem.

"Not sure whether to ask where you are from" Oh really?

WP - Where is your husband from?
Me - Birmingham
WP - No, I mean where is FROM
Me - Birmingham
WP - NO, as in where is HE FROM
Me - Huge grin, tilts head 'Birmingham'
WP - stomps foot, goes red 'NO!!! Where is he from, from?
Me - Birmingham

Or

WP - Oh where is Dad from?
Me - Birmingham
WP - No, I mean before that?
Me - He is born in Birmingham
WP - No no no, before that?
Me - How do you mean? Where he is from before he was born?
WP - Yes!!!
Me - Not sure, guess he was a seed like most of us. From Birmingham.

Or

(This one is from my country so can't blame brits)

WP - Are they adopted?
Me - who?
WP - those? Points at my two boys.
Me - No
WP - Oh, so where is dad from?
Me - UK
WP - oh but the children are dark.
Me - Yes
WP - So, their dad is just from the UK?
Me - Yes
WP - Oh, I see, I got confused because they are dark.
Me - Ok
WP - Why do I get a feeling that I have offended you? I am just showing an interest.
Me - Because you are deeply offensive. You walk up to me and my children and ask us very personal questions. It is rude and offensive.

WP - No I am not being offensive. I think it is interesting. Your kids are lovely. So exotic. I think its great. And the hair!! reaches out to touch it.

10000 variations of the above