Diane Abbott....racist comment or not?

[festi]

I think If you look and consider what she said in the context of the discussuion she was having. I believe she has a very valid point, she did make a generalised remark and by definition that was racist, but, it was in my opinion acceptable for her to generate discussion and break down the barriers that exist (the fear of counter accusations of racism) in discussuing the exposure openly.

victor,
Thunder made a point of saying she only accepted the definition of racism as being from those who fought white racism, as opposed to racism in general. That is a bit like saying only men can commit violence because you take the definition from people who fight violence by men, as opposed to violence in general.
Both you and thunder are being very racist and patronizing.

I'd seen the whole interview and I think she has been very mis quoted in a lot of press coverage. In it's full context I don't think what she said was at all racist.

"Whereas the poster who is staying juuuuuuust this side of telling non-white people go leave the UK - her position is just fine, I take it?"

Called he rout on it. I thought it was a despicable post but she has stated that she was doing so to highlight the different reactions we have when the roles are reversed.
I'm not sure it's the best way to go about it.

What other bigotted posts have been ignored or agreed with?

"When one side of the debate seeks to constantly call the other side ignorant it's never really going to go anywhere, is it?"

A point that both sides in the argument would level at the other.

I like you, MayorQuimby. Your posts are good.

I think in its full context it was even more racist, as she was basicly undermining anothe rperson by saying that as they are black they should nto feel a certain way, and that if they do it is because they have fallen into some white persons trap to try to divide black people rather forgetting that the world is not and nor should it be divided up into black and white.

thanks. They're normally semi-literate.

She gets away with it because she's funny and charming.

I think she's stuck in that '80s thing that has to use race and class with everything.

However, she is accountable because she is an elected politician and I think that if I were her I would quietly not stand at the next election.

Whoever thinks that racism is only relevant where people have power is talking fucking shite. I keep my lovely son away from my mum's family because of their continual throwaway raciist comments (they haven't moved away from the '80) - and they are not white. They love me and I love them but I have zero respect for their intellect. All parents want to protect their kids, no?

What I also hate is so called community leaders speaking for everyone who's a certain race or ethnicity. Kind of underminds what UK multiculuralism was about. It's very different now and it's so horribly political.

What I hate about this furor is the fact it's taken away from the fact that justice was partially and finally served on a horrendous murder of a young boy.

And now this gem from MIss Abbott:-

Miss Abbott, the MP for Hackney and Stoke Newington, tweeted: ?Dubious of black people claiming they?ve never experienced racism. Ever tried hailing a taxi I always wonder??

When in a hole Miss Abbott, stop digging.

Ed, Ed sack this woman now.

Kelly2000, well said.

Oops forgot, I am also a misogynist as well. Get back in the kitchen and make my tea you dozy mare.

What next, if I object to Harold Shipman does that make me a serial killer? Boggle.

"I've already said that it's not possible for a black person to be racist against a white person in this society. Racism requires structural oppressive power, which we have in the form of white supremacy, not black supremacy. "

Yes, in the context that white people have govt power in UK for example (like all of europe) but you are so way off the mark in terms of what power is - it's the power of adults of over kids and on that score you are so totally wrong.

I grew up in a mixed family. The only racist feeling I got and comments said were from my mum's family towards my father. It really made me feel bad a a child. I'd never put my child through that and that's why I keep my innocent child away from mum's family. So power to be racist is not just in the hands of white people - it's in the hands of everyone.

I can't believe some people honestly think that black people can't be racist against white people in the UK. With that, you are basically saying black people have no power in this society, even on a personal level. I honestly find that such a racist thing to say.

giveitago

"She gets away with it because she's funny and charming."

that didn't help frankie boyle

thunderboltsandlightning

"I've already said that it's not possible for a black person to be racist against a white person in this society"

I used to have a black friend who thought that way.

she used to call white people snow apes.

she refused to believe that African tribes would sell prisioners from tribal wars to other tribes and egyptians as slaves.

she was a bigot and an idiot.

whatever colour our ancestors were, Diane Abbott is a fuck load more privileged than I am.
So I think I am perfectly entitled to call her a racist and to be offended by her bullshit

Slavery didn't end, in fact Africa has quite a high percentage of slaves, owned by black families. So moral high ground doesn't come in to it. In fact if you understand anything of history the European involvement was savage and shameful but we did not start it and unfortunately we did not end it.

WhingingNinja

Are you far more likely to be stopped and searched by the cops because of the colour of your skin?

Are you likely to be followed round shops by security because of the colour of your skin?

Are people of your race underrepresented in politics and other positions of power in our society?

You may not have wealth or class privilege, but if you are white in Britain you have white privilege.

Of course white people have white privilege. Doesn't mean they have gender/class privilege though does it?

A former police commissioner once said that black people were more likely to be stopped as they committed more crimes ... He got slaughtered for it BUT the crime statistics proved that black people committed more crime at that point.

Racist or just pointing out the facts?

cook my oh is a middle aged family man. He is much more likely to be stopped than a white middle aged family man. Are you suggesting that black middle aged family men with jobs and who like to potter about of a weekend are more likely to commit crimes than there white counterparts?

Hands up on MN whose husbands get pulled over when they are driving home from work on a fairly regular basis.
Now put your hands down if your husband is white

Oh.....

Because you perceive this to be true that excuses DA's attitude towards white people from the position of an MP?
It's a non argument and i'm still waiting to see a 100% condemnation of her racist views without the buts and ifs.

IMO the New Statesman sums it up rather nicely:

Let's call this what it is. It's pretending. It's not genuinely being offended. It's artifice, completely made up in order to get a bit of publicity for people's vexatiously contrarian columns and to get their godawful faces on television.

If you're genuinely wounded by Diane Abbott's comments, I pity you. You're beyond saving. It's a wonder we white people manage to stay in control of everything in the world ever if we're so bloody sensitive -- we should be sitting in a cupboard crying all day about what the nasty lady said about us.

But it's not genuine hurt; it's the sensing of a mistake by a political rival, and the careful depiction of a representation of what these woeful human beings think being offended actually is, in order to capitalise on that.

Says it all really.

That left wing clap trapp!!!!!!!! the newstatesman doesnt speak for me. I was offended. White people are allowed to be offended, the comment was racist, black people are quite capable of making racist comments,ive heard a few of them on prime time tv, Darcus Howe, Lee jasper for starters. I dont think Nick Griffin would have been allowed to spew his bile on Newsnight nearly unchallenged, but there you go, too much of a one way street for my liking

I don't think anyone's saying they're hurt, whatmeworry. We're saying we're pissed off, mainly because it opens a gateway to white racists, causes tension between ethnic groups and shows Diane Abbott up as someone who can't really represent her constituents fairly.

I thought that had been mentioned about, oh, 5 million times.

It is interesting to see how many people are falling over themselves to be seen defending Abbott. So quick to distance themselves from what they are, which is more than likely white, middle class journos whose opinions are based more on what they think they should say rather than developing a belief of their own.

Abbott has been allowed to get away with this how many times now?

So "white people" have to suck it up because history weighs against us recently?