Should MN have a People of Color Section?

[KickAssAngel]

Firstly: I am deeply ashamed that it has taken me 13 years to even think of this.
Second: My apologies if there is such a thing but I looked under the Talk headings and couldn't see one.

Like most of mainstream UK/Westernized culture there are certain POV or voices on MN which are more dominant. In an attempt to create a bit of space for people who somehow don't fit that kind of profile, MN has a few areas for those people. Cat lovers have the litter tray, there's a special needs area, and feminism topics (and others). I see those areas as places for people who are particularly interested in those things as being able to post there more specifically about their lives, hopefully (although not always) without being railroaded and drowned out by people who don't share those experiences.

BUT - I see nothing that provides people of color with a space.

I wouldn't want to invade there, but as someone who is white, and very aware that I pretty much just get the 'white story' from all areas of society, including MN, is this something that should be established?

I would see the potential benefits as 1. People who might want to share their experiences with others who would more immediately understand/agree with them could do so, and 2. I would want to lurk and hear the 'voices' of POC in order to drown out the white dominance I've grown up with.

I really hope I have raised this in a sensitive and appropriate way. I was prompted by a couple of things - one thread here about why women may not want men joining in a lot, which got taken over by a load of men joining in - and also, in RL, when a white friend shared some problems she's had as the partner of an African American, which really shocked me. I realized after that story that I have NO idea just what it is like to live with everyday racism, and then noticed how there isn't a space for that discussion on MN.

Would posters want this, or is MN so 'white' that other forums are being used instead?

POC is right in the OP's current location. Kind of odd given the topic to make no allowances of the OP's cultural differences. She's using BME now.

There seems to be a lot of posters saying "don't tell BME people what they want! I'll tell you what BME people want!"
I've just gone over the thread and out of the people who said they're in the group under discussion, 2 said yes to the idea, 3 said no, 1 I get the strong impression they think no, 1 unspecified. That's 4:2 against.

I think it's worth Mumsnet asking the question more officially to those who would use the topic.

OP "erm, as I have said already - it would be for those topics which people find helpful to have similar opinions/experiences"

I'm still wondering what these might be.

Tiggy "think it's worth Mumsnet asking the question more officially to those who would use the topic."

I wonder how they'd do that?

A sticky post so the thread stays visable, then ask people.

What topics? BME history, events, hair hair, employment issues, maybe? I would ask the people who would be using the topic. If it's wanted by them.

I certainly don't like the term "People of Colour" for a section on mumsnet. I think the only thing that the multifarious ethnicities in the Uk would have in common that they do not have in common with the rest of society would be discrimination and racism, but then you would be excluding the pale ethnicities such as the Irish Travellers who are also the victims of discrimination and racism.

Cripes, Tiggy, I didn't know I have to identify my ethnic origin at all times, so that you can do your little survey.

I am 'in the group under discussion' as you put it. And I think it's a really bad idea, that smacks a bit of white saviours come to help us.

OP, despite many posters pointing out to you that many BME people are white you keep contrasting BME people with white people.

Do you just have a massive issue with white people?

Tiggy, Spotted has it right. It's like yelling "attention non whites - would you like your own space"? Awful.

The op says "I see nothing that provides people of colour with a space". This website is the space, I've chosen to join it. Colour is not a topic like gardening or television. I also feel the op would probably just assume everyone is white unless they state otherwise.

I do accept that no offence was intended in starting the topic, nor by
Tiggy's suggestion. tbh I think there are some crazy messages around - via media and education etc - that maybe start with the aim of inclusion but actually just move us closer to exclusion - so that's not helping the situation, I'm sure.

but then you would be excluding the pale ethnicities such as the Irish Travellers who are also the victims of discrimination and racism.

And many Eastern Europeans too.

I'm not sure where it would end really.

A separate section for everyone?

I don't think the rest of the world will be particularly interested in advice on race relations that comes from the US.

Also, will the area subscribe to the one drop rule? How much "colour" in ones background is permitted to post?

While we're suggesting areas for people who are oppressed, can I suggest that (on a largely MC site), a working class and underclass section would be a fantastic idea...

Also no Welsh section (is there? I know there is a Scottish section)

Which colour!?

Personally I like purple.
I would like a purple section for other like minded posters with a GSOH and a bag of sparkly shit. Unicorns not essential.

Op you sound like you're new to this thinking and being aware of things malarkey. Take it easy in the first few years, you don't want to wear yourself out.

There should definitely be a special snowflake section!

It could be for all of those posters who ask if they ABU, then spend the rest of the thread arguing with the 100% contradictory opinion

I don't think so. I'm black and it is part of me and my identity but not everything. I'm in a long running thread in another part of MN (NC) and I don't think I have ever even brought it up in the years we have been chatting.

A separate section for everyone?

Well there is Scotnet

Perhaps the OP thinks it's a special section for "viewers in Scotland" (that's an in -joke btw) where we all speak in Gaelic about how oppressed we are by British Imperialism.

In reality, we moan about the SNP, the latest nonsense from the Council (usually Edinburgh or Aberdeen) or Holyrood, swap tips about schools, shops and things to do in this part of Northern Britain.

There should definitely be a special snowflake section!

But surely each special snowflake would require their own section to meet their needs?

Scotsnet AFAIK exists as it has different education systems/legal systems/ NHS etc to rUK. Very annoying to have to explain you are in the UK and not a troll because your kids have gone back to school mid august...

I'm so relieved that a benevolent white person is ashamed that they haven't requested a space for 'people of color' before where they can also lurk and hear our voices and drown out the. ....I can't even complete that cringey sentence.

How patronising and offensive.

1st tip - if you do not belong to a group; you don't get to say what you think that group may benefit from or need. That is a classic move of any kind of 'privilege'.

And when it comes to race that is particularly important - that's one of the bases of racism - that white people know better about what minority groups are capable of; what they may need and white governments/people giving it is an act of benevolence and also in a way absolves previous violent racism - oh yeah we did some bad shit but now you have advocacy groups and carnivals and black history month and targets for minorities in education, employment etc. So we're okay now?

It is SO offensive. Particularly when you say YOU might benefit from it. That you'd gain knowledge or be educated by the discussions. Like we'd be something to be observed? Seriously?

Are we going to start calling mixed people half caste now, too? 🙄 Might as well start living in the mid 90s.

Virtually any thread on here about race is absolutely filled with people claiming that racism doesn't exist anymore and that the person in question is being "over-sensitive".

Remarks on this thread about freckles and being left-handed pretty much prove how clueless some people are about everyday racism.

We do have an ongoing Muslim Tearoom thread on here abs and I do find it valuable from time to time.

KickAssAngel "Would posters want this, or is MN so 'white' that other forums are being used instead?"

^^ I use another forum. I don't think that's being divisive or segregating, it just enables me to share with other people who understand better from one particular perspective.

Whilst MN offers its own brand of sweary, sarcastic parenting perspective

Saying that I do also enjoy the "non-colour" anonymity that I get using MN.

Remarks on this thread about freckles and being left-handed pretty much prove how clueless some people are about everyday racism

Agreed.

Whitesplaining explained.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=N-p8dOqf3P4

Pretending you are oppressed for being left handed in a jokey way of minimising racism makes someone the worst kind of cunt, IMO.

Salem - I was involved in some diversity training for HCPs when a participant spoke quite movingly of growing up as a black male in the 80s in the UK and encountering Police harassment and racism and an absolute arse of a white woman thought it was in some way comparable to her experiences of having ginger hair and actually said 'yes, I know where you're coming from'.

No you don't. You may have known bullying and that's awful but other than that, no you don't know prejudice and the fact you think you do means you have no idea what racism is.