This is a difficult topic to discuss without giving the many examples of racism. It then becomes a thread about a thread, but I will try. I hope @MNHQ understands that these examples are important because this is a discussion about a continuing problem.
The most egregious examples in previous discussions were the comparisons of Meghan and Harry with an organ grinder and his monkey, another compared MM with a rat up a drainpipe. There was an actual picture of a monkey posted, and also of a rat wearing a crown. The monkey post was so blatant it was deleted.
Those who don’t understand racism may think this is just funny comment but there is a long history of black people being compared to animals. Such posts are not a matter of “opinion”. They are racist.
Where @MNHQ seems to have a blind spot is subliminal and less overt racism. Elsewhere, posts are deleted for even just speculating about Madeleine McCann’s parents, and being “unkind” to other celebrities, particularly women.
What is not clear is why speculative posts about MM are left to stand. Particularly those with a racist subtext.
In the last two threads alone:
*MM was not trusted to be alone as she took photos of rooms and had to be followed from room to room. To those of us black women who have been followed around in shops (Yes, in the UK) because of our race, there is a racist subtext to this speculation: a black woman can’t be trusted to respect white property.
*MM hit Princess Charlotte. The subtext of this clearly outrageous speculation accusing her of assaulting a child, which is criminal behavior, and speculation which was allowed to stand, is that she is an aggressive and violent black woman, chiming in nicely with the “Straight Outta Compton “ stereotype of an African American woman.
*Many previous posts speculated about her mother being in prison. Incidentally it’s no shock to those of us who recognize subliminal racism that most posters here sympathize with her white parent, who, in his behavior and words, has shown himself to be the kind of narcissist with whom one would normally be advised here, on Relationships and AIBU, to go No Contact, but her black parent, who has been the soul of dignity and grace, and has not said a single word, has been discussed here as a felon and ex/convict.
*A previous thread had many posts speculating that MM was followed to a car by bodyguards, the innuendo being that she was trying to steal something or do something shady.
*Also in the last two threads, we had “MM tried to take pictures of Prince George to profit off them”. The racist (and classist) subtext is that she is not one of us, as only such a person would do such a thing. She is thus cast as greedy and grasping, a consistent theme on these threads when in fact, her (and Harry’s) spending is far eclipsed by other Royals over the years.
MM does not compare well with Michelle Obama etc. This is consistently harped on by posters like @Winterlife*. When the racial subtext of pitching black women against each other for the approval of whites is pointed out, posts are reported and black posters like me are the ones who are then accused of racism. After all, the defense goes, posters like Michelle Obama so it’s not racism!
*MM is not that black so this is not about racism. This is a consistent line trotted out in defence. It is itself hugely problematic that whites women believe they can police who is black and who is not and how black some people are. Anyone who knows the slightest thing about the “mulatto, quadroon” etc racial classification of black people over the years knows how deeply offensive this is.
*Speculation about Tyler Perry, a black man who reportedly gave H and MM his house, and how he must want to profit from their royal links, when similar speculation was not made about Elton John who lent them a private plane. Why does the black man want to profit from their royal links but not the white man?
Only the racist pictures were taken down. For the rest, the threads were only deleted in whole when posters challenged the racism. The racism has NEVER been addressed separately by @MNHQ.
@MNHQ needs to decide whether it wants this corner of its website to be filled with racially problematic content. I have no problem with @MNHQ deciding that they would rather keep their majority white audience happy, even if it means they can trash MM to their heart’s content.
That is fine.
In that case, please stop using stock images of smiling black women and cute black babies to illustrate features on your website.
You can’t have it both ways: portraying Mumsnet as racially diverse, then do nothing about what are now more than 25 000 posts of non stop negativity and relentless overt and subliminal racism directed at the only woman of color to join the Royal Family.
So please, @MNHQ Stop dismissing posters challenging racism by blithely calling these discussions mere “bun fightS” that are “not in the spirit”. It’s a cop out that allows you to avoid the elephant in the room.
After all, the world at the moment is calling out racism and racist structures. Because it is the right thing to do. And because these conversations are long overdue.