Dear black people of mumsnet

[PatricksRum]

Ideas for a black section on mumsnet.

Should we have separate sections i.e black hair and beauty, black parenting, black cooking or a general black section?

Link to previous

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4018383-black-section-on-mn

Another one who can’t understand why there isn’t a Black section already. I’m surprised, I think it’s a pretty big deal that there isn’t one already tbh.

I’m not Black but my children aren’t white. I live and work in a massively diverse area and career (London frontline HCP). My Black friends are scared, really scared of covid, especially as a lot of them are teachers and are now back at work. They have not been supported by our government. I would suggest a Black health board if it’s not been talked about already. Sorry haven’t fully read the thread as knackered after long busy shift.

Good luck!

@NiceGerbil

No idea.

This site is on a report basis, it's not actively moderated is it.

Well op wants a black moderator for her board so 🤷

EDS re topics being 'hidden' on different boards, there was a big discussion about that when the feminism board was set up.

[quote Angliski]@witchygrub - black parenting necessitates talking to your children about what to do if you are stopped by the police so you stay alive. Do you need to have that convo with your kids?

@PatricksRum given the horrific stars in black women being five times more likely to die in childbirth in the Uk, I think a section on birth rights , support and advice/advocacy for black parents might be useful?

I’m mixed race btw. I’ve no idea why folk are getting so het up here. There’s nothing wrong with asking for a section to direct specific questions and traffic And perspective that are of more concern To a black audience. Others might learn a lot from it too. Too many black female voices are silenced in my view. Making it easier to speak and connect might be helpful I imagine.[/quote]
Yes. Real important one.

Also it links in with the current pandemic. With BAME (hate that word) more at risk.

Thanks for your suggestions

@NiceGerbil

MrsI

There is a LGB+ board. And boards about disability. Scotsnet.

What OP is asking for is something that already happens for other groups.

If you don't like separate boards in general then that's a different argument.

Careful, some people might start asking for a straight board or an ableist board if this thread is anything to go by.

Another one who can’t understand why there isn’t a Black section already. I’m surprised, I think it’s a pretty big deal that there isn’t one already tbh.*

There's been a multicultural families subsection since 2004. It's hardly used but that doesn't mean the option to post on it isn't there. A solely black person subsection will be used even less frequently.

@NiceGerbil

EDS re topics being 'hidden' on different boards, there was a big discussion about that when the feminism board was set up.

I know and it's pretty much happened hasn't it? So, as long as people don't have to post within this separate board if they don't want to and people of other ethnicities can have the same provision if they request it there's no problem.

Boards that attract a lot of hateful users do get heavily moderated. It's pretty clear from the touchy nerves in here that black could need that level of protection and it's not unreasonable to ask for some black moderators who will be better able to recognise patterns of abuse they have seen all their lives

@TinySleepThief

* Another one who can’t understand why there isn’t a Black section already. I’m surprised, I think it’s a pretty big deal that there isn’t one already tbh.*

There's been a multicultural families subsection since 2004. It's hardly used but that doesn't mean the option to post on it isn't there. A solely black person subsection will be used even less frequently.

Is that why people are so against the idea? Because it might not get used much?

@Teal99

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Nope.

That's a symptom of racism.

Tackle the racism, introduce equal opportunities for us and this will reduce.

Well it was a very long and at times heated discussion! Very strong views on both sides (from the feminist posters back then).

I do think that there's stuff on there which should be of interest to women generally. And people are told to bugger off to feminism etc. But every conversation there doesn't have to start with justifying the need for feminism in the first place.

And it's an anonymous board. People can read or post wherever they like.

Hair
Style/Clothes shopping
Beauty
Education - from early years to post grad
Employment
Cooking
Ethical shopping
Entertainment - music, tv, films
Books/Authors - fiction and non-fiction
Languages - learning them

These are all things I'd love to be able to discuss in a black section, with anyone who has relevant knowledge or who wishes to learn. If I post a question about Jollof rice, for example, or where to buy certain styles of clothes or fabrics in the existing sections of Mumsnet, I wouldn't get useful replies.

@buildingbridge

Love this idea! And I'm speaking of my child who is mixed race- I am black. Especially cooking..

I admit the thought of a cooking section is making me sooooo hungry!

Op you seem very angry!
I have a friend (you can search my threads) who was born in Jamaica as were her sons.
She came to England and married a white man and lives a very nice life in a very nice village and has lots of very nice friends who are all white cos that's the demographic of this particular village

Quite honestly I think you have a stonking massive chip on your shoulder.

What has your friends experience got to do with the different experiences of other black people?

I know a lesbian who married a nice woman and lives in a nice village and has straight friends. Doesn't mean the people who wanted the LGBT boards have the same experience as my friend or that I'm asking for that space they have a stinking chip on their shoulder.

Your mates life isn't universal and if she's a MN user why are you speaking for her? If she's not, then why would she be bothered about a space being created for other black people on a website she doesn't even use?

and it's not unreasonable to ask for some black moderators who will be better able to recognise patterns of abuse they have seen all their lives

Agree, surely if there was some black moderators too they'd be well placed to spot seemingly innocent remarks which are nothing of the sort?
They'd recognise abuse where white moderators may miss or not understand some of the issues if this thread is anything to go by.

Is that why people are so against the idea? Because it might not get used much

I'm not against it but I do keep trying to explain to the OP that this is the most likely end result. There are lots of subsections on MN that don't get much traffic because AIBU and chat are so popular.

I think it's important to recognise that even if this subsection is made it will probably go the same way as the multicultural families section.

@TinySleepThief

* Another one who can’t understand why there isn’t a Black section already. I’m surprised, I think it’s a pretty big deal that there isn’t one already tbh.*

There's been a multicultural families subsection since 2004. It's hardly used but that doesn't mean the option to post on it isn't there. A solely black person subsection will be used even less frequently.

I'll repeat what pp said "I'm surprised there isn't a BLACK section already."

One section to start with or at most two - maybe chat and other. Subtopics work best when the traffic builds up to merit seperating out and we never know to start with which topics will end up being high trafficc.

Too many topics to start with risks fragmentation and since it will be trolled to fuck it can be easier to manage that in one place, in plain sight of everyone who wants to make it work.

@Nomorepies

OP my friend is white but her children are black. How would she fare on your section? Would she be welcome to post about her children?

My auntie is straight but her son is gay, would she be welcome on the LGB boards?

@Teal99

https://news.sky.com/story/black-murder-victims-and-suspects-london-v-uk-11443656 My post got deleted - I suggested that black on black gang culture could be a good thread, surely that is a major worry for parents. It must be. I don't see why my post got deleted. How to steer your child away from bad influences has to be up there in terms of worrying about their lives and futures.

The link above leads to this chart which shows the problems.

Are you black?

I ve no idea if there are lots of forums for black users but if there isn't there could be lots of interest from overseas..... we won't know until it's tried.

@TinySleepThief if black people don't engage then it won't be popular, no. But that's not a reason not to try. A lot of black people are very excited about this. I'm truly trying to work out why it's a problem for some. Perhaps not you, but you have to admit it's strange, right? You'd think we were planning to demolish a heritage site the way people are shrieking.

In this case, I support OP asking that question!