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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Dear black people of mumsnet

999 replies

PatricksRum · 10/09/2020 17:24

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

OP posts:
midgebabe · 10/09/2020 21:35

@C8H10N4O2

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.

I have to say I suspect this will be the best approach. Start general to encourage participation and specialise when the demand is high
AMemeByAnyOtherName · 10/09/2020 21:36

@Teal99 there aren't specific boards to discuss elderly relatives being peadophiles or young white men being serial killers. I don't understand why anybody would want a board like the one you suggested.

TableFlowerss · 10/09/2020 21:36

If people want it and they feel they can benefit from it then why not?!

NiceGerbil · 10/09/2020 21:36

'How to steer your child away from bad influences has to be up there in terms of worrying about their lives and futures.'

Is this not a worry for loads of parents???

GrumpyHoonMain · 10/09/2020 21:37

@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?
I imagine have a black parenting section would be the most useful for someone in your friend’s situation. She would have access to expertise in hair, culture, beauty, social issues that as a white person she might not even know exist until they happen to her black child.

A basic one is self-care - I actually know of black or Indian kids who reject Oxbridge because they can’t find a hair or beauty salon near the college with expertise. Now a white person might call that vain but if your black child can’t wash / comb their own hair or your Indian kid has significant body hair that requires 2 or 3 weekly threading appointments they often reject the best unis for the ones in areas where their communities live. It’s so, so crap. But maybe having a black parenting site can encourage people with skills to set up shop in some areas or even pool local expertise.

VioletCharlotte · 10/09/2020 21:43

I'm white and totally support this idea. It's always good to have a space where you can talk to people with similar experiences/issues/ backgrounds, etc. We have an LGBT section, vegan section, so why not a black section?

PonDeReplay · 10/09/2020 21:43

@C8H10N4O2

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.

Agree with statement above. Let’s start with one or two sub-sections, similar to Scotsnet, and go from there.

I’m pleased you’ve raised the idea OP, and I’d be happy to support. We’re not all the same, and it would be lovely to have those differences celebrated and valued.

EarringsandLipstick · 10/09/2020 21:53

No, please don't. It isn't you!
It's necklace and eyeshadow

It's such a mangling of my username that perhaps I'm being unduly suspicious but do you mean me, OP?

If so, it's another example of your rude nasty attitude to any poster you decide isn't worthy of your respect.

All I have done here, as elsewhere, is comment on the thread, like anyone else. I've offered support for your idea while challenging your nasty treatment of others and your assumptions of people's colour and intentions.

Really not sure how that indicates ulterior motives 🤷🏻‍♀️

buildingbridge · 10/09/2020 21:53

I think it's an excellent idea. Please MNHQ do this.

I want advise on what hairdressers are really good for black/afro/Indian hair?

I want to know whether sending my child to a school where the children are predominately white is ok?

I want to know about cooking!

Black parenting- Whether children calling elders Aunties or Elders is a good thing?

HebeMumsnet · 10/09/2020 21:54

Evening, all.

Just popping by to say thanks to the posters who've offered ideas about what black section or board on Mumsnet might look like.

We're obviously moderating this thread for posts that break our talk guidelines and there are a fair few deletions, so just wanted to reassure you that we are also still reading with interest all of the ideas put forward here and will pass them on.

Thanks again Flowers

ExTwitter · 10/09/2020 21:57

This reply has been deleted

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

EchoCardioGran · 10/09/2020 22:00

I think it's a great idea.

JoBrodie · 10/09/2020 22:00

Just wanted to add my support to OP for a Black Mumsnet section. Seems eminently sensible for lots of reasons, some of which had already occurred to me and quite a few that hadn't.

Jo
(White / non-parent, enthusiastic reader of threads)

Nomorepies · 10/09/2020 22:01

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request.

edwardson · 10/09/2020 22:04

Wow this thread is full of so much crazy. A black section is a great idea and I understand why it would be more appealing, relevant and well-used than multicultural families. Nothing to add re: sub threads, but wanted to state my support in face of a load of rude and unhelpful posts.

AMemeByAnyOtherName · 10/09/2020 22:05

I haven't had a weave since before DC were born. I've moved since. I can't wait for a place I can ask for advice on good salons. Followed by maintenance Grin

Phoenix21 · 10/09/2020 22:07

Hey OP, I’m black and support this. I all for inclusivity, but a safe space will be useful and I would expect that anyone can post - e.g, I’m white and have been invited to a 9-night what is it?

I think keep it simple with no sub topics to start with. Someone mentioned Black Perspectives which I thought was 👌🏽

As for some of the comments here, sigh. I’m glad you are keeping your humour. For me, I’m tired of being tired.

(My bingo card is doing nicely, we’ve had angry, black on black crime, chip on shoulder mentioned🤣🤣🤣)

AMemeByAnyOtherName · 10/09/2020 22:07

Also, I'd love for the Guardian or such like to pick up on these threads and use them as an opportunity to display the jaw dropping level of ignorance some people in the UK still display.

I wonder how many posts would then be "withdrawn at user's request"...

Phoenix21 · 10/09/2020 22:09

Oh and thanks for raising the baton (is that the right term?)

This thread alone shows why a safe space is needed.

jesusandjollof · 10/09/2020 22:10

Giving birth in the UK whilst black would be a good topic. Black women are five times more likely to die during childbirth.

EarringsandLipstick · 10/09/2020 22:13

I'd love for the Guardian or such like to pick up on these threads and use them as an opportunity to display the jaw dropping level of ignorance some people in the UK still display.

I'm not disagreeing, and I don't share the beliefs of many posting in opposition to the OP, but I also wonder how her mocking, mean tone would come across in such a representation

OP has been acting like she's the CEO or similar of this proposed new section and unwilling to countenance any discussion, questions or alternative opinions and literally jeering at others. It's a sad way to be.

PonDeReplay · 10/09/2020 22:13

What shall we call it? Best ideas I’ve seen are:
Black Perspectives from @Phoenix21 above
Black Mums’ Matters (sorry- forgotten poster’s name)

DeRigueurMortis · 10/09/2020 22:15

OP, put simply if black users of MN want a dedicated topic I see no reason not to provide it.

That said some thoughts/suggestions that I hope you'll take in the spirit of helpfulness that I post in.

Firstly, remember MN is a business.

Opening a new topic costs money to moderate and you're asking this at a time where many business (including MN) have been adversely impacted by Covid.

MN make money via advertising and they make the most money from the topics with the most visitors.

We've recently seen MNHQ cleaning up low traffic topics because they are not viable to maintain.

As such I'd caution you against a Black umbrella with sub topics to begin with.

If want this area of the site to take off you need to demonstrate its popularity and the more hits you can collate on one topic the better. By starting with a long (or even short) list of sub topics you stand to dilute its impact as it organically builds an audience.

As long as users are clear in their subject line it won't be an issue to see posts of interest to other visitors to the area.

This approach also means that rather than asking users now for a list of sub topics that may/may not take off, you can monitor the main topic and see what "categories" of posts it's attracting and their volume.

From that you are in a far better position to lobby MNHQ for sub topics based on actual user behaviour and interests having proven there is a market for them that is sustainable from business perspective.

There have been numerous references to ScotNet/CraicNet in this thread and I think it's a reasonable comparison, however only in the context that neither of these topics have sub topics.

Asking for MNHQ to "replicate" the most popular site level topics (such as style and beauty) for example is unlikely to wash from a business perspective because you're asking MN to de-value those topics by splitting their user base and thus capacity for revenue generation.

It's by proving you can gain additional traffic under a Black topic for specific black S&B threads (as an example) because users would not have posted in the main topic that you can you create a reasonable case for a specific sub.

Lastly I don't think it's reasonable to ask for Black moderation.

Again from a business perspective this opens floodgates that are not business viable.

MNHQ can't fund only feminist mods for FWR or mods with teen children for the teenagers topic and so on.

If you want this to succeed and not be a short lived experiment (and I do support the concept) then I think you need to be realistic about what you ask for and be prepared for this grow organically and when it does you are in a better position to "up" what you're asking for.

Phoenix21 · 10/09/2020 22:16

@PonDeReplay

What shall we call it? Best ideas I’ve seen are: Black Perspectives from *@Phoenix21* above Black Mums’ Matters (sorry- forgotten poster’s name)
Black perspectives wasn’t my suggestion, someone else’s that I seconded!
EarringsandLipstick · 10/09/2020 22:17

@DeRigueurMortis that's a very interesting post. I never thought of the business model element.

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