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

I am a black British mumsnetter of African heritage. I would like a general board like Scotsnet or Craicnet. I sometimes read or post on there although I’m not of Celtic heritage if a post is relevant. I’d be interested in hair & beauty recommendations specific to my family’s hair and skin type, support and advice of education and access to education and employment as it can specifically affect the black community and health issues also.

Mental health is a good idea but also general health.

I saw a bit of your other post. People seem to really have it in for you! Well done though for getting people talking and thinking. It’s a fab idea.

@BIWI that would certainly be better, especially for posters who need support after working hours. Last time I asked about joining the nights watch they said they had enough people. But if an opportunity opened up, I would happily contribute, I tend to be up all hours

@WorraLiberty

I wonder if it would help if name changing was banned or at least very restricted within that topic?

That way it should be easy to weed out the snidey goaders who manage to stay just on the right side of talk guidelines but manage to stir up shit with 'innocent' posts and fake naivety.

It should also cut down on 'invasions' by groups of racists, as by the time they get to build up a posting history they should hopefully have been banned.

Sometimes these people aren't always obvious 'invaders' and slip through the net, just by name changing and being a bit more snidey. It can take other posters a lot longer to see through them and report them.

This is a great idea.

Along with @dudsville idea for the black fist pump.

I'll report those to HQ to add to the idea bank!

@dudsville

I've skimmed this thread. It's depressing and disappointing but not surprising. I really appreciate the posters, OP and others, who have been able to respond to horribleness as well as think about the point of the thread. There's a lot to admire in this. I hope you get this section. MN needs a fist emoticon to show solidarity! But knowing MN it would end up being used in other ways!!!

(white person posting)

Emoticon idea

I have only got so far reading OP's and pp's so this may have been said already (by the way I am white as this seems to be important here):
My personal thoughts (which could well be wrong, and sorry if they upset anyone), are doesn't having different sections for different members of our community, just lead to more division? I do not see why there should be a problem for anyone to start a thread on any subject, be it the problems with certain hair styles, or to someones black or mixed race child being bullied at school because of the colour of their skin. Saying that, I might have inadvertantly said something racist, and if I have, I am so sorry. But to me, this is what we should be doing, pulling people up if they are being racist, explaining calmly and politely in what way they are being racist, and if their reaction is rude then MN should be informed. This might seem like a snowflake suggestion, but I have tried to listen and take onboard what others have said, and I know that some/many black people are ignored, pushed to the sidelines, or even deliberately goaded, and treated unequally and unfairly. I am very sad that all those things happen, but I just cannot see how seperating ourselves from each other can possibly help rectify that situation. My feelings are the same for all BAME people, but I have directed this mainly at our black members because that is what I think the OP wanted, but again, please tell me if I am somehow being insensitive again, racist, or just down right rude, and how what I have said is being so.

@BIWI

I think it's terribly sad that we're seeing suggestions of shutting the topic down at night to stop posters, or keeping it out of active/trending. Surely that's just another way of silencing black voices?

That said, it's evident that this topic is likely to be the target of racist posters. Probably some of them from MN itself, as well as those who come here just to cause trouble.

How about Mumsnet creates a 'black night watch' - similar to the existing night watch, just a team of black MNetters, who have powers to hide trolling/goady/unpleasant/racist posts? I'm sure there must be plenty of black MNetters who might be prepared to do that.

This is another good idea.

HQ did email me about freezing thd thread overnight, which I agreed to. It's upsetting that it's necessary but totally agree for the section it needs extra moderators. A night watch is perfect as it uses volunteers and won't eat into profits.

@Yankathebear

Mental health is a good idea but also general health.

I saw a bit of your other post. People seem to really have it in for you! Well done though for getting people talking and thinking. It’s a fab idea.

Thank you.

And thanks for the contributions from other black mumsnetters.

Really good ideas for the topic.

I feel like I might be setting myself up for failure but I am excited about this. I really can't wait to feel comfortable posting about black matters without interruption.

[quote AMemeByAnyOtherName]@BIWI that would certainly be better, especially for posters who need support after working hours. Last time I asked about joining the nights watch they said they had enough people. But if an opportunity opened up, I would happily contribute, I tend to be up all hours [/quote]
Haha! I asked also, but they had enough watchers.

I, too, am up all yours

I do not see why there should be a problem for anyone to start a thread on any subject, be it the problems with certain hair styles,

In short, because a ton of posts like yours derail the thread.

@PatricksRum

I do not see why there should be a problem for anyone to start a thread on any subject, be it the problems with certain hair styles,

In short, because a ton of posts like yours derail the thread.

I didn't mean that in an offensive, rude way.

Just there have been a barrel of similar comments. They are exactly why we need our own section

@Bl3ss3dm0m

I have only got so far reading OP's and pp's so this may have been said already (by the way I am white as this seems to be important here): My personal thoughts (which could well be wrong, and sorry if they upset anyone), are doesn't having different sections for different members of our community, just lead to more division? I do not see why there should be a problem for anyone to start a thread on any subject, be it the problems with certain hair styles, or to someones black or mixed race child being bullied at school because of the colour of their skin. Saying that, I might have inadvertantly said something racist, and if I have, I am so sorry. But to me, this is what we should be doing, pulling people up if they are being racist, explaining calmly and politely in what way they are being racist, and if their reaction is rude then MN should be informed. This might seem like a snowflake suggestion, but I have tried to listen and take onboard what others have said, and I know that some/many black people are ignored, pushed to the sidelines, or even deliberately goaded, and treated unequally and unfairly. I am very sad that all those things happen, but I just cannot see how seperating ourselves from each other can possibly help rectify that situation. My feelings are the same for all BAME people, but I have directed this mainly at our black members because that is what I think the OP wanted, but again, please tell me if I am somehow being insensitive again, racist, or just down right rude, and how what I have said is being so.

FFS RTFT - which means read the fucking thread!

Do you genuinely think that no-one has expressed any of these views, and that they haven't already been discussed to death?

So yes, you're being insensitive.

Hi There Bateshotel,

Thanks a lot for your ideas - keep them coming everyone.

We know there will be much debate about the name so it's great to read these ideas.

"I think at this point, we need to shut up, recognise the part our privilege has played (and how we’ve benefited from systematic racism) and start paying our dues by just listening. We don’t get a say in how black people feel any more. We lost that privilege when we participated in a society that repeatedly and systematically violates and disadvantages non-whites. Our job now is to show up and shut up, until we all manage to fix the truly fucked up society we live in. Even if you disagree- look at how Patricks has been treated on MN in the past any time she’s tried to being up anything to do with race - repeatedly, without fail, subjected to shite and ignorance. As a sign of respect, the least we could do is not invalidate her experience by telling her she’s doing it wrong 🤷‍♀️"

A comment from Reddit which I think is so important.

@AMemeByAnyOtherName

Wow Worra I didn't know that was even possible. That would be great if it could happen.

To be fair, it might not be possible. I have no idea

I don't understand why you would feel the need to have black only sections. The whole point is that you post in the sub category about what you want to talk about e.g. post in style and beauty - ideas for my hair - in thread you write I am a black woman, I have this type of hair and this is my question. I don't see what having a separate category would achieve

Im really pleased that while it's been less busy this thread has mostly with the exception of a couple of posts been a nice productive chat about ideas today!

Yesterday was outrageous.

Iv got my fingers crossed it stays that way @PatricksRum (and others who are sharing ideas)

Good luck with getting the section up and going.

While I'm not black which is why I'm not adding much in the way of ideas I'm looking forward to a recipe/food section if one happens

@pineappletop

I don't understand why you would feel the need to have black only sections. The whole point is that you post in the sub category about what you want to talk about e.g. post in style and beauty - ideas for my hair - in thread you write I am a black woman, I have this type of hair and this is my question. I don't see what having a separate category would achieve

Are you white, @pineappletop?

Have you read the thread, pineapple? Lots of interesting perspectives and reasons given for and against.

Pineapple, i am guessing that your question has been answered at least 6 times in the thread already. Am I close?

@BIWI not that it should matter but no.

@ZaZathecat

I don't get all the uproar over op's suggestion. We have Dadsnet and Gransnet, I don't see the problem.

... Yep, Scotsnet too MN didn't go up in flames

BlackNet would be interesting
A space for black people to discuss whatever they want

I support this
(I'm mixed Arab-Brit, not black)

MN has definitely had an influx of racist posters, so I can understand why the OP feels the need

All the white people angry that the OP wants BlackNet

.... continuing to show why the OP wants BlackNet

[quote pineappletop]@BIWI not that it should matter but no. [/quote]
Are you black?