Raye Racist

[AnonymousUser6]

Having never heard of Raye before her BAFTA success last night I decided to listen to some of her music. Was somewhat enjoying it until her lyrics “All the white men CEOs, fuck your privilege
Get your pink chubby hands off my mouth, fuck you think this is?”
I personally feel these are racist lyrics and they are unacceptable.

It's possible for people of any colour class or creed to be vile to other people of any colour class or creed. It just not possible for black people to be racist to white people.

As does individual racism.

Have you ever seen Count Abdulla? That is just terrible.

WW will twist themselves in knots to oppress a WOC experience.

Indeed.

It's class analysis. As a class (of white men) the exec and the lad from Rochdale will both likely get better surgery outcomes from a male surgeon than a woman. They will likely be paid more in their chosen field than a black woman, even if that field is bar work. If they get into a conflict as teenagers, the officers called to the scene are likely to assess their age correctly and so go easy. A black teen is more likely to be assessed as older and therefore treated worse. If they use a little substance or two (the white exec is almost sure too in the music industry) they are less likely to see prison or even a cell.

And it goes on and on. It doesn't mean the Rochdale man will get more than any black woman. It means that all things being equal, things aren't equal.

I mean on this thread a black woman saying a mean thing has been picked apart at length. The disgusting pig who assaulted her, scarcely a mention.

'I mean on this thread a black woman saying a mean thing has been picked apart at length. The disgusting pig who assaulted her, scarcely a mention.'

He is a disgusting pig <obviously> but please tell me what his 'pink' hands have got to do with anything?

I can't speak for the artist. But how I'm reading it is that it's a shorthand, visceral expression of the wider fact of his privilege. And also there is a snapshot memory in traumatic events that tends to focus on individual details. Smell, a certain thing. His 'pink hands' may be her memory. The individual being an expression of the larger truth is a thing in art.

His pink hands are an expression of the wider fact of his privilege?

Interesting.

Or, it could be seen as making sneery comments about skin colour? Something which I hope you agree is unacceptable.

Making personal remarks is rude. But it's not racist unless it's directed at minorities. Still rude though. Which in this case it was obviously intended to be.

Or it could been seen as Raye singing about her experience of abuse. Which is how I took it cos thats what it's about'. But then I'm not a reverse racism snowflake seeking offence.🤷‍♀️

@TooBigForMyBoots
Exactly.

Calling out white male privilege and misogyny isn't racism or sexism. It's standing up for women and women of colour who experience the worst of all.

What if she'd mentioned his cold blue eyes, or greasy blond hair? The ONLY reason you're focused on skin colour is some gotcha. Because of the systematic abuse of black people based on skin colour. You're appropriating offence. "Ooooo talking about skin colour is wrong and bad. Gotcha!" But it's because of years of systematic abuse it's wrong, not because skin is objectively more important.

Oh no, cold blue eyes or greasy blonde hair fine. It's the sneering comments re skin colour that isn't ok and I'm really surprised some folk are desperately trying to minimise it.

Why @Janiie when pink skin hasn't been the subject of abuse any more than eyes or hair? Black skin has.

Hmm, besides "white", the lyrics also mentioned "men". Where is this outrage for her "attacking" men and being sexist to them?

Where is this same outrage for people saying all sorts about men on mumsnet? Or is it just the "white" part that can't be mentioned?

Non-white people can't be "reverse racist" to white people/men but women can be proudly "reverse sexist" to men. Good to know.

There are plenty of threads where "attacking" men brings on outrage, just not on this one.

There is also no such thing as reverse racism (much as some on here would like us all to believe) its just racism,

I’m genuinely amazed that people on here seem to think racism is only racism if it’s directed at a minority. The law is crystal clear on this, and no relative power doesn’t come into it.

The law isn't the only source of knowledge. In a racist country, the laws will be racist. Power is important for exactly this reason.

How is it racist to point out that white privilege exists?

I'm genuinely amazed that people on here seem to think that because Raye wrote a song about her abuse, her experience, she's being racist against white people like them!

I have lived in a lot of countries and the most racist of all without a shadow of a doubt, was one where white people were a tiny minority. I am so grateful to live in the UK where equality and diversity are celebrated.

Please point out where in the Race Relations Act 1976 or the Equalities Act 2010 someone could be found guilty of an offence by pointing out that someone has pink fingers.

You need to demonstrate that the charged person is guilty of either discrimination, victimisation or harassment.

What?? I am not saying that Raye would be convicted of racism, that’s patently absurd. I think we can all agree that on the scale of offence, her comments barely register.

A number of people on here have however said that reverse racism can never happen, that racism depends on a power dynamic and that white people can never be a victim of it. This is all completely untrue and the law is clear ; racism refers to less favourable treatment on grounds of colour, race or ethnic or nation origin. That’s it.