Member of Household resigns

[myrtleWilson]

Awful story just broken on twitter about horrendous racist questioning from Lady Hussey to Ngozi Fulani from Sister Space at yesterdays VAWG event.

Lady Hussey has resigned.

[Edited by MNHQ to correct typo at OP's request]

An "ethnic outfit", really? 🙄

My grandmother died 25 years ago, she'd be over 100 now. She never came out with any kind of racist or offensive crap. It's not a generational thing imo

But, from the transcript, Ngozi clearly did not. And she’s not required to. Continuing to badger her about it was unacceptable behaviour.

I doubt even Charles and Diana chose her as godmother. It was probably the Queen!

Same with my gran @Discoh and I think it's actually quite offensive and ageist to assume everyone over 80 must be a bit racist!

Why?

Why should she.

Sooo…she brought it on herself by what she was wearing? Due to her ethnic (seriously?) outfit, she was required to answer any and all questions about her ethnic background and continuing to badger her for answers after she’d demurred is acceptable?

In response to TooBigForMyBoots -
"So you think if it's not on a sign, it's not racism? Why did you post about being accused of racism, what did that have to do with what happened to Ngozi?"

Of course racism doesn't have to be on a sign to be racist. I was trying to point out that I was brought up in a time when attitudes were very racist, as I daresay Lady H was. And my point about being accused of racism is that sometimes innocent comments are misconstrued as racism. Although I agree, that Lady H phrased the conversation badly.

Yes! And was she interrogating all the other guests in a similar fashion? Asking them questions about their family tree?!

Why didn't she ask about her charity work!

Part of me can't believe the posters defending racism here.
But then I remember it is MN, and actually sadly I am not surprised.

Apparently, it’s Ngozi’s fault due to her ‘ethnic’ outfit. 🙄

And those defending the racism either have no understanding of racism at all, or are just trying to deflect and excuse and know it is racism.

If you're interested in someone's dress you say that's a nice outfit. You don't interrogate them.

Or they are just merry racists looking for a fight.

We had the same here about the Duchess of Kents Blackamoor badge and Camilla's blackamoor statue in her house.
Apparently nothing is racist according to some on here. All racism is imagined and in our heads.

Ngozi Fulani answered the questions. She told Lady SH that she was from Hackney. SH then asked her what part of Africa she was from.🤯 Asked her nationality (answered British) then asked where she "really came from*.🤯🤯 And after that: "when did you first come here"?🤯🤯🤯

Ngozi Fulani was polite, patient and dignified in the face of this rude, racist woman.

the point is that would they say those things today. Saying things years ago when it was not considered so rude/offensive/racist/whatever is entirely different to saying it now.

hell, I said things as a child in the 70s that I would absolutely not say now and can see how wrong they were.

Brought what on herself ?

Exactly - similar to what I said about my mother in an earlier post. My father would be 113 if he were still alive and my mother would be 102. Neither of them were racist AT ALL. Being old has nothing to do with it and no one should tolerate racism however ancient the perpetrator may be.

@RishisProudMum Yes that is very true. They won't get it from me. I am too long in the tooth and recognise the tactics. They all seem to work from the same script when they want to excuse racism or have a fight.

I'm saddened by the racism. I'm saddened by racist apologists who cant or won't see that people that don't look like them are asked where they "really" come from by strangers on an almost daily basis feel like they don't belong in their own country. But most of all I'm sad that an event which could have done so much good for women has been overshadowed by all the debate.

Maybe all of us on this thread could find a way to make a small donation to Sistah Space (or their local women's aid charity). www.sistahspace.org

What is this post, thread and entire conversation about?

I am in my fifties. Can someone tell me what offensive stuff I am apparently allowed to say because of my age?

Honestly, I agree with you. I should probably stop bothering.

It was Princess Michael of Kent not the Duchess of Kent. They are two different people. This has been said several times on this thread already.