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]

Good question

It makes me wonder what Meghan had to put up with behind closed doors.

Oh right so Meghan experienced the wrong type of abuse? If there are no bruises and broken bones we can dismiss it with a sneer about terminology? This racist is the person charged with supporting and mentoring Meghan into the Royal household. How dense are they?

All those complaining that this wasn't the event to raise racism, that she should know her place and been a good grateful subject for some crumbs of attention - what exactly do you think Sistah Space does?

For black and brown women the experience of domestic abuse (whatever type) is often compounded by race. Be it a racist partner who is believed first, institutionally racist organisations who don't believe black and brown women or simply assume she is mad or aggressive - race compounds the experience of trying to access support.

So invited to an event which to highlight the experiences of her clients but expected to nod and smile and pander to the very racism which blocks access to support for many of her clients is ridiculous. Of course she was allowed to raise it as were the other women nearby raising the same issue.

I mean what a bunch of selfish women, surely they knew their place was to pose with the racists and give the royals some reflected glory. Woman, know your place!

She didn't need them. Their racism has been in glorious technicolour, all over the media, for decades and decades for all to see. It's irrefutable that the Windsors are racist, and that the whole institution they sit on, its origins, ethos and continuation, are racist.

I was just amazed that this would even come as a surprise to anyone, unless they were deliberately closing their eyes to unpalatable facts. I'll hand them this, though: their PR got going on Meghan good and proper. Just like they managed to convince the populace that Diana was a whack job whose word couldn't be taken seriously, they did the same thing to Meghan by dissecting and challenging her every word to illustrate she couldn't be trusted.

People still seem much more credulous when it comes to the sacred words uttered by the 'Palace'. Personally, I wouldn't believe a single word they said: or those of their particular mouthpieces in the media. A more cynical, disingenuous, corrupt and downright unpleasant UK institution would be hard to find.

I know I'm not required to do so, I'm just happy to give the information. Sistah Spaces's website is happy to say that they support people from African and Caribbean heritage. What's the big deal?

I admit I cringe at the clumsy questioning (if accurately transcribed) but I think most people would shrug it off and move on.

A racist who was the late queen's closest confidante for six decades. The late queen who was married to a bona fide, unrepentant racist.

This rot runs top to bottom.

Well said@C8H10N4O2

I agree. But many on here dismiss Philips racism as "gaffes".
And say nothing about Charles and Camilla's disrespectful openly laughing at a performance of throat singers, and laughing at the preacher at Meghan and Harry's wedding.

Well yes. This is probably best because in the current climate you never know whether people will find this offensive or not. Opinions seem to vary hugely. I will say however I am seeing multiple people of colour on social media right now who are skeptical of the person making this complaint and questioning her motives. I'm afraid when it comes to matters around race the only people whose views I am interested in are actual POC, not competitively outraged white women on MN who seem to be making most of the noise. Yet it's difficult to know what to think when even their views wary so widely.

I asked a question on here once, of a WOC, who had said she found white people too nosy and into her business so when asked at work how her weekend had gone she would reply she hadn't done anything much to hold off what she felt were intrusive, questions. I am white and always ask my colleagues of all backgrounds how their weekends were, so I asked genuinely and politely if I was being intrusive without realising it and would she and perhaps my colleagues prefer to not be asked anything at all about personal lives. She ignored me. So I am still none the wiser. Surely if I am more formal with my colleagues who are WOC than with my white colleagues that could be construed as racism or othering in some way? It's very hard to know what is or isn't it acceptable as it seems to vary from person to person, which of course makes perfect sense. Therefore I shall carry on as I did before until someone tells me I am being offensive. It's never happened up till now but I will remain alert

wasnt it mike and zara having the giggles at the wedding.?

@Willmafrockfit were they laughing too? Pretty sure Charles and Camilla did.

Do we not think her heritage is important given her charity is literally working with other women from that heritage? I wonder why they don't just say "helping British victims of domestic violence" ?

Interesting shift of power dynamics though, the posh rich old lady is out on her ear. Odd she wasn't aware of microaggressions. She was foolish and rude to push it. She should not have touched Ngozi's hair. She's apologised unreservedly which is something. Not that she'll be forgiven of cause. I suppose being really rich will probably help.

I second the above.

You think wrong then. You have no experience of being treated differently due to being a poc. Posters have been saying their experiences. Why are you so keen to minimise what they have been saying, just because you do not see the issue?

i asked someone where she was from, she was @ 20,
she said phillipines, but no i meant what part of the UK
that is a quesiton I Would not ask. because it is well known issue, so well known, almost a cliche, i cant believe it actually happened

You are right that it is interesting this time the posh rich old lady is out. If it was a member of the Royal Family it would not have happened and just been explained as a "gaffe", or even denied - recollections may vary.

@LadyKenya I really would not bother engaging. This is racism 101. Either a poster is racist and is baiting and excusing. Or they are incredibly ignorant and you are wasting your time.

Although going to stop commenting myself. I have seen too many posters that challenge racism banned over the years for upsetting racist white posters.

Honestly what is wrong with some people? So keen to gloss over racism/ casual racism.

I don't remember seeing Charles laugh but Camilla smirked, as did Zara and the York sisters.

And he wasn't just a "preacher", which is what he's always referred to on MN. He's the American equivalent of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Yeah, once a minor small talk starter is now a minefield.

If I ask I always say, whereabouts in the UK are you from.

Exactly

I did not know he was the equivalent of the Archbishop of Canterbury!

Head of the Episcopalian Church @antelopevalley

Well said.

Mumsnet like so many others think POC should stop bleating on about racism. It must get so boring for all the white people to have to hear about an issue that doesn’t affect them.