to ask why several prominent members seem to have vanished?!?

It,s not cultural appropriation anyway; it's cultural appreciation, copying a style you like. Whether you know its origins is irrelevant, I think.

Nope.

I had an Afro hairstyle in 1978. Can you be guilty of cultural appropriation if you didn’t know what it meant at the time and/or it hadn’t been invented?

Seems she had an Affro hairstyle many years ago. Wotevs. I've no idea why her hairstyle matters or did matter to anyone but I came across a tweet by Candace Owen:
"The left will dead serious have black people debating whether or not Kylie Jenner wearing corn rows in her hair is 'appropriation'.
Can I be among the first black to say that I have never given a remote fuck about how someone else wears their hair?!!
BRAINWASH. NONSENSE."

And wondered if Abbott was accused of cultural appropriation.

Just blethering...

Y'know that thing about Diane Abbott changing her hairstyle? Well, what was it changed from and what to? I suppose I could go and google....

I don't know, I haven't read it all either as I've have been busy with RL.

But I am only on page 6!

What on Earth has happened? Can someone please enlighten me? I haven't looked at this thread for a week or so and today I find that from where I left it about page 4 there are now 21 pages of which I've only read the last couple. Are all the pages like those, political pointless arguing to and fro about racism etc? Please tell me they aren't!

Her she is

www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/diane-abbott-my-views-on-the-ira-have-changed-just-like-my-splendid-afro-a3550961.html

where does the phrase 'people of colour' come from? Seems pointless to me - we're all some colour or other.

Fennel the first time I heard it used was by Diane Abbott herself on that programme that came on after Question Time.
DH said he finds it difficult to keep up with what is pc or not at his age.

Actually I seem to remember there have been comments on GN about Diane Abbot's hair style, which could be construed as racist. I'm perfectly prepared to believe that people believe they are not being racist, however I think they should examine their opinions carefully.
Yes, as Anniebach said, it was Diane herself who brought up the subject of her hair - we can all change our style from time to time - some of us even moan about our hair on some threads too.
I presume she was being polite as some people are said to change their minds as often as they change their knickers. Saying 'hair style' is a bit more polite.

A distinction which is blurred in some minds, Baggs, rather like the way that some minds instantly equate any criticism of a non-white person as racist, whatever occasioned it.

Has Corbyn been accused of being anti-Semitic? Or is it simply that he has been accused of not doing enough to rid the Labour Party of anti-Semitism?

It isn't. Black has made a come-back.

Which goes to show what a nonsense the "people of colour" thing was.

My view too,Chewbacca
And while we're on about this subject, where does the phrase 'people of colour' come from? Seems pointless to me - we're all some colour or other.
If it's not racist to call one group white, why is it racist to call other groups black, brown yellow or red?

Yes I do mostlyharmless. Throwing around accuastions, of any ilk, where inappropriate or unjustified, does the real victims no favours at all. It's simply a lazy way to hurl an insult.

So Chewbacca do you agree that accusing someone of Anti-Semitism (as many here have done repeatedly of Jeremy Corbyn) is also meaningless.
You said: Please, for the sake of those who are genuine victims of racism, stop using it just because you can't think of a more appropriate word to use.

which could be construed as racist

Any comment could be construed as racist if that's your mindset. But be careful that you don't cheapen the term and make it a meaningless insult. That's doing a disservice to those who really do need support.

"and be abusive about a black woman MP."

I thank the other posters who have taken you up on this. Is Dianne Abbott beyond criticism? You mentioned her skin colour.

Anyone who watches the news in the UK will have seen her, on several occasions, fail to answer questions regarding how Labour will fund its schemes and how much money would be required for certain projects. Mentioning that she hadn't a clue about budgets and costings and knowing Abbott blustered her way through such interviews is NOT abusive. It as well documented and reported.

Why her skin colour has been brought up is beyond me. I find that sort of manipulation of facts disgusting.

Defending Labour MPs is becoming fairly desperate it would seem.

Diane Abbott was asked about her support for the IRA, her reply was it was a long time ago, she had a different hairstyle then. She made a comment about her hairstyle, I for one said it was a pathetic reply .

And perhaps the self- described “Corbyn haters” could stop throwing around accusations of Anti-Semitism at Corbyn.

Or is that not classed as racism on here? There seem to be whole threads about that going on for weeks.

I was merely trying to defend Diane Abbott from abuse as I I happen to admire her in many ways.

And I seem to remember that their have been similar comments about Theresa May and her leather trousers. And the pink shirt dress that was too short, too tight, not the right style for her. And how she was looking grey faced and tired. They too were "opinions". How do they differ to comments and opinions about Diane Abbott's hair style?

Actually I seem to remember there have been comments on GN about Diane Abbot's hair style, which could be construed as racist. I'm perfectly prepared to believe that people believe they are not being racist, however I think they should examine their opinions carefully. I wonder for example why a totally incompetent ex Home office Minister with a history of major mistakes never recives the same level of criticism?

The word "racism" is being sprayed in all directions these days and it's actually draining real racist acts of its meaning. Accusing someone of racism, where it's inappropriate, is fast becoming just another insult; its becoming meaningless and is actually demeaning the real victims of racist acts. The more the word is bandied about, the more meaningless it becomes. Please, for the sake of those who are genuine victims of racism, stop using it just because you can't think of a more appropriate word to use.

The word is being sprayed in all directions, creating a hall of mirrors that is draining the scarlet R of its meaning and its power, turning it into more of a spitball than a stigma.

Elegran wrote:
"Is how Diane Abbott does her job not to be criticised because she is black, but others are fair game because they are white? Is that not just as racist as it would be racist to single her out?"
So true Elegran. We need a clearer definition of what is meant by 'racist' or 'racism'.
It seems to mean different things to different people.

Love to know what my hard left credentials are!