Unbelievable

So true Franban some people are just so shortsighted it’s as my title says unbelievable

Are parsnips aggrieved? - love that!

Fascinating those people talking about not using a store because one of their xmas ads features a black British family. Wonder what they would make of Jesus? Would they boycott him because of his skin colour? Mind you, of course, they would oppose him even being in the British Isles, (Can't have all these foreigners here, can we?)

Thanks for that post MissElly.

MissElly

Wow. I’m pretty disheartened by this thread. As a white woman in my 50s, I would like to think that I am a liberal, kind and open minded person but I have had to face up to the fact that I have been party to racism by not calling it out when I hear it casually expressed as in some of the posts here. I’m sure that a lot of people who say things like ‘all lives matter’ or ‘colour shouldn’t matter’ or “I don’t even see colour”mean well, I certainly did, but it is the sort of thing that only those of us who have never had to worry about being discriminated against or victimised due to the colour of our skin can say. We have all grown up in a world that is racist, often systemically racist and this is being challenged. Of course it is uncomfortable. I suspect most white people are pretty complacent about, and ignorant of the many difficulties faced by black, brown and Asian people. What is unacceptable is not that we have inherited racist attitudes and behaviours, but that we wouldn’t accept this and do everything we can to educate ourselves in order to effect the changes needed to treat everyone equally, with respect and dignity.
If I may, I would like to share the name of an excellent book which has really helped me to understand the privileges that come with being white, the uneven playing field we share and what I can do to help level it. The book is called Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad and it really opened my eyes to my lack of understanding of the challenges faced by people of colour. I am ashamed of how I was contributing to the problem in ways I hadn’t even considered. I highly recommend it.

I went through the same education process a few years ago. It’s hard, And we often find traits about ourselves that we do not like, but it feels much better on the other side.

Can't believe that so many still say 'all lives matter' and have completely missed the point. Of course all lives matter but black lives do not matter less.
We do not have a Sainsburys near us but I wouldn't boycott any store for a happy family Christmas ad.
I shop on price and service anyway and would only boycott a store if it plastered Nazi flags on windows or called its brand Jimmy Saville or some such offensive evil.

I have several people in my family of mixed-racial heritage, including two grandchildren. They do well and are strong in their identity, but life is challenging for them in ways that I, white British, don’t have to think twice about in my everyday living. Yet this is their society as much as it is mine.

I agree with your thoughtful post MissElly

Wow. I’m pretty disheartened by this thread. As a white woman in my 50s, I would like to think that I am a liberal, kind and open minded person but I have had to face up to the fact that I have been party to racism by not calling it out when I hear it casually expressed as in some of the posts here. I’m sure that a lot of people who say things like ‘all lives matter’ or ‘colour shouldn’t matter’ or “I don’t even see colour”mean well, I certainly did, but it is the sort of thing that only those of us who have never had to worry about being discriminated against or victimised due to the colour of our skin can say. We have all grown up in a world that is racist, often systemically racist and this is being challenged. Of course it is uncomfortable. I suspect most white people are pretty complacent about, and ignorant of the many difficulties faced by black, brown and Asian people. What is unacceptable is not that we have inherited racist attitudes and behaviours, but that we wouldn’t accept this and do everything we can to educate ourselves in order to effect the changes needed to treat everyone equally, with respect and dignity.
If I may, I would like to share the name of an excellent book which has really helped me to understand the privileges that come with being white, the uneven playing field we share and what I can do to help level it. The book is called Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad and it really opened my eyes to my lack of understanding of the challenges faced by people of colour. I am ashamed of how I was contributing to the problem in ways I hadn’t even considered. I highly recommend it.

wow Sarnia - that would be because there were no blacks or Irish I expect

Awful snotty smug attitude

Sarnia

FarNorth

The 60s Sarnia?
Wasn't that when signs saying 'No blacks, Irish or dogs' could be seen on boarding houses?

Not where I was growing up in the lovely Channel Islands.

So this gives you the authority to pass judgements on 1960s Britain? ??

Would these morons who propose to boycott Sainsbury's also boycott the John Lewis/Waitrose partnership which has a chief executive who is not only a woman but is also black though, paradoxically, her name is White? Will they also hand in their season tickets to football clubs whose star players are BAME?

Yes those signs were very common in south London where I was living in the 60s. Shocking.

It certainly was Farnorth I was part of the people it affected and flats/ rooms/ houses were always just gone when I arrived
I was asked at my first lodgings if I would mind my boyfriend waiting for me at the top of the street as the neighbours wouldn’t like a black man calling at the door ... I left that week

That's all right, then.

FarNorth

The 60s Sarnia?
Wasn't that when signs saying 'No blacks, Irish or dogs' could be seen on boarding houses?

Not where I was growing up in the lovely Channel Islands.

Davidhs - you'd get on well with Bed Bradley, Conservative MP for Mansfield. He's asked in Parliament why there is a Minster for Women but not for Men.
A couple of week's ago he voted against free school meals continuing during the holidays because the money only went on crack dens.

The 60s Sarnia?
Wasn't that when signs saying 'No blacks, Irish or dogs' could be seen on boarding houses?

Black people achieve in many areas, football has a representation way in excess of the population should we have positive representation in favor of whites ?, if not why not.

Davidhs No, we shouldn't because white people (males, in particular) have always been the default choice for everything so it's time they had to prove their merit, at least sometimes.

I think I might boycott Sainsbury's. Not because the advert features a black family but because it is such a terrible advert. Doesn't evoke the Christmas spirit in me at all.

BlueBelle

It drives me mad when I hear that old chestnut sarnia ‘all lives matter’ we know that but white lives have always mattered don’t you get it ?

Hear hear.

Here’s a link to the advert in question for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet:

www.delish.com/uk/food-news/a34709848/sainsburys-christmas-advert-racist-comments-statement/

Sometimes things like this (the Twitter comments and 'boycott') backfire on those who start them, though. When their horrible attitudes are brought to the fore and can be seen for what they are, they attract criticism and people who might otherwise bury their heads in the sand read it all and start to form opinions.

This might be the case here, as Sainsbury's shoppers are obviously a diverse bunch, so the comments will have a wider reach than more 'niche' teacup storms.

This thread started so well

Now I’m just sad

David- look at the term ‘coloured’. It suggests that a ‘pure’ state (whiteness?) has been tainted or stained. The connotations are obvious.

Also, ‘coloured’ was a designated status under Apartheid and under Jim Crow laws in the US. It is not neutral.

To describe someone as ‘coloured’ is not at all the same as using ‘people of colour’.

I don’t know who the ‘one academic’ you mention might be, but (whilst they are entitled to it) it is one person’s view which is worth no more than anyone else’s - academic or not.

I think BAME is on its way out as well Davidhs.
It's complicated but we can all only do our best to cause least offence.