Buckingham Palace Aide resigns

It is a pity Ms Falusi's case is somewhat undermined by her twitter history of distrust of white people and the allegation that MM was abused by the RF. This will all come back to bite her.
Also, isn't an Organisation run for black women somewhat racist?

Boz

It is a pity Ms Falusi's case is somewhat undermined by her twitter history of distrust of white people and the allegation that MM was abused by the RF. This will all come back to bite her.
Also, isn't an Organisation run for black women somewhat racist?

Is that like saying an organisation run for women only is sexist?

If Falusi was wearing a wire, there will be evidence of the conversation, so no debate. I don't suppose anybody forced Lady Hussey to say what she did, so no debate. Did Falusi deliberately engage her in conversation and force her to utter the words?

Grandma70s

Skydancer

If, as a white woman, I happened to be born in an African country and someone asked where I was from I'd assume it was because I was white. I wouldn't consider the question to be racist. Just saying.

Exactly. I know someone in that situation, and she wasn’t upset if people asked her where she was really from.

However, it must be difficult to guess what will offend people.

It isn't difficult. It is known offensive (racist) tactic to take. I know not to do it. Most people know not to.

I'm just a bit worried about this lady.

The questioning seemed to go on a long time, she should have taken the hint and stopped asking. Touching her hair to read her name badge was definitely wrong. I'd not like that either.

But what does everyone want now?

So much scandal. I just hope this woman is OK. Because there's an awful lot of hate online. A lot to deal with for a woman of any age.

She was obviously very close to the Queen. Been with the royals for 60 years. Accompanied the Queen to Philip's funeral. I'm guessing she'll be devastated.

And yes. I'm well aware that she shouldn't have said and done what she did. I'm just wondering what people want to happen now.

She's left the RF and apologised. Will that be enough?

It is absolutely offensive to assume that somebody with black skin isn't British and from the UK.

Just as a general guide, if the rather conservative (small C) audience/membership on GN regard things that other GN members are saying as bordering on offensive (or offensive in general), then you'd better believe the outside world will find those things even more so.

Of course, your choice if you want to go ahead, but don't be surprised when you get a negative response. Bit like Lady Hussey.

That’s terrible. She could have asked nicely were the woman’s ancestors came from as she was interested in people but no she practically interrogated her.

growstuff

If Falusi was wearing a wire, there will be evidence of the conversation, so no debate. I don't suppose anybody forced Lady Hussey to say what she did, so no debate. Did Falusi deliberately engage her in conversation and force her to utter the words?

If she was wearing a wire I think she's broken the law.

Why wear a wire? Sounds incredibly rude to me and the reason very questionable.
Yes, SH was rather persistent in her questioning and I make no excuses for that. She possibly just wanted to know why the wired up guest was wearing her unusual outfit.
If DH turned up in full highland dress as he is fully entitled to do, or my MiL arrived in her Welsh National costume they would expect to be asked where they were from.
If they said they were British Citizens (which they are), the questioning would probably go on to ask why they were wearing a nation-specific outfit.
Maybe SH should have asked about the reason/origin of the unusual outfit, but the answers may well have been equally evasive and outcry would still have been “racism!”

Aveline

I've sometimes struggled to hear people's names when in crowded parties or receptions. There comes a time when I've had to say, 'I'm sorry I didn't catch that,' several times.
She's an old lady, give her some leeway. She has resigned in ignominy and embarrassment after long and valued service to her friend the late Queen. Very sad.

This wasn't in the least like failing to hear someone properly. Lady Hussey did hear the answers and yet she continued to probe - the obvious assumption being that Ms Fulani couldn't possibly be British and black.

Not only that, she touched her hair, which was undeniably the action of someone who thinks themselves superior.

Being old isn't an excuse for the arrogance, rudeness and racism.

NanKate

I bet MM is rubbing her hands with glee. More ammunition for her and Harry.

I think the whole sorry affair has been blown out of proportion. The perpetrator was wrong, but there are far worse things going on in the world today Ukraine, Iran, China to name but a few.

If you are mixed race, as I am, and you've been putting up with this sort of rubbish all your life, then saying that worse things go on in other countries isn't much consolation, I'm afraid.

growstuff why do you keep calling Ms Fulani Ms Falusi?

Mind you, MaizieD has been calling her Falusi too, so perhaps it’s catching.

I don't agree that the RF have thrown her under the bus Avalon. She resigned in all probability to spare the family she's loyally served for 60 years, any further embarrassment.

Had she been publicly supported or defended in anyway, the accusations of racism would have been deafening.

I think you could be right Zoejory that if a wire was worn, it would be against the law. It's not allowed to record conversations without the permission of those involved.

I share your concerns about her welfare and hope that she is being given support. Racism is wrong and so is online hate.

As I said earlier would anyone at a reception with people they did not know walk up to someone and move their hair before even addressing them? It is a clear case of acting with entitlement and demeaning the person you are to engage with.

I wonder if those who are apologists for the racist behaviour which followed in this encounter would understand how Ngozi
felt, if they walked just for a week in her shoes, let alone experience the lifelong lived experience described by non white people in Britain today.

It sound like Falusi was a “agent provocateur” why else would she be wired and a immediately shout racism.

William and Katherine are having to endure another lecture on colonialism and slavery, isn’t it time we moved on. Is this going to happen on every overseas tour, if it was me I would probably leave public life altogether, regardless of the privileges they have.

growstuff

If Falusi was wearing a wire, there will be evidence of the conversation, so no debate. I don't suppose anybody forced Lady Hussey to say what she did, so no debate. Did Falusi deliberately engage her in conversation and force her to utter the words?

What would be the purpose of wearing a wire? Falusi could only be doing so because she had an ulterior motive. You don't just put a recording device on to go out for the day. If it was because she was out to prove a point, it is reasonable to ask if she manipulated the conversation.

I doubt she was, to be honest. I also don't think she could remember the conversation, word for word, without bias. She has reported at length. People cannot remember verbatim. So, at the very least, what we have heard comes from her. It is her report of what she remembers hearing and how she remembers hearing it. That doesn't make it the unbiased truth by any means. Listening to an interview this morning, she does not seem to think "British" is her culture. She commented about how "elders are treated in our culture". Could her view of others have meant she went prepared to take things the wrong way?

Without doubt, she got a lot of publicity for her views by dealing with them the way she did. Also, without doubt, a few people on GN have decided they are better people than those who don't hold their views. This view seems to make them feel entitled to tell others what to think.

Reference: Estimates of how much of a conversation can be accurately recalled in detail after delays of several minutes to several weeks are quite low and range from 0% to 20% of the total idea units that occurred in the original conversation (Miller, deWinstanley, & Carey, 1996; Pezdek & Prull, 1993; Ross & Sicoly, 1979; Samp & Humphreys, 2007; Stafford, Burggraf, & Sharkey, 1987; Stafford & Daly, 1984)

No opportunity for Lady Susan Hussey to give her perception of what happened. Just maintaining a dignified silence after abjectly apologising and resigning.

America has it's own history of colonialism and slavery.

Gabrielle56

Racism? I Suppose one could say so.
Rudeness and ignorance born of an uneducated and closetted life? Definitely! I despise these relics being afforded any slack at all. She's in her 80s and as much use as a chocolate fireguard!! Why?!
Most old Nazis still believe they were right, but do we excuse them for age/ignorance ? No we don't. I'm old but I still have manners and a sense of decency and respect for those who are worthy in my view. Respect is earned not demanded, it's a fact these types could never get their thick heads around! The vast majority of our older folks have managed to move with the times and have not forgotten the courtesy of manners taught them from little-so why should these relics be excused?

I'm old but I still have manners and a sense of decency

Are you sure about that?

^ She possibly just wanted to know why the wired up guest was wearing her unusual outfit.^

a) I think it's a bit rude to draw attention to a guest's outfit, unless it is to compliment them on it. To use it in a roundabout way to make assumptions about their immediate origins is a bit off, too, even if it is an unspoken assumption.

b) I don't think that there is a particular 'Caribbean' style of 'tribal' dress that people are making out her outfit to be. There are a lot of countries in the Caribbean and I think they might be a bit miffed at the assumption that they have a standard 'national dress'...

GagaJo

Grandma70s

Skydancer

If, as a white woman, I happened to be born in an African country and someone asked where I was from I'd assume it was because I was white. I wouldn't consider the question to be racist. Just saying.

Exactly. I know someone in that situation, and she wasn’t upset if people asked her where she was really from.

However, it must be difficult to guess what will offend people.

It isn't difficult. It is known offensive (racist) tactic to take. I know not to do it. Most people know not to.

How, in law, is that racist? You are making up your own truths in an attempt to be right.

She has apparently had corroboration from bystanders, DaisyAnne.