Buckingham Palace Aide resigns

Several hours after the news was announced that Hussey had stepped down later William and Kate listened on awkwardly at a civic event in Boston with pastor Reverend Mariama White-Hammond speaking.

She urged the crowd to "consider the legacy of colonialism and racism" when dealing with environmental issues.

"The ways it has impacted people across the world and its connection, its deep connection to the degradation of land and our planet that we are all seeking to reverse," she said.

"The stories lost, the species made extinct, but also the persistence of people in the face of oppression and the fundamental dignity of all of our relations.'

GrannyGravy13

Ngosi Fulani has just been interviewed along with her daughter on breakfast news.

The media are blowing this up to ridiculous proportions and now promoting the line that it will cloud The Prince & Princess of Wales. It has absolutely nothing to do with them.

The media were always going to blow it out of all proportion, and some are happy to assist them. Why do we allow ourselves to be led by the nose by other people's agenda used by the press for a couple of days? Just what outcome - useful outcome not hate filled one - do people hope to achieve?

I could answer my own question but no doubt my answer would become a newly minted "ist" for the extremists.

Can I just add that I take the suggestion that that this happened because of her age deeply insulting. It’s blatant ageism and what she did is racism.

Oh for goodness sake! What a fuss! Only this weekend visiting DGC’s school fair in Yorkshire I explained where I was from-it was pertinent-no offence given or taken! Grow up!!

I agree with the Prince of Wales on this. He said it was racism and such behaviour has no place in today's society.

Iam64

Allsorts, read the exchange, it isn’t as simple as asking where your family originated from. It wreaked of assumptions and white superiority. A shame it happened as it distressed the woman who was a guest and no doubt Lady Susan is now distressed.
The only positive is the speed at which the Palace took action to remove the woman who was racist - and shamefully didn’t appear to realise this

I still cannot see the definition - the true definition - of racism, being relevant here. I see both a lack of good (modern) manners and someone very happy to make themselves the centre of all this. That is not racism; it's poor and misused communication.

The word is overused. Racism is appalling, so is rudeness. However, one is far worse than the other and it is being conjured up to shock. That will eventually mean it has less power than it once had. People will suffer because of that.

I also notice how many people on these threads are using this a chance to revel in attacking those they apparently don't like. The same old same old in many cases. I wonder what "ism" or "ist" we should put that under?

Ngosi Fulani has just been interviewed along with her daughter on breakfast news.

The media are blowing this up to ridiculous proportions and now promoting the line that it will cloud The Prince & Princess of Wales. It has absolutely nothing to do with them.

Allsorts

Is it unacceptable to ask where your family originated from? How can you be insulted by that.I would be proud of mine wherever they were born.. I haven’t listened to the exchange and couldn't identify the people involved as it seemed to me just someone engaging in conversation.Things get blown out of all proportion, I would stop. all these events as they are a minefield.
. Some people who are very old do make gaffs, look what the Duke if Edinburgh said.;Doesn’t mean they are racist..
I find it difficult now watching everything said. Sent a letter this morning and put DearSir/Madam but thought is this now not permissible what should I put?.

Hi! Yes, I have the same problem and now put say for example 'Dear Tax Department' as most of these places have all sorts of officers etc so the correspondence gets bounced around.

She is British so why does she speak of ‘my culture’.

I doubt Lady Susan will get the chance to explain her side of things. The transcript doesn’t put her in a good light but I’ve read that her task at palace functions when the Queen was alive was to find out a guest’s background before introducing her and be on hand to make sure the conversation flowed easily because guests often became tongue tied.

Her tactics were clearly out of line on this occasion and it all went horribly wrong. Time to step down but I can’t help feeling she has been treated rather harshly.

FannyCornforth

Leaving the race issue aside, Ms Hussey comes across as a nasty piece of baggage.
Why did she keep on and on?
She obviously wanted to put Ms Fulani ‘in her place’.
My late grandmothers would never have dreamt have talking to another woman like that.
To forgive it because of her age is unacceptable.
Perhaps race and age are not the issues - maybe it’s a class thing.

I agree. It reminded me of Upstairs Downstairs and also of the mother of a friend I had once who did not approve of me as I was 'working class' and her daughter had been to finishing school.

Grantanow

Obviously out of her depth for the role required of her.

I would say that was true of both of them. If you become the story, you are not doing your job for your organisation. One has stood down; the other has used the press to further her personal issues.

I notice that, in the many interviews being given Ms Fulani talks about "in my culture". Surely that culture is British and the mixture and muddle of all that makes up being British which the "British" try hard to make work for all?

Allsorts, read the exchange, it isn’t as simple as asking where your family originated from. It wreaked of assumptions and white superiority. A shame it happened as it distressed the woman who was a guest and no doubt Lady Susan is now distressed.
The only positive is the speed at which the Palace took action to remove the woman who was racist - and shamefully didn’t appear to realise this

Is it unacceptable to ask where your family originated from? How can you be insulted by that.I would be proud of mine wherever they were born.. I haven’t listened to the exchange and couldn't identify the people involved as it seemed to me just someone engaging in conversation.Things get blown out of all proportion, I would stop. all these events as they are a minefield.
. Some people who are very old do make gaffs, look what the Duke if Edinburgh said.;Doesn’t mean they are racist..
I find it difficult now watching everything said. Sent a letter this morning and put DearSir/Madam but thought is this now not permissible what should I put?.

The household used to ban black and Asian immigrants from staff appointments. The palace also successfully lobbied to be exempted from race laws that ban discrimination in the workplace.

Documents show the late Queen had specifically lobbied for an exemption and was willing to withhold consent for the law to pass if it wasn't granted."*

The Late PP slitty eyes
Queen mother called coloured people Blackamoors

Katie59

I havn’t looked at the palace details but in general it’s not easy in conversation with someone who was obviously from overseas to ask what is their home country.
In the past I’ve asked about “heritage” or “school”. I did get it wrong a few weeks ago, I assumed the accent was East European, he was in fact Greek

Who's going to explain this to Katie59? I'll have a go.

Ms Fulani isn't from overseas. She is British. And she told Lady Susan that and Lady Susan wouldn't accept it.

I havn’t looked at the palace details but in general it’s not easy in conversation with someone who was obviously from overseas to ask what is their home country.
In the past I’ve asked about “heritage” or “school”. I did get it wrong a few weeks ago, I assumed the accent was East European, he was in fact Greek

This error of judgement is going to rumble on here and in the Press.

For all of you who are so outraged have you never regretted something you have said ?

We are human, we make mistakes. I find some if the attitudes on here totally over the top.

Holier than thou comes to mind.

I feel moved to rush in although angels may fear to tread.

I should first confess that I am myself ‘visible by colour’ as a person with parents of differing skin tones.

(Please excuse the following metaphor, I have been starting a mushroom growing kit this morning). It seems to me that these difficult and complex issues often grow away in the dark, spreading mycelium then up pops a mushroom apparently by magic and not necessarily where you expect.

That has been my personal and family experience. The consequences of the complicated history of my family pop up unexpectedly sometimes.

I’m both glad and sorry that this exchange has emerged onto the public stage.

Being asked “Where are you from?” as a child, as a teenager, as a young mother, as an older adult felt different. Nowadays there are times and places when feeling confident and secure I could manage this question with grace but if I was nervous, out of my environment, on the spot I might panic and freeze internally. Past hurts might suddenly flood into me unbidden.

What to do? Try to listen, to be authentic, to understand. To consider what may need to change and what, if any, part I have to play in bringing about change.

The woman is only a few years older than me.

I would be highly offended if I subject to the age excuse as some are suggesting.

The wretched woman has no excuse, which is why she’s been sacked (resigned)

Daisyanne “I did not say we should tolerate this. I just don't understand the level of hate in the way you decide it is your job to "call out" an elderly lady because she got it wrong. Obviously, you never do and you, I assume, believe that you will keep completely up to the way of thinking with every year you get older.
I wonder how best we could describe you?”

I am replying to this as it’s obviously directed at me. I do not hate this older woman , I hate the assumptions and attitudes she displayed and feel it is right they should be challenged and not brushed under the carpet. I did not decide it was “my job”to challenge these assumptions - the lady she offended has already called it out and good for her. Those who say she shouldn’t have been offended because of her hair/ clothes/ name/ skin colour shouldn’t decide how she feels. I’m not sure why you are interested in describing me in the context of this discussion.

volver

Would she have asked a white woman at that reception what nationality she was, where she was really from, when she came to this country? After being told she was British?

No, she wouldn't.

So she was being racist. By definition. 🤷

Yes

Well, at least the doubters no longer need be in any doubt.

Duchess of Sussex had a point.

Obviously out of her depth for the role required of her.

Glorianny

DaisyAnne

Glorianny

Casdon

Glorianny

One of the purposes of a Godparent according to the Cof E. is Model and encourage them to develop Christian values – being kind and compassionate towards others, being generous towards others in need with time or money and standing against things in the world that cause injustice and suffering
Lady Susan evidently missed out on the racial injustice module I wonder then what sort of an example she has set for William?

William is 40 years old, I think he’s a bit past needing the guidance of one of his godmothers!

But she has been his spiritual guide since he was born. Perhaps he doesn't need her now and it is entirely possible that in the light of the events in his family he has revised his ideas, but racist views are bred in families.

PWs Godmother did not act antagonistically towards a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group. That would be racist. She tried, with very out of date manners, to engage someone in conversation. She is right to stand down as someone in her position needs diplomacy as a skill. However, I cannot see why this is deemed to be racism - except that it suits those who want to be angry with her - and there are certainly some of those on here.

Quite a few of the elderly ladies and gentlemen I come in contact with would not be able to talk "PC" either. They are not racist. They are often trying to be kind.

If you don't understand that it is racist to assume that someone who is black cannot properly be from the UK then you need to examine your own opinions. Would you ask a white person where they were from and after they told you where they were born continue to insist they must be from somewhere else? Many of us have Irish ancestry would you cross examine us? And if not why not?

As we have already discovered on this forum many times my opinions are mine, just as yours are yours. Unless you intend to brainwash me, you do not possess the means to dictate what they should be Glorianny. I quoted the meaning of racism. I do not need your newly thought up truth.

I have just listened to a man on TV who said that, asked the same question, he would have accepted the person for who they are and answered "I am from Luton (or wherever); my parents were from .... (fill in the gap with the appropriate country).

He did say that when he was younger, he found doing this more difficult. He would not have been offended just realised he was dealing with an elderly person. He is a person with manners and understanding who does not expect perfection. Neither do I - which is lucky on GN where people think it is reasonable to tell you to "examine your opinions".