Asking someone where they are from

GGizmo · 30 Nov 2022 at 17:11

Tony Edwards said:
WTAF?

Seriously. What is wrong with some of you people?

If you was born in India, as many British people were at one time, would you have been offended if a local indian guy asked where you was from?

Tony Edwards · 30 Nov 2022 at 17:12

BowdonUK said:
If you was born in India, as many British people were at one time, would you have been offended if a local indian guy asked where you was from?

No.

GGizmo · 30 Nov 2022 at 17:13

Tony Edwards said:
No.

Same.

steve_c · 30 Nov 2022 at 17:14

bigup said:
But how far back do you go with heritage?

No idea what the general consensus is.

The victim is offended because she sees herself as British (she is). She is put out by someone repeatedly asking where she's really from (she should be).

Yet her charity is only concerned with people who have African and Caribbean heritage.

The whole thing is ridiculous if you look at it from a non-extremist point of view.

Tony Edwards · 30 Nov 2022 at 17:14

BowdonUK said:
Same.

You do realise this isnt what the discussion is about right?

Tony Edwards · 30 Nov 2022 at 17:17

steve_c said:
No idea what the general consensus is.

The victim is offended because she sees herself as British (she is). She is put out by someone repeatedly asking where she's really from (she should be).

Yet her charity is only concerned with people who have African and Caribbean heritage.

The whole thing is ridiculous if you look at it from a non-extremist point of view.

But the thing to say after someone says they are english is to okay. Not No you idiot where are you really from?

The whole thing was a let down by the first question. Where are you from. Im from so and so company, no where have you come from. Oh we are based in Hackney. No where are you really from. Im ******* english **** off.

Minusorange · 30 Nov 2022 at 17:21

I think it's the persistance of pushing the "where are you really from" that makes it racist, as if when she says "I'm of African descent" is going to be a "GOTCHA" moment

The charity is pretty racist too though only serving a select minority

So on the basis of this I give the story 3 Alan Shrugs

Ahleckz · 30 Nov 2022 at 17:22

Craterloads said:
Problem for white people they have no context on the matter. Oh they just want to know your heritage, such a sweet question they are interested in you.

Reality is for non white people for most of their lives, from school onwards have been told they don’t belong. Been pestered, bullied and straight up faced racism for the colour of their skin or slightly different culture. We’ve all heard the phrase a dog born in a stable doesn’t make it a horse. Many if not most non white people will have heard that not as a phrase on the internet but in real life.

So give us a break if we take offence as adults to “where are you really from”

Good post. A question can seem completely innocent to many but for those who know more about the situation then it is clear it has much wider connotations. It’s not what is asked, but why it is asked and what they are going to do with that information.

I’m white, so I’m not going to pretend to understand the racism aspect but I know that when asked “what school did you go to?” I am being asked that because they want to judge me based on the answer I give and figure out if I’m one of them or not. It’s a nonsensical thing to judge someone on, but many many people do it here in the West coast of Scotland.

For those who don’t know, it’s trying to find out if I’m a Protestant or catholic.

Tony Edwards · 30 Nov 2022 at 17:26

Lady Susan Hussey quits over remarks to charity boss Ngozi Fulani

A palace aide steps down over remarks made to Ngozi Fulani at a reception hosted by the Queen Consort.

www.bbc.co.uk

The late Queen's lady-in-waiting Lady Susan Hussey has apologised and resigned after she repeatedly asked a black British charity boss where she was really from.

Ngozi Fulani, a charity founder, was questioned about her background at the charity event at the palace on Tuesday. Ms Fulani, said she was "totally stunned" by Prince William's godmother's comments.

The palace described the remarks as "unacceptable and deeply regrettable".

A spokesperson for Prince William said "racism has no place in our society".

"The comments were unacceptable, and it is right that the individual has stepped aside with immediate effect," they said.

An eyewitness to the conversation, Mandu Reid, told BBC News that Lady Hussey's questions had been "offensive, racist and unwelcoming".

The leader of the Women's Equality Party said she had felt a "sense of incredulity" about the exchange in which Ms Fulani was interrogated about where she was from, even though she had already explained she was born and lived in the UK.

All the Meghan Markle **** is floating to the surface I see. The queens lady in waiting.

Chris Wilson · 30 Nov 2022 at 18:00

Tony Edwards said:
All the Meghan Markle **** is floating to the surface I see. The queens lady in waiting.

Someone interred in King George VI Memorial Chapel is turning in his grave

Bear · 30 Nov 2022 at 18:04

Jono8 said:
Ok, then why wasn't she asked where her ancestors came from then?

She was asked where she was "really from"

She is from Britain.

She was, there was quite a bit more to the questioning according to LBC.

It started off apparently where the questioner walked up to Ngozi and moved her hair out of the way as it was covering up her name badge. This might have got Ngozi’s back up. The questions went as in the OP but she eventually asked “where are your people from, but where are your parents from” and Ngozi says Barbados. The women then says “oh finally we get there, you are from the Caribbean“

Rroff · 30 Nov 2022 at 18:07

When I first saw about the story I assumed the person from the Royal Household was a younger person for some reason - unfortunately a good number from that generation have a rather particular perspective on stuff like this which is difficult to deal or reason with.

a1ex2001 · 30 Nov 2022 at 18:07

CaptainKimura said:
Taken from a previous newspaper article,

"One of seven children, Fulani, grew up in Kilburn, north London in the 60s. Her parents, born in Barbados, were among the Windrush generation and were proud to be the first family on their street to own their own home. But discrimination was a feature of life".

Someone let Lady SH know that her parents were from Barbados

But her ancestry certainly isn't from Barbados which is where it gets much more messy her ancestry will likely go back to the slave coast of Africa, either way though it's irrelevant the old crows line of questioning was inappropriate and if she is too old to realise that then she should have retired from public duty long ago.

Jono8 · 30 Nov 2022 at 18:11

Bear said:
She was, there was quite a bit more to the questioning according to LBC.

It started off apparently where the questioner walked up to Ngozi and moved her hair out of the way as it was covering up her name badge. This might have got Ngozi’s back up. The questions went as in the OP but she eventually asked “where are your people from, but where are your parents from” and Ngozi says Barbados. The women then says “oh finally we get there, you are from the Caribbean“

Which she isn't. She is from Britain.

Her parents were from the Caribbean.

azazl187 · 30 Nov 2022 at 18:12

I don't see the problem with it. The question could have been asked much more gracefully but such as "where is your heritage from?" But the older generation only really know how to speak from their times and even more so if they have been wrapped up in cotton wool within the establishment.

What really grips me up is the campaigners calling this out by saying that a white lady wouldn't have been asked the same question. Of course they wouldn't !? What is the point in making that point?!

Anyway, she clearly dwelled on it a bit too much due to a lack of tact but she most certainly isn't racist.

The media will love stirring this one up

mcast123 · 30 Nov 2022 at 18:13

Breaking news, 83 year old, slightly batty, privileged woman, says the wrong thing, woke media goes bananas.

Mint8 · 30 Nov 2022 at 18:14

Its an 83 yr old woman that has been around Royalty most of her life. A ham fisted attempt at asking what the womans ethnic background was, with a large dose of upper class arrogance/rudeness thrown in for good measure.

Highly doubt she felt she was being racist but you cant get away with that sort of thing these days - whoever you are.

Should have retired to her Grace & Favour after the Queen died.

Rroff · 30 Nov 2022 at 18:14

azazl187 said:
What really grips me up is the campaigners calling this out by saying that a white lady wouldn't have been asked the same question. Of course they wouldn't !? What is the point in making that point?!

I think that is very contextual - a white person with an unusual accent, etc. will get asked those kind of questions. Though the extended transcript comes off insensitive and high handed.

azazl187 · 30 Nov 2022 at 18:16

Rroff said:
I think that is very contextual - a white person with an unusual accent, etc. will get asked those kind of questions. Though the extended transcript comes off insensitive and high handed.

Yea I agree with this actually. If I meet someone in a pub (I know this never happens anymore) and they have an accent I always ask where there are from. I just like hearing people's stories and experiences. I'm also clearly incredibly nosy...

Tony Edwards · 30 Nov 2022 at 18:16

azazl187 said:
I don't see the problem with it. The question could have been asked much more gracefully but such as "where is your heritage from?"

Why does it matter where her heritage is from?

But the older generation only really know how to speak from their times and even more so if they have been wrapped up in cotton wool within the establishment.

Dont be silly are you really trying to say that old people, especialy one of such importance to the the royal house are stuck in the past?