Is it possible to be racist towards your own race? A reader argues that white-on-white racism is real, challenging the idea that racism is solely about skin colour.
Transitioning to the comments made on Prince Archie’s skin colour, context seems crucial. As one reader says, speculating about a baby’s skin tone might be acceptable in some contexts, but pondering how his race would mean for the monarchy is harder to justify as excitement.
Read on to see what readers think about this issue, among others.
Share your thoughts in the comments.
'Saying white on white racism isn't real reinforces a skewed perspective'
The points about race from Robert Bucknor from Tunbridge Wells(MetroTalk, Fri) could not be more wrong. They serve only to reinforce the originalpoint made by P from London, who said they are a ‘white foreigner’ who has ‘experienced institutional racism on multiple occasions’.
Mr Bucknor stating that ‘by definition’ white people cannot be racist towards other whites only reinforces a skewed perspective that racism is purely based on skin colour.
As a person of Irish descent, I have had eastern Europeans wholesale telling me they hate the Irish, proceeding to equate the whole Irish nation with misguided Irish Traveller tropes (the Traveller angle itself being further racism).
I assure you that I did feel very offended and subject to prejudice (racism) and let those individuals know.
Given the current escalation in the Middle East, including discussions on increased anti-Semitism attacks, it takes incredible short-sightedness on Mr Bucknor’s part to decry white-on-white prejudice as ‘by definition’ not racist.
Yet we live in a world where this is trumped by casual commentary on the skin colour of a mixed-race royal child that serves no purpose other than to use the charge of racism to get individuals rich through selling books, network deals and monetising media networks. Nick, London
The comments made about unborn Prince Archie depend on context…
Andrew Edwards from Islington (MetroTalk, Thu) says asking about an unborn baby’s skin colour might not be racist – but it also might be. It depends on the tone and context of the conversation.
I notice he has done what many do in trying to dismiss the chances it was due to racism by changing the context.
In a TV interview with Oprah Winfrey last year, Meghan didn’t say she was asked what the colour of her son Archie would be. She said that ‘concerns’ had been expressed by a Royal Family member about how dark the skin tone would be and what that would mean for the monarchy. This doesn’t sound like excitement or curiosity. Brenda, Norfolk
I am sick and tired of people dismissing the comment said to have been made about Archie’s skin colour.
I have a mixed-heritage child. I too discussed and wondered what colour their skin complexion might be.
However, it was never a concern. That’s the context in which it was said. Grace, Nottingham
‘Racism only occurs if it’s deliberate on racial grounds’
The main point in all the letters countering the allegations of racism is not whether you should nitpick by insisting that you have to call racism against other white groups simply ‘discrimination’ (though how do you know they’re not from a distinct white ethnic group in the first place, because race is not unique to colour?).
It’s whether or not what some instantly jump on as racism against any person or group is simply general dislike or discrimination in the first place.
Racism occurs only if it’s deliberate on racial grounds. Paul, London
No more royal books and a reason for Charles losing his cool
How many more books about the Royal Family are we going to have to endure? There seems to be an endless supply of them, all with some supposedly exciting new angle.
They’re just a cash machine for the writers and publishers, yet we seem to lap them up. Joe, Acton
Congrats to the Metro staff member who came up with the subheading on page three of Wednesday’s edition ‘Copies pulled in name mystery… so what will Scobie do now?’ Got it in one and it made me chuckle! Jaap, by email
With regards to Paddy in West Sussex’s letter (MetroTalk, Thu) about King Charles having ‘temper tantrums’ and throwing ‘a strop’ after a fountain pen leaked while he signed a visitor’s book at Hillsborough Castle in September last year.
You do realise that Charles had lost his mother just days before his visit to the castle? It’s understandable that his temper would be fragile at such a delicate time for him. Amy, Birmingham
Copies of the Omid Scobie’s book Endgame published in Holland revealed the names of the two royals who are said to have wondered about the skin colour of Prince Harry and Meghan’s son.
The book’s publisher has blamed the names-leaking on a ‘translation error’, and those copies had to be pulled from the shelves in Holland. How could a translation error reveal the names? Gobby, Brum
I hope bookshops will display Omid Scobie’s Endgame book in the correct section – ie fiction, on same shelf as the national railway timetables. Linda Bliss, by email
‘We can’t undo the wrongs of the past’
Regarding the Elgin Marbles, I think we need to accept what happened in the past and stop trying to simplistically right wrongs that can’t be righted.
We can’t undo the wrongs of the past. We can’t undo slavery and colonialism. However, we can try to learn from the past and not repeat mistakes or wrongs.
We need to acknowledge facts but leave what has been done, such as statues. Put up plaques explaining the full information about the person. Put up new statues of newly recognised heroes.
Put on a plaque at the Elgin Marbles stating where they came from and how they got to where they are. Lynn Barratt, Australia
‘This is why people get so stressed about others smoking…’
Joe in London (MetroTalk, Thu) says he doesn’t know why people get so stressed about others smoking.
The cost to the NHS is a factor. Other reasons are that smokers often stand near a door and non-smokers have to walk through a haze of smoke.
It lingers in the air after someone goes by and the smell lingers on people’s clothes, so it smells like they’ve tipped a full ashtray over themselves. Sheena, Mansfield
Poor Nigel Farage didn’t do very well in his Bushtucker Trial on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here (Metro, Thu). Perhaps if he’d just believed a little harder he could have succeeded. Neil Dance, Birmingham
MORE : Alison Hammond urges royals to ‘apologise’ for ‘racist’ comments
MORE : William and Kate ignore ‘racism’ storm during Royal Variety appearance
MORE : Buckingham Palace ‘considering all options’ over ‘race row’ sparked by Endgame book
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