for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
Feb 22nd 2011, 5:16 pm
#91
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 155
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
A black friend once spent some time in a village in Yorkshire. Prior to her visit, the majority had never met a black person before and didn't even know they existed. They had seen them on east enders but thought they were made up.
Every place she went people would touch her hair for luck and compare it to sheeps wool. Also when you told them you were from London, they would ask if you knew their friend who moved up there a few years previously.
Everyone in that village had pretty much been there all their life. They were ignorant and narrow minded. Where they lived was beautiful but if I had a choice between that village and London, i would pick London everytime. They could not imagine living anywhere else.
Every place she went people would touch her hair for luck and compare it to sheeps wool. Also when you told them you were from London, they would ask if you knew their friend who moved up there a few years previously.
Everyone in that village had pretty much been there all their life. They were ignorant and narrow minded. Where they lived was beautiful but if I had a choice between that village and London, i would pick London everytime. They could not imagine living anywhere else.
The best line,
the majority had never met a black person before and didn't even know they existed
Feb 22nd 2011, 5:23 pm
#92
C'mon already
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: The Asylum
Posts: 841
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
A close friend of ours went to Cornwall a couple of years ago (at most)..
She's black & traveled on her own, for a week away.. She was repeatedly asked which country she was from & was asked by the guy who ran the hotel she stayed at if she was a lesbian or a widow..
She said that she was treated well & that people were really nice but that it was obvious, to her, that many had never actually seen a black woman "face to face" as it were..
She doesn't have any agenda & took all of this at face value.. She's going back to where she stayed later this year & is really looking forward to it..
An old schooled friend of mine, who is mixed race, moved to an out of the way corner of Devon around six years ago..
I asked him if his colour was ever an issue & he told me that it actually made him a minor celebrity, for a short time, amongst the locals..
I don't think there is any racism inherent in either situation but it would be naive to think that there aren't areas of the U.K. where this doesn't happen..
I met a black guy in an hotel elevator on a trip here 5/6 years ago. It turned out that he lived just down the road from me in London so we got chatting.
When he went into the Tourist Information office, on the Halifax waterfront, the nice lady recommended that he should visit the other side of the harbour as there was a lot more over there "for him to do"..
He said the penny dropped almost as soon as he & his family disembarked from the ferry,.. There were black faces walking down the road.. He laughed at this but I don't think I would have been as amused in a similar situation..
She's black & traveled on her own, for a week away.. She was repeatedly asked which country she was from & was asked by the guy who ran the hotel she stayed at if she was a lesbian or a widow..
She said that she was treated well & that people were really nice but that it was obvious, to her, that many had never actually seen a black woman "face to face" as it were..
She doesn't have any agenda & took all of this at face value.. She's going back to where she stayed later this year & is really looking forward to it..
An old schooled friend of mine, who is mixed race, moved to an out of the way corner of Devon around six years ago..
I asked him if his colour was ever an issue & he told me that it actually made him a minor celebrity, for a short time, amongst the locals..
I don't think there is any racism inherent in either situation but it would be naive to think that there aren't areas of the U.K. where this doesn't happen..
I met a black guy in an hotel elevator on a trip here 5/6 years ago. It turned out that he lived just down the road from me in London so we got chatting.
When he went into the Tourist Information office, on the Halifax waterfront, the nice lady recommended that he should visit the other side of the harbour as there was a lot more over there "for him to do"..
He said the penny dropped almost as soon as he & his family disembarked from the ferry,.. There were black faces walking down the road.. He laughed at this but I don't think I would have been as amused in a similar situation..
I'm not disputing it at all as I know that some of the little villages down here are so isolated and alot of the families have lived there for generations and very rarely venture anywhere else - I know alot of people who say that they are off to 'the big city', when you say, 'oh yes, Plymouth? Exeter? Bristol', you get the reply 'no, Truro', they are deadly serious.
Shocking about the lesbian/widow thing though.
Feb 22nd 2011, 5:24 pm
#93
ModerĪ±tor Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
Quite probably there is something to be said for the anecdote in exposing the ignorance of some people, but I suspect your black friend is having a laugh at your expense, exposing more ignorance about the north-south divide than race relations in the early 1990s.
Some people will believe anything about "Up norf" (or "down west" or whatever).
Some people will believe anything about "Up norf" (or "down west" or whatever).
Feb 22nd 2011, 5:24 pm
#94
A lion in your lap
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Sparta NJ
Posts: 7,605
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
This is possibly the stupidest thing I've read on BE in a very long time. So these Yorkshire people 20 years ago who thought black people on Eastenders were made up: if they had access to the BBC then might they have seen other stuff like, oh, I don't know, the 1992 Olympics? the 1990 world cup? Did they also think people like John Barnes and Linford Christie were "made up"? Perhaps literally? Did they think that half the athletes and sports stars on telly were white people in blackface?
Feb 22nd 2011, 5:26 pm
#95
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
A black friend once spent some time in a village in Yorkshire.
Prior to her visit, the majority had never met a black person before and didn't even know they existed.
They had seen them on east enders but thought they were made up.
Every place she went people would touch her hair for luck and compare it to sheeps wool.
Also when you told them you were from London, they would ask if you knew their friend who moved up there a few years previously.
Basically, every sentence apart from the first is fiction on your (or your friends part). You weren't implying this was one or two isolated incidents, but her entire universal experience. Complete bullshit on every level.
I don't take issue with much on this forum, but your lies need pointing out.
Feb 22nd 2011, 5:28 pm
#96
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 155
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
I cant believe what I just read, people say they are not saying that your lying but its hard to believe.
Im saying your ******* lying mate!
Im saying your ******* lying mate!
Feb 22nd 2011, 5:31 pm
#97
ModerĪ±tor Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
Enough already. Time to move on people. Points made.
You know the drill by now, argue the facts, dont slip into insulting the poster.
You know the drill by now, argue the facts, dont slip into insulting the poster.
Feb 22nd 2011, 5:32 pm
#98
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 155
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
Feb 22nd 2011, 5:33 pm
#99
Displaced Disgrace
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: HRM N.S.
Posts: 745
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
I believe it was a little, out of the way place she found online..
I love Cornwall & spent every Summer there for years & years & as I said, she wasn't offended in the slightest & is going back this Summer..
As lovely as she is, she's pretty naive & not the most imaginative so I don't doubt, for a second, that's what happened to her..
..As for the Yorkshire debacle... What about Charlie Williams!?..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie...%28comedian%29
I love Cornwall & spent every Summer there for years & years & as I said, she wasn't offended in the slightest & is going back this Summer..
As lovely as she is, she's pretty naive & not the most imaginative so I don't doubt, for a second, that's what happened to her..
..As for the Yorkshire debacle... What about Charlie Williams!?..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie...%28comedian%29
Feb 22nd 2011, 5:44 pm
#100
Lowering the tone
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Here and there
Posts: 7,349
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
When I moved from Dundee to London, aged 19 in 1989, I had never met a black person before.
Feb 22nd 2011, 5:52 pm
#102
.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20,185
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
Bring it on! I love discussions about the North-South divide in the 21st century. It's such playground prejudice and so silly but its riotously good fun at the same time. I'll have a go, all Northern people eat badgers, have whippet dogs, put ferrets down their trousers and say things like "ooh oooh I got nowt fer tea."
Feb 22nd 2011, 5:55 pm
#103
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 155
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
Bring it on! I love discussions about the North-South divide in the 21st century. It's such playground prejudice and so silly but its riotously good fun at the same time. I'll have a go, all Northern people eat badgers, have whippet dogs, put ferrets down their trousers and say things like "ooh oooh I got nowt fer tea."
Feb 22nd 2011, 5:56 pm
#104
Lowering the tone
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Here and there
Posts: 7,349
Feb 22nd 2011, 5:57 pm
#105
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 829
Re: for all of those thinking of returning to the uk
I personally have travelled up to towns and villages in the North of England where there are either no, or only a couple of black people. I have also of course been to towns where there are many.
I personally have sat in a cafe in Wigan where I was asked if I knew their friend who moved to London. It is a common question. In Wigan at the time of my visit, there were only 2 black families in the whole town.
My friend who stayed in Yorkshire was even asked if the colour came off.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
I personally have sat in a cafe in Wigan where I was asked if I knew their friend who moved to London. It is a common question. In Wigan at the time of my visit, there were only 2 black families in the whole town.
My friend who stayed in Yorkshire was even asked if the colour came off.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.