The case of Lady Susan Hussey vs. Ms. Ngozi Fulani

Exactly!

 

In short: I still think that Lady Susan asked her questions out of a genuine interest to know which part of Africa Ms. Fulani's striking costume came from.
Such a question is not racist at all, and Lady Susan is no racist.

 

I agree.

 

She got an answer that didn't suit her. It wasn't about clothing. She got an answer why did she pursue it?

 

Not only that, but this was an event attended by people from all over the world. If they weren't wearing any kind of identifying badge, then it would be reasonable to ask.

 

Dude, there were other non-white people there. This Ngozi creature was not 'race targetted' in any way.

In fact I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest it was her own behaviour which prompted additional attention (if that's what she had .. maybe others did too, but didn't take offence because they're not walking around looking for a fight). If she bristled at 'where are you from', and showed resistance, it's not really that surprising that an elderly person of confidence is going to press the point in a jovial manner. My very not-white 80-something in-laws do that kind of thing all the time. Yes it can come across as a bit rude, but it has nothing .. at all .. to do with race. It's genuine curiosity mixed with old school banter stylings.

 

Because that's what old ladies do.

 

Fulani was not answering any questions directly. She was taking the piss and being extremely evasive.

It is about clothes if they are wearing traditional garb of some country. My dad is Scottish, once in a while he wears a kilt to a formal event. It is not racist for somebody to ask him about his origins and/or where in Scotland he comes from etc etc etc as he is wearing the attire associated with Scottish people. Fulani was decked out in traditional African garb, changed her name to something African sounding -- it would be natural to think somebody who is wearing traditional African garb at a formal event, and who represents abused African woman might be of African descent in some manner. It isn't racist to ask where somebody where they come from. Are you American? Was that racist? I assume most of the people on this website are American. If you are American, where do you live? Is that racist? Just making conversation.

The population in the UK is very diverse. I just looked at a stat where it said 'one in six people living in England and Wales were born abroad'. London, itself, has a huge population of immigrants. It's not an odd question to ask somebody where they are from if there is an indication they are not from the UK. It's called making social conversation.

 

They were at what was effectively an international event, and she was dressed as an African.

 

You do know it's possible to apologise to someone for the feelings they experience, but not for your own actions (when your own actions aren't really the source of the problem)? As in "I'm sorry you feel that way", or "I'm sorry that the circumstances caused you to feel that way".

 

Exactly!
And it was not in order how Charles and William then pushed Lady Susan "under the bus" - so to speak.

 

May I quote this part of an article:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ply-uneasy-Williams-treatment-Lady-Susan.html

 

'Creature' no less.

 

Yes, exactly that. Obnoxious people are creatures.

 

If you can be damned as "racist" because you have asked somebody in an African costume where-abouts in Africa she or he is from, then you can also easily be damned socially, if you greet a Christmas angel with "Merry Christmas!"

 

No news from King Charles III and Prince William?
I am still waiting for them to see the error of their ways.
I suggest they issue a statement along these lines:

"We regret deeply that we have been led to belive that Lady Susan Hussey acted in some racist way.
It has now come to light that nothing could be further from the truth.
We are deeply sorry and sincerely apologize to Lady Susan Hussey for any sorrow that we may have caused her."

Signed

Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and other Realms and Territories King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith
William, Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland

So be it.

 

I sure hope you're not infantalising black people here ...... insisting that they must be simple and spotless innocents, exempt from all obnoxiousness and criticism of same. Because that would be infinitely more racist than anything the old dame said.

 

You have decided somebody is obnoxious and ought to be dehumanised and described as a creature.
That is on you.
The aristocrat behaved in an obnoxious way in drilling down into the otherness of her guest, but I wouldn’t describe Hussey as a creature personally.

 

I wonder whether there is any connection between Ngozi and Nguzo etc ....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa