Thread by @eagleowl123

Am in tears. Neighbours have tried to call the police over a "suspicious black chap" with a white woman at a property in the village. This was me and my partner, leaving our home, putting the neighbour's bin away, before going for a run. F***ing racism f***ing Brexit.

Just for the record. Black men are residents, neighbours and fellow citizens, yes even in villages. It is not a crime to leave your home to go for a run. Nor to put your neighbour's bin away, as he does every week. These are not crimes. I've never been so angry or upset.

Three days ago he was sitting in an A&E cubicle with a white friend after we'd rushed her in with suspected meningitis. He was challenged as a possible intruder. Years of racist shit. It's getting worse. FFS Britain.

The biggest irony is while we were washing our cars today the next-door neighbour came to warn us about this "suspicious black chap", yes the very neighbour whose bins he had put away. She assured us that the police had been called. She literally didn't twig that it was us.

Years of "where are you from?", "mixed relationships should be banned", "I look at you and think AFRICA!", "I expect you're glad you speak English", "We have a duty to protect the white race", and on it goes. Every single one of these has been said to him or me.

Not to mention the store detectives that you suddenly, as a white person, become aware of for the first time, the shops that won't give you a carrier bag until you've paid for the stuff, the women who clutch their handbags closer as he passes. White people have no f***ing idea.

Thank for you for lovely messages of support. Off to visit my lovely mum who can't believe it either. She voted Remain. You either get it or you don't.

And just for the record, we are middle-aged professionals, and among the dullest people on the planet. We are both British with British accents. I can't begin to imagine what it's like for the kids and young men.

Thank you all again lovely Twitter people for all the messages of support. Am overwhelmed by the love, support and empathy. Trying to reply individually but may not keep pace. It has helped a lot xxx

Sorry if I haven't liked or replied to the replies. Please consider you reply liked unless you're telling me it didn't happen :) Overwhelmed and encouraged by the response, horrified by the other examples people are sharing.

These attitudes have huge impact on people's lives, on their mental health, job prospects, and ability to buy or rent homes. People should not have to get used to this, or get used to the sound of central locking systems as they cross roads, or the multiple other forms it takes.

Too many white people still see racism and prejudice only as assault or verbal abuse. Looking at a black person and thinking "criminal" "outsider" or they must be "up to something" is all part of it. Insidious, dangerous, damaging. C'mon Britain we can be better than this.

News just in: Next-door neighbour has apologised, we've had tearful hugs and long and v constructive chat.Much of the feedback on here has been really helpful as it fed into our chat. I'd still like to speak to the cleaner who originally "spotted" us but a v constructive outcome.

I think it took real courage for her to approach me, so I respect that. She was genuinely upset (that made two of us!). So I hope maybe more conversations can come out of this about how we see each other and the narratives we buy into. And the need to see each other as people.

I've also apologised to her for going off the deep end yesterday. I hope all this has helped open all our eyes to what goes on and to the most constructive way of dealing with it when it does. Love to all xxx