I’ve seen that Liam Neeson film. It was a shocker, even without the cringy addition of the black fiddle player.
I think the question about these performative gestures and ‘interventions’ is this: who is making them and for what audience?
In my opinion the answer in both cases is that it’s overwhelmingly white middle class creative class liberals. The attempt to force black characters into these type of dramas is a symbol, a code, a call out to fellow white middle class liberals.
It’s certainly not done by or for actual black people who are as bemused as the rest of us. It’s doing nothing to build solidarity (and nor is it intended to) and it’s doing nothing to deepen or widen historical contexts or understanding.
I hope that it is dying out as Paul suggests, but the mind virus that produces these risible people remains virulent!
Absolutely right Paul, it IS the white, middle class Liberals and Labour voters. Very easy to see what staggering hypocrites they are when they move home to white areas. They are the worst sort of racists.
Paul, I’m sure the multicultural hucksters that you refer to would be entirely happy with a production of Porgy and Bess starring white folk in the lead roles. Or would they? …
Interesting that interviewees of colour were as emphatic as those who were white on the issue of forced ethnic diversity. I've heard a few ethnic minority colleagues in the pub after work say that DEI initiatives do them no favours at all, are patronising and lead others to assume that they got to where they are through such "positive discrimination" initiatives rather than through their own hard work.
Well said, Paul. It is beyond a joke now, and I turn off immediately when I see this kind of performative nonsense, especially the re-writing of period drama. Who is this meant to serve? We know that there were the odd ethnic characters in 'Society' back in the day, but they were exceedingly rare.
I have been in many bars in Ireland, and never saw a black person once - and that was in a city!
As for the Larkins: they ruined that subtle, gentle, bawdy and lovely family show - turning it into smutty and frankly boring series, not worth a watch. I really like Joanna Scanlan, but she is awful as Ma Larkin.
And this from a commissioning team at the BBC who ssem to be the least diverse bunch of people, as you say.
I'd be happy though if someone would make a drama series based on genuinely interesting black figures from the British past. I'm thinking of the Regency mainly when you had sufficient variety, from boxers like Bill Richmond to Nathaniel Wells, the Deputy-Lieutenant of Monmouthshire.
Good article, Paul. You could've also mentioned the black man that Winston Churchill conversed with on the London Underground in 'Darkest Hour', or the beturbanned Sikh soldier in a British Army truck in '1917'. Literally, as you've described, shoehorned into situations that they just wouldn't have been found in to make a political point.
One of my personal experiences of this was my last trip to see Les Miserables at Norwich Theatre Royal, where Marius was played by an East Asian man and Cosette was played by a black African lady. It greatly spoiled my enjoyment of what is my favourite musical. Not that they weren't very proficient, but that the casting jarred.
When I was at school we were taken to London to see Donald Sinden play Othello in 'Black Face'. I'm glad that we've moved a long way past that but the same should now apply equally in reverse.
Maybe, one day, when Tony Blair’s wish to “rub the right’s noses in diversity” is complete, we’ll have an actor from the white minority playing Sadiq Khan in a film homage to the great man?
I’ve seen that Liam Neeson film. It was a shocker, even without the cringy addition of the black fiddle player.
I think the question about these performative gestures and ‘interventions’ is this: who is making them and for what audience?
In my opinion the answer in both cases is that it’s overwhelmingly white middle class creative class liberals. The attempt to force black characters into these type of dramas is a symbol, a code, a call out to fellow white middle class liberals.
It’s certainly not done by or for actual black people who are as bemused as the rest of us. It’s doing nothing to build solidarity (and nor is it intended to) and it’s doing nothing to deepen or widen historical contexts or understanding.
I hope that it is dying out as Paul suggests, but the mind virus that produces these risible people remains virulent!
Absolutely right Paul, it IS the white, middle class Liberals and Labour voters. Very easy to see what staggering hypocrites they are when they move home to white areas. They are the worst sort of racists.
Liberal progressive yes. But not all Labour voters are in that crowd.
Spot on Tom. Some of us have no truck with the liberals. Or divisive identity politics. Or, for that matter, symbolic capitalism
Great article Paul. Just waiting for the remake of John Wayne's films now........
Historical authenticity matters as much to black people as to white or any other
Yes, just stop taking us... of all races and creeds... for fools.
Paul, I’m sure the multicultural hucksters that you refer to would be entirely happy with a production of Porgy and Bess starring white folk in the lead roles. Or would they? …
Brilliant article, thank you Paul.
Interesting that interviewees of colour were as emphatic as those who were white on the issue of forced ethnic diversity. I've heard a few ethnic minority colleagues in the pub after work say that DEI initiatives do them no favours at all, are patronising and lead others to assume that they got to where they are through such "positive discrimination" initiatives rather than through their own hard work.
Excellent article. When will the first "racist" label be stuck onto this article by someone who'd rather shut down such an expose rather than read it?
Well said, Paul. It is beyond a joke now, and I turn off immediately when I see this kind of performative nonsense, especially the re-writing of period drama. Who is this meant to serve? We know that there were the odd ethnic characters in 'Society' back in the day, but they were exceedingly rare.
I have been in many bars in Ireland, and never saw a black person once - and that was in a city!
As for the Larkins: they ruined that subtle, gentle, bawdy and lovely family show - turning it into smutty and frankly boring series, not worth a watch. I really like Joanna Scanlan, but she is awful as Ma Larkin.
And this from a commissioning team at the BBC who ssem to be the least diverse bunch of people, as you say.
Nice article Paul.
They’ll be lots of your critics choking on their cornflakes after seeing this! 🤣
I'd be happy though if someone would make a drama series based on genuinely interesting black figures from the British past. I'm thinking of the Regency mainly when you had sufficient variety, from boxers like Bill Richmond to Nathaniel Wells, the Deputy-Lieutenant of Monmouthshire.
Really good article Paul. This is something i have noticed for a long time and it’s cringe and inaccurate.
I cannot watch the sort of drama you describe, I immediately turn off.
This is why I have completely removed the BBC from my viewing and listening diet , doing so has been most beneficial.
The only thing that grates is that I still have to pay for it.
Good article, Paul. You could've also mentioned the black man that Winston Churchill conversed with on the London Underground in 'Darkest Hour', or the beturbanned Sikh soldier in a British Army truck in '1917'. Literally, as you've described, shoehorned into situations that they just wouldn't have been found in to make a political point.
One of my personal experiences of this was my last trip to see Les Miserables at Norwich Theatre Royal, where Marius was played by an East Asian man and Cosette was played by a black African lady. It greatly spoiled my enjoyment of what is my favourite musical. Not that they weren't very proficient, but that the casting jarred.
When I was at school we were taken to London to see Donald Sinden play Othello in 'Black Face'. I'm glad that we've moved a long way past that but the same should now apply equally in reverse.
Maybe, one day, when Tony Blair’s wish to “rub the right’s noses in diversity” is complete, we’ll have an actor from the white minority playing Sadiq Khan in a film homage to the great man?
Why not a 'non-binary" Chinese Dwarf? Diversity is our strength after all.