Is This Sheer Patronising Towards Black People?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2465784/Downton-Abbey-creator-Julian-Fellowes-opens-need-black-role-models-television.html

If a character in a play, film, tv programme etc, etc needs to be a black person, then all right they should be selected, but to create parts simply to provide the token black person for political correct reasons is wrong.

/// Julian Fellowes believes it is necessary – because the black community need to see more positive role models on TV. ///

We are seeing this type of thing happening all over the media, but what about the Chinese community do they ever get their fair share of opportunities?

[hc4361]

"If a character in a play, film, tv programme etc, etc needs to be a black person, then all right they should be selected"

AOG, are you suggesting the default for all film and tv characters is white, anglo saxon?

[mikey4444]

I've decided...its going to be Indian ! ( I had a Chinese meal last week )

[anotheoldgit]

FredPulli43

/// But, AOG, there were quite a lot of them about years ago; there were black men at Trafalgar, and one is depicted on the base of Nelson's column . Me, I'd have cast only whites in any recreation of that for a drama; don't want to offend any whites , you know. ///

And you said there wasn't? Also I am quite aware there were black sailors at Trafalgar, so I don't need an history lesson from the likes of you, thank you very much.

[mikey4444]

I think we have a Lesbian in the Village as well Fred. Well, at least I think she is. I have never asked her but it might help to explain the sensible shoes worn with a boiler suit.

[anotheoldgit]

mikey4444

/// I've decided...its going to be Indian ! ( I had a Chinese meal last week ) ///

You are just being racist now, What is wrong with Caribbean food?

[anotheoldgit]

hc4361

/// AOG, are you suggesting the default for all film and tv characters is white, anglo saxon? ///

Yes in a predominate Anglo Saxon country such as this, just as I would expect the default for all films and TV characters to be black if it was an African or Caribbean film or TV show, made in Africa or the Caribbean etc.

[anotheoldgit]

mikey4444

And yes there are the token Lesbians in Emmerdale as well.

[mikey4444]

Actually, AOG I have never had Caribbean food, but I would like to try it. I think this whole takeaway business needs a good shake-up. We need more choice !

Actually, we have a pizza place as well in my village, but its not very good. They are cooked by a Welshman, who has obviously never been to Italy. 4 years ago, I was in Naples, and once you have tasted a Neapolitan pizza, straight from the street vendor, Pizza is never the same again !

See Naples ( and eat pizza ) and die, as they say.

[FredPuli43]

AOG, I was only reminding us all. I would not dare to give you lessons on history. After all, you have seen more of it than I have (and thus had longer to study of which you will have taken full advantage, assuredly)

May I just ask what your "the likes of you" addressed to me, means ? Who are 'the likes of me' ? Would you care to give a description or list our shared attributes?

[hc4361]

You know what he means, Fred. 'The likes of you' is the same as 'those people'.

[FredPuli43]

No, hc, I am not rushing into speculation out of thin air and anyway AOG didn't say 'those people', which itself calls for a little precision as to what the writer intended. So, AOG, what is the answer to my question?

[mikey4444]

Play nicely girls !

[bazwillrun]

/// AOG, are you suggesting the default for all film and tv characters is white, anglo saxon? ///

Yes in a predominate Anglo Saxon country such as this, just as I would expect the default for all films and TV characters to be black if it was an African or Caribbean film or TV show, made in Africa or the Caribbean etc.

Exactly

why is there no problem like this with asians, chines, jews etc why is it always blacks that we have this problem with

why arent adverts shoving asian men with white women down our throats at every opportunity

how many ads have a white man with a black women ? chines mixed couple etc etc

its always blacks that need all this ....hmmm i wonder why !?

[FredPuli43]

Baz, how would you know that actors are Jews?

[bazwillrun]

easy !

they could flash up a notice on screen saying "Token Jew" shouldnt be that difficult, obviously we'd have to take their word for it that the person was jewish though, so it would be open to abuse if the correct checks werent in place

[FredPuli43]

Easy to check, baz. For a start, ask them whether their mother went out on Friday nights :-)

[joko]

he raises a good point and there should be more diversity of characters etc - but that fact that we now know this plan and its being done deliberately means every new character will not be taken seriously and viewed as and token

which kind of defeats the object really...

[ludwig]

I always thought Eskimos were under-represented in the Merchant Ivory productions of E.M Forster novels.

[zebo]

The rot sent in when they had cockneys in Corrie, now that was really bad!

[anotheoldgit]

bazwillrun

It doesn't only stop at adverts, have you noticed when politicians pay a visit to schools there is always the token black kiddie who they stop to talk to.

But this tokenism is rife all over the media, notice who many female sports presenters there are now, weather girls in abundance, and a mix of Asian and Black news presenters etc, etc. especially on the BBC.