This first episode of TIRAH’s IGTV Conversations is being led by our Creative Director Omonye Ifion on the topic of The British Media and Race. It is a conversation that looks to address the presentation and treatment of race in the media.
This blog post has been put together by Omonye detailing some of the possible talking point to this topic. There are also links provided to help with more knowledge and understanding about the topic.
Firstly, what is Omonye trying to say with this topic?
"I am putting to you all that the British media, particularly mainstream print media, but stretching as far as Hollywood has a deep and endemic issue with racism. This racism is poisonous, and heavily impacts all other areas of life, from health, to education to sport. We all know representation matters, and the media impacts mindsets and opinions nationwide."
-Omonye Ifidon
Now, the talking points:
The Bigotry vs Racism Debate in the media:
An argument in defence of calling the British Media racism is that ‘Racism’ is not the appropriate word but rather ‘Bigoted’ would be a more appropriate term. What is the difference between the two?
BIGOTRY is the fact of having and expressing strong, unreasonable beliefs and disliking other people who have different beliefs or a different way of life.
RACISM is the systematic distribution of resources, power and opportunity in our society to the benefit of people who are White and the exclusion of people of colour.
A lot of people would argue that there is a distinction between Racism and bigotry which is where terms such as "Casual Racism" is born. From this, there is an understanding that the difference is about intent and ignorance. The individual does not intend to be racist; they just didn't realise it will come across as that. So, can we truly call them a racist?
Megan and Harry:
Oprah's interview with Meghan and Harry has opened the door to discussions on race and interracial relationship, the responsibilities of the monarchy and colourism. However, the British media's focus on this has been on the idea that the UK isn't racist. Following Meghan's confession about a conversation with a royal concerning the "colour" the baby would be. Jane Moore of Loose Women called this conversation a moment of "Casual Racism".
1. What does this interview and the backlash it faced in the British Media show about how issues of race are dealt with?
2. An article on the British Media that suggest there might be a problem can be read here.
3. Society of Editors - saying the UK media isn’t bigoted
4. Watch the moment Jane Moore talks about “Casual racism” on Loose Women
5. A collection of possibly racially insensitive headlines e.g. Daily Mail Headlines - “Straight Out of Compton” - exotic DNA
Colourism in the Media:
To many it seems as though discussions of colourism typically comes up as a distraction of a bigger discussion about racism. The Candice and Rochelle scandal were covered by the British media as a scandal rather than covering the notions of medical racism that the documentary was about. Colourism is usually manipulated by the media as a distraction and divisive tactic.
1. How does colourism manifest itself in the British Media?
2. Colourism (Leigh Anne-Pinnock). Is a mixed raced individual the appropriate choice for a documentary on colourism? Who decides this?
3. Rochelle and Candice - black maternal mortality documentary. Read more on this here.
4. Watch Andrew Pierce on LBC - discussing how he didn’t think Meghan was a black woman, comparing her with Oprah here.
Race as Media controversy
There is no doubt an under-representation of Black people in the British Media and when black people are on screen its mostly to speak on race or oppression. We see this a lot with matters of football.
1. The under usage of black women as voices in the media (Oprah) - used for gaslighting purposes.
2. Listen to Afua Hirsch talk about the deliberate use of a racist system in the media.
3. Watch Kehinde Andrews be asked “why don’t you go back to your own country” when discussing racism in the UK here.
4. The racial mistreatment of Footballers - treatment of Raheem Stirling in the press compared to his peers
The Islamophobic Rhetoric.
How the media and the film industry in general portrayed Muslims since 9/11- normalisation of the rhetoric of figures like tommy Robinson.
1. Read about how the UK portrays Islam in the media here.
2. Read about the continued short comings here.
3. A test inspired by Riz Ahmed’s speech in parliament discussing representation of Muslims in the media
Covering of the Migrant Crisis
Terms such as “cockroaches”
The British Media loves to make it sound as though these are fringes of the media, when in reality these are popular figures with a seat at the table in mainstream media.
A misunderstanding of what Race and Racism is by the UK public at large.
The media has a lot of work to do with its presentation and treatment of race, however the UK public needs a lesson. Here is a conversation with David Lammy and a member of the public.
1. Watch the conversation here.
Black Twitter as the Antithesis.
Black Twitter as a media outlet contrary to the popular British media, with the aim of creating a safe space for representation and understand. Although, this isn't always the case. Some of the prominent faces are:
· Kelechi Okafor: @kelechnekoff
· Chantay J: @ChantayyJayy
· Oloni: @oloni
· Dr shola: @SholaMos1
· Bilal: @TweetsByBilal
· Akala: @akala
What are your thoughts on these talking points? Do you agree? Do you disagree?
If you’d like to join our conversations or have something you’d like to talk about:
Send us an email: info.tirah@gmail.com
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Leave us a comment below.
Further Reading List:
BBC.Co.Uk, 2020, https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2020/leigh-anne-pinnock-bbc-three.
Gallagher, Mary. "Rochelle Humes Defends Herself After 'Replacing Candice Brathwaite' On Documentary About Black Women Dying In Childbirth". The Sun, 2021, https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/13990636/rochelle-humes-defends-candice-brathwaite-documentary-black-women-childbirth/.
O'Conner, Roisin. "Candice Brathwaite Addresses Confusion Over Claims She Was ‘Replaced’ By Rochelle Humes For Documentary". The Independent, 2021, https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/candice-brathwaite-rochelle-humes-documentary-b1798804.html.
Reaidi, Joseph. "Andre Gray Defends Fiance As He Is Slammed In A Row About Colourism". Watford Observer, 2021, https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/19075806.andre-gray-defends-leigh-anne-slammed-colourism-row/.
Rinderle, Susana. "Let’s Get It Right: Bigotry Is Not Racism". Huffpost, 2016, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lets-get-it-right-bigotry-is-not-racism_b_57eddcd3e4b0972364deb01a.
Tobitt, Charlotte. "Racist Meghan Headlines? CBS Doubles Down On Criticism Of UK Tabloids". Press Gazette, 2021, https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/cbs-report-accuses-uk-tabloids-of-blatant-racial-element-as-it-refuses-to-alter-meghan-headlines-montage/.
Walton, Jessica. "Explainer: What Is Casual Racism?". The Conversation, 2014, https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-casual-racism-30464.
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