Naughts and crosses BBC1 - have you seen it?

[Summersunandoranges]

I’ve just watched it and for me it was really thought provoking as a white woman. I’ve led a fairly easy life but I’ve never really understood ‘white privilege’ until now.

If you’ve not watched it the naughts - (whites) were originally slaves and the crosses (blacks) were the masters. 700 years down the road and they are trying to bring the naughts up to equal measures in society (with much resistance with in government) but you can still see the gaping indifference from the crosses.

It’s really challenged my view on engrained racism.

There is a point where a naughts - (white man) puts a plaster on and it’s dark brown. It looks strange against his pink skin colour. I’ve never seen a brown plaster in any shops - you’d have to go on line for it. Why dont we have them readily in shops? We’re not all white. I’ve never even noticed that before.

I’d actually really like this to be discussed in my dc school.

Has any one any thoughts on it?

I've not seen it but I've read the book. It's read in a lot of KS3 English classes.

It's a great book.

I though it was quite interesting, I like dystopian books that challenge the way our society works - political stagnation is never good and there can always be significant room for improvement.

I dislike things that are overly political or worthy though, especially when it's very critical of things that occurred many generations ago.

I think that coloured plasters though have been around for a while (I have a few in my brownie first aid box).

I don't know whether it's overtly political though, I need to watch the next episode.

I watched it this afternoon.
It is a few years since I read the books (though there is a 5th one out now / coming out soon I think).
I found the 'Africanisation' interesting (I don't remember it at all from the books) - as in the Crosses had African influences in architecture and clothing and music.
Was it really 700 years? I thought it was 200? Though again I don't remember the 'background' being given in the book.
The plasters resonated with me too, something so small but very clear.

Malorie Blackman is fab. The plaster incident is based on one of her own experiences as a child.

The book is great teen fiction. I read them all when they came out. The Africanisation is a TV feature, it’s not in the books - I think. But I could just be constructing a model of wealthy elite from what exists in the West. I think it works well. The plaster incident resonated with me too from the books. We still get clothing item colours described as skin or nude.

I think it was 700 years ago although I must admit the kids were climbing over me!

The plaster was brilliant and how sad that as a black child the author could see how society was already geared against her.

I do think it was overly political and although this did happen many generations ago it still reverberates through society now.

There have been people on twitter accusing her of hating/being racist against white people, what beautiful irony.

I’ve never heard of the author so I’m going to have a look at her books.

Forgot the pic

I’ve just looked on the YouTube trailer and a thousand more people have disliked it than liked it. I’ve liked it.

I bet they haven’t even watched it. Genuinely shocked tbh she is getting this hostility.

In the book it isn't clear at the start that the Noughts are white and the Crosses are black. It comes out 'naturally' in the plot but is a 'surprise' if you didn't know in advance due to our assumptions.

I think I would have enjoyed the book. It looks like she wrote ‘boys don’t cry’ as well, which is a great film

The film "Boys Don't Cry" is not based on her novel, it's a completely different story and came out before she wrote her book.

Just watched the first episode! Love it!

I found it fascinating and really really thought provoking.

In parts it made uncomfortable viewing, but being challenged like that is a good thing surely? It prompts a bit of self awareness & critical thought.

OP - what I do dislike is manipulation of social media by BBC people to increase rating for their show. Not good.

What social media manipulation has there been by the BBC?

I’ve just binged watched the entire series, it’s terrific. So much thought provoking detail, the plaster, the noughts emulating the crosses hairstyles, the balcony scene, the African Statue of Liberty and the architecture to name a few. Great stuff.

Genuinely shocked tbh she is getting this hostility.

Black woman writes book that highlights ingrained racism that is made into major TV series. She was always going to get abuse. The abuse shows how it's touching a nerve and is based on an uncomfortable truth and is needed.

OP - what I do dislike is manipulation of social media by BBC people to increase rating for their show. Not good

What social media manipulation? I had no clue what the series was about until I started watching it. I’d not seen anything on social media about it. It was only on this thread that some one pointed out to me there was an issue with it on Twitter - that the author was being attacked.

Timetest the hair styles in the army was something I talked to DH about as we have army in our family. Plus the articles in the news paper recently about children being sent home from school because their hair wasn’t confirming to traditional white hair styles rule - it’s mad I’ve never really thought about it like this.