To think that saying Idris Elba isn't suitable to play Bond because he's 'too street'...

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... is actually a racist comment, which - however 'jokingly' said - is absolutely not an appropriate thing to say in an office environment?

I'm on week two of a new position and between this kind of thing and other dodgy goings-on am debating whether to hand my notice in.

WIBU to mention my discomfort to line manager (who heard whole thing, laughed along etc.) or alternatively to just cut and run? Am I being a bit sensitive?

I still remember the uproar when Daniel Craig became Bond. He was not a popular choice but I think he's a great actor so made the role his own. Someone like Timothy Dalton is really posh (I've met him IRL), was good on paper but wasn't so popular in the films.

Yes it's racist, and is a commonly used dog-whistling term. When white people are described as "street" it's because, like Eminem, they are aping black culture.

I just don't think that is true. I take your point about Eminem specifically as he is a, rapper and that is a music of black origin.

But I would genuinely also use the term 'street' to describe the likes of Jason Statham, Danny Dyer etc, and I don't think they ape black culture, it's just the urban, hard man sort of image they want to portray.

If it's a euphemism for being black, I'm genuinely surprised. However, I wouldn't call a colleague, black or white, street as I think it could be construed as judging their background.

of course it isn't racist. For the same reason this would never work.

viva 😂🤣

Initially I would agree it sounds racist but could it be that people only know him from his performance as a drug dealer in the Wire and can't imagine him as another character? It could well be racist but it is hard to tell the intention behind it. I think he would be a great Bond, he's a total fox although David Oyewolo might be a good choice too if they are looking specifically for a black Bond. Statham and Dyer are 'street' I think all they have ever played is themselves, Idris is a far better actor than either of them so not really comparable. Not worth leaving your job over though

Not racist at all, just someone who hasn't seen much of Idris Elba's work. The 'street' is full of 'white folk' and a range of ethnicities too.

He was the class act in The Wire who played a role that took the 'street' out of the gangster to give it a 'suited and booted' business angle. The Baltimore accent isn't easy to pull off convincingly.

I'm sure he'd find playing Bond a doddle after that and I for one might even watch a post-Moore 007 if Elba is Bond.

Strange thing to resign over.

Yabu. To me 'street' means working class. Not racist

Yes it's racist
Just as a colleague was who said 'Jews are clever people' . We called her on it and she got that she had stereotyped

Don't leave a job for this FFS

Of course it's racist. He's an actor ffs. Therefore he can act like someone from Eton. He's also bloody gorgeous and might be a bit less stroppy than Daniel Craig.

Black people go to Eton, don't they?

But he is too street. Just like Danny Dyer, Ray Windtone etc. Nothing to do with race

A few pps have said here that it's racist, but don't say why.

Could you explain how saying Idris Elba is too "street" to play an Eton/Fettes-educated, half-Scottish half-Swiss character means Elba is inferior as a man due to his race?

I think you're looking for reasons to quit. This is not what street means and you're actually being unintentionally racist to suggest it is. Street means to come from the street, the school of hard knocks,. That is not a colour issue and White people come from the street just as much as any other skin colour.

If you want to quit, quit, don't go looking for and making up stupid reasons, just own it and do what you need to do,

Idris Elba's Bond doesn't have to be posh. It'd be an opportunity to make the franchise relevant again - Casino Royale set in Nigeria is something I want to see.

I suspect the views of many of the people who think he shouldn't be Bond are generally racist.
He's an actor FFS. He can play whatever rôle he's given.

As mentioned before for those who haven't RTFT, I'm asking about this in the context of other off behaviour in this office. I would not resign on this alone, but it does feel rather like the last nail in the coffin.

Other behaviour includes the team 'specialist' shouting out 'cunts!' when frustrated about a coworker in another department, storming off during meetings, and chewing out & humiliating more quiet colleagues for hours on end in the guise of 'helping' them - which of course just makes them more nervous! Well-known, proven industry management standards and best practice is disregarded etc. etc. The other day one colleague said to another, 'it's so funny when you wear glasses - like a dog trying to look clever.' It was said as joke, but I'm really not sure the recipient of the comment was very happy at all. But everyone says 'that's how it is'.

I haven't said anything so far, what with being new. And this thread has really split opinions. It's been helpful to see.

Although the posters saying I'm a delicate flower so they'd struggle to manage me & would even have to report me to HR made me laugh!

Collaborate
I suspect the views of many of the people who think he shouldn't be Bond are generally racist. He's an actor FFS. He can play whatever rôle he's given.

Are you able to clarify why you believe they are being racist? ie. Elba is an inferior man because of his race?

And what do you think the casting process is all about then? Do you think any actor at all can play any role they are given? If you were a casting director, how would you make your choice then?

Everything is racist

Well that's the drip I was waiting for. Yes some of these things sound inappropriate.

In response to your op:

It is quite awkward, because if they didn't mean 'too street' as a euphemism for 'too black' but you thought it to mean that, does that make you the racist?

It is a slippery slope to give the thought police any too much power.

YABU. I can see where you're coming from, but 'street' doesn't mean 'black'. They could have been talking about anyone of any colour, Danny bloody Dyer or something...

I think "street" has become a euphemism for black or white people aping black culture. So yes, a bit racist.

Idris Elba is a bloody excellent actor and I'm sure "posh" is well within his range (unlike Danny Dyer, who can only "do" Danny Dyer). But I think he's probably a bit too old.

It sounds like a really unpleasant environment where you work, OP.

Flowerpot - I see what you're trying to do but racism isn't always just implying that one particular person is inferior because of their race. Sometimes it can be more insiduous, for example assuming that 'white' is a default and everything else is 'other'.

I'm wondering if there's a generational thing here. For younger people street and urban have a music and cultural context which does mean black or from black culture. Maybe in the past it could mean more like working class or street urchin Dickens style.

I don't think I was drip-feeding. I explained there was other inappropriate behaviour. I didn't know the details were required.

If they used the word 'street' instead of 'black', then they are racist. If they used the word 'street' because they meant 'street', then they are not. Hard to tell unfortunately. All you can do is add it to a mental list of 'Not sure' comments and consider going when the list is uncomfortably lengthy.