To think Stacey Dooley was right in her response to David Lammy

[CoolCarrie]

“ Africa doesn’t need white saviours” says Lammy commenting on pictures of Stacey Dooley on a comic relief trip. Why pick on her? Loads of celebrities over the years have gone to Africa to show how money is helping the poorest of the poor, and the huge difference it has made over the years.
What Africa does need is governments that are not corrupt and better leaders.

I agree with David Lammy 100%.

Not a fan of Dooley, I remember her from Blood, Sweat and T-shirts years ago when she said the children (in Indian sweatshops) "should learn English cos then they'd be clever". I know she was younger then but dumb b.

David Lammy is right to bring the issue up again perhaps not so right to focus in on SD Instagram. We don't know what type of appeal videos comic relief will be screening and would assume they take the same stand as with sport relief.

What is truly shocking comments on Twitter. Stuff like 'black people should stump up themselves' 'white people shouldn't bother donating' the divisive and idiotic comments make me ashamed to be British tbh

Also the faux outrage just wtf is happening?

My DP isn't stupid but he didn't know anything about the British involvement in the creation of Iraq. Both my DC did well in history GCSE and didn't know either, based on school lessons. Iraq.

I think he does have a point, he’s made it badly but he does have a point.

Trouble is, most of us have no idea about Africa. Africa for many of us cunjours up images of starving pot bellied people, baron landscapes , dirty water, uneducated children, ingrained cultural practices and a lot of corruption both locally and at government level.

What is it really like nowadays? Obviously there priveledged wealthy white pockets of SA in their gated homes, but are people starving still /are there still famines? Do most Africans have access to clean water now(feels like 30yrs we’ve been doing water and well appeals through CR/bluepeter etc) ?

Sometimes I feel like people/places can be supported too much, they learn to rely and expect the help and therefor are unable to help themselves, I wonder if this is why (I personally) feel like Africa has not made progress and it never seems like masses has changed from one CR appeal to the next.

The troubles is what is the answer? Sad, hopeless stories gain sympathy and donations

This video is worthy on this thread

In repose to this comment.

unfortunately really almost all of the nations in Africa could do with improvements in governance. Some more than others of course. We as the world should try to eradicate corruption- there’s a lot we can do from the uk in not promoting and dealing with corrupt regimes. This just takes the piss.

There seems to be a very middle class thing going on where its trendy and fashionable to care about poorer people in other countries yet have a complete blind spot when it comes to the poor in the UK.

I think THIS is what needs addressing. Can you imagine the outcry if there was a Benefit Street type programme filmed in SA

@OrangeCinnamon one of those divisive idiots is my local MP, who tweeted “Is it now the case that only black people can help black people? Wouldn’t it be better if we were all colour blind?”. Probably representitive of many of his constituents’ views too.

In the age of Google and You Tube, do people really think that a continent of 54 countries and 1.2 billion people is just “starving pot bellied people, baron landscapes , dirty water, uneducated children”? The “wealthy white pockets of SA” are not the only privileged areas in the whole of Africa.

This is what David Lammy is getting at. Images perpetuated by the media and charities only show one view.

It’s comparable to celebrities going to some of the most deprived towns in Europe, taking footage of the poorest people and saying this is what the whole continent is like.

Absolutely 100% agree with David Lammy.

And at the very least, the dialogue from these comments between Lammy and Dooley have got people thinking about such a massively complex issue.

I agree with Lammy and Dooley's response has cemented my thoughts about her. She seemed likeable the odd time I caught a bit of one of her documentaries but also very 'light'. Her response shows she isn't that intelligent if she doesn't get his point, and perhaps if she was more intelligent and aware of issues, which she should be as a supposedly investigative journalist, she wouldn't have posted a photo as she did with the caption OBSSSSSESSSSD. The lipstick story upthread sums her up; to not realise what that lipstick stood for and to dismiss is by saying I didn't have the heart to tell her I'd never wear it as if she's showing how nice a person she is but missing the point completely. Tone deaf, I suppose.

There needs to be a very big discussion and a cultural shift in how we view poorer people from all across the globe

African poor are patronized British poor are vilified.

I do agree that we need a more rounded view of Africa. When I was a child I never imagined Ethiopia to have a large built up city like Addis Ababa, and a documentary showing urban life would give a more rounded picture of life there as a whole . I agree with David Lammy by and large.

If she was holding the child and said "this is John. Your donations from comic relief have helped build a school in his village and staffed it with teachers so he can receive an education." Or something that's one thing. But saying obsessed in a completely vacuous way appears to refer to the child being cute. And this is where comic relief is outdated. African children aren't just cute props to drive donations.

However "right" his comments are, if he isn't going to actually do anything then there is very little point to his attitude.

I hate orphan hugging photos
I also dislike charity mountain climbs

Most couldn’t give two fucks they do it for the PR

I am not doubting Stacey but what the fuck difference does sending a celebrity over there BClass actually do ? We all know it’s fucked

And yes there is something very distasteful in the pretty celeb smiling with babies type photos . 2 days later they will be back in primrose hill having a £150 facial

Lammy says he has 2 meetings with the BBC to explain how they could change the focus of their charity appeals - the BBC have skated over this and just criticised him for not taking part in a charity appeal he has explained he thinks is flawed. Typical BBC lies and doublespeak.

His job is as an MP, not a celeb, charity fundraiser or PR for the BBC - what should he do that he has not already done?

I agree with him and think her response was shallow and defensive.

I bet if any posters here were so on their uppers they had to go to a foodback, they would not take kindly to a rich woman sweeping up their child and using it as a prop to pose for instagram snaps for their rich friends - would you be grateful that was a price you had to pay for charity? Or would you want your baby back and your dignity? If the child is an orphan, even more reason it should be accorded dignity - poor children are not props to make a rich westerners look good and should never be treated as such.

As the Guardian says, who is having the more emotionally rewarding time? The volunteer or the child?

what should he do that he has not already done?

Actually organise something in the way that it should be done.

“Actually organise something in the way that it should be done.”

When? He is a very active MP- that’s his job.

Sometimes I feel like people/places can be supported too much, they learn to rely and expect the help and therefor are unable to help themselves

Maybe do some reading into the history of the continent and the role of the British Empire. We fucked a lot of it over.

"When? He is a very active MP- that’s his job."

He could utilise the time that he is talking about this.

Or even employ professionals do what he wants and he can remain in the background.

So you’re expecting him to organise an entire fundraising campaign in his spare time. Or pay professional fund raisers to organise one out of his salary?

Here's a more nuanced view from the Guardian: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3520287-To-think-Stacey-Dooley-was-right-in-her-response-to-David-Lammy?pg=13

And people saying David Lammy should organise it himself are being ridiculous - there are lots of things I don't like that others are responsible for but that doesn't mean I should be responsible for doing them myself. We could start with Brexit, maybe.