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.

David Lammy was quite wrong to say what he said and no-one seems to have picked up that what he said was racist.

Wow. First time someone has said that on this thread

If Comic Relief was just African celebs, musicians how many people do you think would watch it?
I agree, it wouldn't get half as much interest which is sad but how it is.
The Band Aid/Comic Relief image of malnourished children and celebs flying out to save them, whoever said it earlier in the 80s that's how we did it - things moved on now, we're more enlightened, more info, age of internet, not just telly images from "far away".
Nobody's saying don't donate - just maybe try seeing Africa for a vast, many countries continent, and help but not come across as rich people who used to oppress doing something for clicks and likes.

The reason that Africa is in the state it is is because of other countries helping themselves to the natural resources supported by greedy governments. If you believe that corrupt government is unique to Africa, then why are food banks needed in this country? The narrative of the white person assisting the poor blacks is a problem, as that is the only side of Africa most people will see and feeds into the idea that being black goes hand in hand with poverty. This is nothing new, but is still very sad for people to see a representation of themselves in this way. Also, why do good deeds need to be televised if they are made from a place of true altruism? Donate your money quietly, and the feeling that you made a difference to somebody's life should be enough reward.

What DL said was not racist as he was not questioning from his own position race superiority

What really matters here most? The wording that David Lammy used? The fact that there are issues with Western charities and how they give aid? Let's take a step back and look at the bigger picture , try to understand from Ugandan point of view and educate ourselves before kicking off in our various positions of western privilege (assuming most people commenting on this thread are in The West)

Position OF race superiority

The western saviour is not just confined to Africa though, but to other less developed countries, how often do you hear about rich Americans, adopting poor Romanian or Chinese orphans, or those in the UK or other countries, going to help build a school in Venezuela, or helping the street kids in India. Western saviours everywhere. I agree, it is the greed from Western governments that are responsible for most of the poverty of underdeveloped countries, as well as their corrupt governments.

sky blue pink with yellow dots!

Why does a certain sort of person always come out this?

I know Switsy. I've been waiting for that. 'I've asked my hubby/best friend/lovely lady down the road who's black and they don't care' always crops up on threads about race too.

It's a toss up as to which one comes first. But they always do.

In the country my mum comes from, Armenia, there was an earthquake in 1988. Armenia is a very poor country, and relied on Aid from Western countries such as the US and UK to help them rebuild their community. If they were left to fend for themselves, I don't think they could do it.

No one is saying they should. But they are saying at the same time that posting a picture of a baby in the rubble of the earthquake might not be helpful. We don't post photos of children at good banks. Why would you need to see that to give money.

Food banks even.

Lime i don't think it's sad that western people aren't interested in African music etc. It's a cultural thing - how many times have you been in a cab and they are playing music they relate to? Would you choose to go and see a Bollywood movie? When I was in Greece last week someone was telling me they only listen to Greek music. When I was in the Middle East The music which is ubiquitous there didn't appeal to me. People's taste in culture stems from their backgrounds more often that not. If you want to appeal to Western people you use western music and western icons. TBH I struggled with Paul Simons Graceland so I'm not going to sit through hours of African music and culture. If comic relief is so dated then I would like to understand a equally realistic way of getting British people to put their hands in their pockets. Using African cultural icons is just not it.

Nobody is saying the west shouldn't help any country in crisis that isn't what posters are meaning at all.

A little bit of patronising on here. Seems some of us just don't 'get it'. It must be wonderful to think your superior to those who have a different point of view. I stick by my original post, ie Morgan Freeman said "you stop calling me black and I'll stop calling you white. End of racism. After reading this thread I rest my case.

In no way have I presented a superior case but I do find it patronising when people don't take issues of race seriously and reduce my experiences to issues of 'black and white end of racism' but there you go!

Maybe birdsdestiny, seeing emotive pictures such as eathquake devastation, or children living in poverty, helps people understand the situation and put their hands in their pockets, that is what the aim is.

@happierever yes I would go as see a Bollywood movie due to simple storylines and good dancing. However I rarely get to the cinema or get to watch full films anymore.

There are people who like music from various African countries or African artists who aren't from any African country.

Just because people in your social circle have narrow tastes doesn't mean everyone else does.

I stick by my original post, ie Morgan Freeman said "you stop calling me black and I'll stop calling you white. End of racism. After reading this thread I rest my case.

After #MeToo, Morgan Freeman is no longer the go-to wise and twinkly black man we though he was Pensionista.

We often find our idols, built up through the image fed by their publicists and film persona to the media, have feet of clay. I wouldn't be rushing to quote Morgan Freeman on any moral issues any time soon.

As others have said, it's complicated. I don't think Stacey Dooley is racist but she is ignorant and has been belligerent in her response.

That picture was astonishingly ill-judged. The child wasn't even looking at her and worse, she's not even looking at him. He's a prop.

I certainly don't think David Lammy is bigoted against white people. He sounds frustrated to me.

OrangeCinnamon.....Don't remember mentioning 'your' name' but if the 'cap fits' ? Be mad at Morgan Freeman then, as it's his quote, not mine. I do actually agree with him though. If we just left the colour of someones skin out of the equation, we'd have a completely different take on things. In my opinion it's devisive and causes racism, on all sides. We are all just people, and yes you will still get dickheads, but if we lived in a world where black, white, colour ajectives were not used for 'people' we may, just may get on a bit better.

No actually read the thread the cap doesn't fit. Bit PA not my saying but you agree with it ...that's ok then.

The fact is suddenly telling people they can't use phrase black or white won't actually stop racism or erase lived experience of racism. So why don't you get off YOUR high horse degrading my experiences

Limitedperiodonly .........I don't have to go along with Morgan Freemans ethos on life, but if I agree on something he said or anyone else for that matter Iwill quote them. I have no 'idols' by the way. It's only complicated because we make it so. David Lammy is a classic example in my opinion. It all depends how you choose to view something. Negatively or positively. Sorry if that upsets some people but that's how I view it. I saw a woman, (never heard of her by the way) and a gorgeous child. Taking offense is your right but it overcomplicates something that to me was something beautiful.

How was the child 'gorgeous' Pensionista? We couldn't even see his face. Just her grinning at the camera. He was looking down and didn't look like he wanted to be her Instagram prop. That's what's offensive.

OrangeCinnamon.....Wow, just touched a nerve did I. You really don't have to shout. Sorry if you think a different opinion to yours is getting on a high horse. Oh well can't win them all. For your information, I loath racism and if you or anyone else has suffered from it, I am truly sorry. I still think using ajectives, black white, colour perpetuates the problem. Like I said we are all just people, but unfortunately no matter what you do there will always be dickheads in the world.

Limitedperiodonly.....Like I said we have a different perspective on things. I can't be arsed trying to have a conversation with someone who just wants to argue the point.

unfortunately no matter what you do there will always be dickheads in the world

Wise words Pensionista

If that nerve is suffering racism all of my life , even from my position of privilege being in the west, with people continually going on about stuff like you do yet we still suffer

Thanks for denouncing my experiences as if they don't matter twice in one thread though..oh btw you can't go oooh touched a nerve did in smug like manner then make an attempt at apology doesn't work like that!