Dave's Brits Performance

[WaterOffADucksCrack]

I personally loved it. I had goosebumps watching it and I loved hearing the audience's positive reaction. It highlights how much racism is still around and how far we have to go. Even added in about our Prime Minister being racist and the blatant difference in the treatment of Meghan and Kate. "The least racist is still racist" was one of my favourite lines.

However, over 200 complaints calling Dave racist! What do you think of the performance?

YABU: they're right to complain his performance was racist.

YANBU: they were wrong to complain his performance wasn't racist.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=mXLS2IzZSdg

Was a work of art I loved it too

Was a work of art it really was!

I don't understand what people thought was racist about it.

It's beautiful...

It's interesting that the posters who think it's racistcan press the button but can't articulate why.

I love Dave. His album makes me cry when I listen to it.

How many other people speak out like that? He has my respect.

What reasons are they giving for it being racist?

It's not racist to celebrate and make poetic observations of the race you are part of, especially as it's a race that has been maligned at times throughout recent history.

It would be racist for Dave to posit a theory about the supremacy of his race, or it being better than any other race. But he didn't do that.

According to these people, we will never be able to comment on a single racial grouping ever again, even academically, because to do so is inherently racism. "We are all one race, the huuumannn race!" etc

Big up Dave and the artistic directors it was a superb performance

It was an amazing performance. People are fucking ridiculous.

glad to see this thread is so positive - makes me think that the "vast" amount of criticism the performance was getting has been made up by the press

It was an amazing performance, so much meaning in his words and the visuals were so fitting and poignant.

What reasons are they giving for it being racist? I don't think they've given any! I think because he said the word racist the complainers have gone all "no you're racist!"

I love Dave

I thought it was incredible. Genuinely the most impressive performance I've seen for a long time. Gave me goosebumps and moved me to tears. Not in a sistine chapel way though, I kept it quiet.

So 200 gammon Tommy Robinson types have complained 🤷🏻‍♀️

Some people are dicks. That's the best reason I can give you.

It's absolutely incredible I had tears in my eyes. DH is black and I've seen first hand how much harder he works than white counterparts in so many ways.

We have a one-year-old son and it's a strange notion that we will have to have conversations with him about what ethnicity means and why people might treat daddy differently to mummy.

"Equality is a right, it doesn't deserve credit" --- this couldn't be truer. Read any thread on race or ethnicity on a forum like this and it's full of people saying well we aren't as bad as this country or what about these people as if it's always a competition on who receives the most racism.

What an amazing man. This should go down in history as a momentous performance.

I don’t think it’s racist. I do think dedicating his performance, and prizes to the ‘hero’ who is his brother, in prison for one of the most violent gang murders, whilst telling others we need to concentrate on real issues, whilst his victims parents listen at home, is hypocrisy to the max tbh. Telling those in prison for murder to be strong and hold it down. Fuck that.

definitely not racist- one of the most hopeful, love filled performances I've ever seen. The whole Brits event was impressive.

It’s not normally my kind of music but I stopped what I was doing and actually listened to his performance and was really moved by it, the words were so clever and made me think.

White people accusing a black person of racism is like men accusing women of sexism.

I love Dave’s music but totally agree with @Amanduh on that point 100%

Read any thread on race or ethnicity on a forum like this and it's full of people saying well we aren't as bad as this country or what about these people as if it's always a competition on who receives the most racism I agree. I think racist people in this country think their level of racism is ok because they "aren't as bad" as other ones. It makes them feel better. Probably the "I'm not racist BUT....." crowd!

@Amanduh

I don't agree I'm afraid.

Yes his brother's actions were utterly wrong, but we could spend the next 30 years condemning him and not learning anything about the environment and the mentality which produces people who act this way.

Dave is a rare gem - he is of the same environment, but used his talent and perspective to escape it.

As a result he recognised the need to inform people of the mindset and culture that leads to people like his brother acting the terrible way he did. This is powerful - rather than people acting in the most dreadful of ways, then being condemned, and nothing else, through his art we get to experience things however uncomfortable.

If there is one or two young boys from the "ends" who hear this work and think differently then as far as I'm concerned his work is done.

Also, we are all fortunate etc that our siblings didn't choose such paths - if my DS was locked up having done a "madness" I might well shout her out on record to keep her spirits up. It doesn't negate what was done and how wrong it is, it's just family being family.

A lot of angry white people in thus country can't face up to themselves. It's easier to carry on doing what they've always done: DARVO.

Personally, I though it was sublime and a welcome break from the nepotistic mediocrity the masquerades as pop music nowadays. Haters gonna hate, as Taylor Swift would no doubt remind us.

I loved it as well. I think the people claiming it was racist are mostly the thick as mince Tommy Robinson loving brigade.

Black people can be as racist as white people and women can be sexist. This song is not racist.