To be shocked that this was ever ok?! Blackface on Little Britain...

[BrexitBingoGenerator]

Hello. I've just been looking at the Daily Mail (sorry) and there is a thing about this. I was genuinely gobsmacked seeing the photo and it's completely offensive. However, at some time in the not-so-distant past, this was seen as mainstream comedy and I remember it being on primetime telly. So a critical mass of people must have thought this was ok? I never really watched little Britain and this sketch in particular made me want to heave, but I think at the time it was rather for its horrible portrayal of women generally. I don't remember outrage over it at the time. But maybe there was? I guess I'm just ashamed that comedy like this could have been screened in my adult lifetime.

They even had a PM and his assistant. Hardly oppressed.

Is drag offensive to women?

@Gwenhwyfar there was the shopkeeper one as-well where really obscure things were asked for "Margery"

Yes Raaa - it wasn't that about oppressed groups particularly.

I dont know how they got famous they are bitter. just like all those programs with canned laughter. Better not give it air time or viewing figures.

So will white chicks be next ?

@strugglingwithdeciding

So will white chicks be next ?

Thank god you’re here! Nobody else has said this!

@Gwenhwyfar

Yes Raaa - it wasn't that about oppressed groups particularly.

Ah, so you do see the difference.

equal opportunities to earn the same. So you are comparing the white middle-class lady as offensive as the black overweight fat women. Because society is very white only those with an empathetic human nature will see this offensiveness but others won't care a hoot cos they are in the "I'm alright Jack position". They are both offensive yet one is more desirable than the other and is beneficial in society and gets less stigma in reality. The white middle class is only offensive in that it's saying that most middle-class people and elite class are white now that is offensive if you understand history to realise WHY THAT IS and that it addresses the lack of balance, equitability for ethnic middle-class people as they are the ones that have NOT benefitted from white privilege but the white middle class has benefitted and still are. After all, whites created a worldly foundation that was only meant for them and now we live in a society where we are just trying to live by there rules but is not working for us so now we have to lobby to create ones that are more fair - ditch the old historical ones. For example, the main roles on West End stage, films, adverts, the whole art world (unless specifically a need for an ethnic person) is generally white. You go for an audition usually an ethnic person won't get the main roles cos they are historically white and new ones are white. Society also seems to hate having a pretty black woman over a white woman (should it matter? Ethnic people tend to take minor roles and are grateful for a part. You study, work hard and pay the same only to be sidelined when it comes to making an honest living and don't have the same The portrayal of other characters are extremely offensive because ethnic people are always negatively being stereotyped on a personal basis which we have to constantly psychology picking ourselves up from it - yet we don't commit suicide easily cos we know we are always at the bottom and no one will pick us up if we don't ourselves. Whites however are always committing suicide, go figure!. One is stereotyping how white society has benefitted on a foundation built to serve them (white privilege) and the other is a personal affliction that is given to ethnic people by racists of subconscious racists. It's like would most white people want to be black for a week. I reckon a huge proportion would say "I'm good thanks" cos they navigate through life without any stigmas attached as a black person a large proportion might say yes only from the fact to experience what it must be like to navigate through life and not having someone make your colour an issue, feel uncomfortable about your presence or have pathetic totally unfounded stereotypes about you etc - only from that point of view. So yes all the characters are stereotypes but not in the same way as ethnic minorities in that it is more of a personal stereotypical representation rather than a societal stereotype representation. We've never watched that confounded series because it always felt instinctively biased and saying to ethnic people "don' go over the top about it as most people find it funny, so butt up and shut up and put up with it" as ethnic people as always had to suck up subtleties of racism cos they don't have confidence in that they will get the support they deserve. Sometimes it comes down to the fact that human beings can be shits. Everyone that is white can sometimes appear entitled, narcissistic and beneficially racist white privilege. Until you realise that a lot actually do care and that gives faith. After all, we are all the same just that some are made to feel different when we are not and we all want the same things in life. Everyone is human - sorry for going on in the light of things lately.

I hated the Margery clip never got it

"Ah, so you do see the difference."

Eh? What difference?

Of course you did. You always get those through history "I enjoyed it". WELL GOOD FOR YOU. Aren't you lucky to be on the side where the system has been created historically to date to mainly benefit you and that you can sit back so comfortably about a series that is somewhat questionable about some of it's material and say "I enjoyed it". Yeah cos none of the content is derogative about you is it now. I bet you are gonna say that you are Black, Asian or something, hmmmm!! Be more empathetic and understanding and a better human. Not follow the masses.

@Gwenhwyfar

"Ah, so you do see the difference."

Eh? What difference?

The difference between a white middle-class man dressed as a white middle-class man to take the piss out of white middle-class men, and a white middle-class men dressed up as a Thai bride to take the piss out of people from Thailand.

I hated the Margery clip never got it It's 'Margaret'

@WiseNiceWoman little Britain covered a lot of people gays , disabled , overweight women , all sorts really so I'm sure many could be offended by it
I doubt every black person is offended by it some will be some won't , infact someone on here as stated they didn't find it racist
Some characters were funny at the time others not so

@derxa sorry my phone prefers Margery

You are right in that Little Britain isn't about oppressed groups. It's disrespectful to women also. However, women are also of different ethnicities so when women have a problem ethnic women bare that problem tend fold more and the burden of their skin. This can be psychologically tiresome and depressing but we have to be strong cos there are too many people that cannot empathise or understand and live in their own white privilege bubble cos it doesn't directly affect them - how lucky you are!

@derxa oh yeah it was Margaret

Margaret was the wife of the shopkeeper, who had no arms or legs.

Marjorie Dawes was the Fat Fighters leader ('dust, anyone?').

@PuntoEBasta I never knew she was supposed to have no arm or legs ? Must admit wasn't a huge fan of little Britain only couple characters I liked

Wise - get some paragraphs please!

Sorry Wise, I thought I saw an incredibly long comment without paras, can't see that now.

"The difference between a white middle-class man dressed as a white middle-class man to take the piss out of white middle-class men, and a white middle-class men dressed up as a Thai bride to take the piss out of people from Thailand."

It's acting isn't it? He doesn't have to act characters like himself all the time. It's become unacceptable these days to pretend to be a different colour and possibly disability, but all the other things are still allowed - acting another sex, age, background, etc. It's what most actors do.

Again, Gwenhwyfar your reluctance to answer speaks volumes.

Margaret was the wife of the shopkeeper, who had no arms or legs.
Margaret was like Cpt Mainwaring's wife - never seen. It was a very old fashioned joke. Also the Barbara Cartland character who wrote 100 books a week.