Page 5 | Lucy Worsley and the N word

BlackKite · 2020-08-02T14:47:06+00:00

Lucy Worsley is getting a kicking on Twitter. She was doing a TV show about the American Civil War and quoted someone opposed to the emancipation of slaves, using the N word. [[https://t.co/g76XVwQTjk?amp=1]] On the show, it’s clear that it’s a quote and she briefly warns the viewer before uttering the word. AIBU to think that in the context, historians should be able to use kind of language without giving offense?

UnaCorda · 03/08/2020 12:16

We are in hugely different times after Black Lives Matter. Had you not noticed?

Are we really? I'm not saying BLM is insignificant or wasn't necessary, but can you really claim that one year later is "hugely different times"? I think it takes longer than that for a fundamental cultural shift to happen, despite the many protests, etc. After all, the people protesting were likely already anti-racist...

IntermittentParps · 03/08/2020 12:17

DGRossetti, that's a bit facetious/disingenuous, no? Obviously Dolly was talking about the recently heightened profile of the Black Lives Matter movement.

I agree with Dolly that the objections to the programme/the word are happening now and didn't happen after its original showing at least partly because there's now more awareness of these issues.

DollyDoneMore · 03/08/2020 12:17

@DGRossetti

We are in hugely different times after Black Lives Matter. Had you not noticed?

For me they've always mattered.

Can's speak for anyone else.

Good for you.

But that’s not the point.

BLM is rightly demanding that previous norms change to reflect the reality of Black Lives. That includes not putting up with racist police brutality. It means not putting up with the n word being used by white people precisely because millions of Black people do find it deeply, painfully offensive.

DollyDoneMore · 03/08/2020 12:19

@UnaCorda

We are in hugely different times after Black Lives Matter. Had you not noticed?

Are we really? I'm not saying BLM is insignificant or wasn't necessary, but can you really claim that one year later is "hugely different times"? I think it takes longer than that for a fundamental cultural shift to happen, despite the many protests, etc. After all, the people protesting were likely already anti-racist...

Yes, a line in the sand has been drawn. We will look back to this year as having been of huge consequence. Our behaviour must change. Everyone’s behaviour.

UnaCorda · 03/08/2020 12:30

Yes, a line in the sand has been drawn. We will look back to this year as having been of huge consequence. Our behaviour must change. Everyone’s behaviour.

I'm not saying this year has not been important re. BLM, and I agree that it's important for behaviour to change - I'm just doubtful that this has happened yet. I just don't think we evolve as a society, or as individuals, that quickly.

charley50 · 03/08/2020 12:49

I saw the programme and was a little surprised she used the n word, although she was showing it how it was in those times, so in context.

I also think her tone is a little 'light,' which works brilliantly for medieval history which she does so well, but not so much when showing lynchings and a recent civil rights protester being killed.

Having said that, the programme did explain some of the detail of that period really well. I learnt a lot watching it.
The BBC could have edited out the 'n' word for this release.

Thegereldine3000 · 03/08/2020 13:14

If she hadn't said it, it wouldn't be historically accurate.

SarahAndQuack · 03/08/2020 13:27

@Thegereldine3000

If she hadn't said it, it wouldn't be historically accurate.

Eh?

So should she also make sure everything she quotes on any programme is untranslated from the original, just in case translating it into a modern form of English becomes 'historically inaccurate'?

What a ridiculous suggestion.

AgileLass · 03/08/2020 15:11

Are we really? I'm not saying BLM is insignificant or wasn't necessary, but can you really claim that one year later is "hugely different times"? I think it takes longer than that for a fundamental cultural shift to happen, despite the many protests, etc.

There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen.

NeedToKnow101 · 03/08/2020 16:01

@AgileLass

"There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen."

So true.

Original poster

BlackKite · 03/08/2020 17:23

We are in hugely different times after Black Lives Matter. Had you not noticed?

It would be wonderful if in the space of a year, we have become more aware of racial injustices, but sadly, I suspect what has changed is an increased tendency to virtuously call people out on Twitter.

OP posts:

StillWeRise · 05/08/2020 12:03

I despair that people are including
not putting up with racist police brutality
and
QUOTING a racist word whilst discussing historic slavery in America
in the category of 'things we won't put up with anymore'.
This is what makes me sceptical about BLM. How are the actions of BLM protestors actually going to effect change? Having a go at historians who have failed some ill thought out rule of etiquette will acheive precisely nothing to improve things for BAME people and will just fuel the Winterval/binliners/blackboards/baa baa black sheep nonsense.

UnaCorda · 05/08/2020 12:46

@BlackKite

We are in hugely different times after Black Lives Matter. Had you not noticed?

It would be wonderful if in the space of a year, we have become more aware of racial injustices, but sadly, I suspect what has changed is an increased tendency to virtuously call people out on Twitter.

I completely agree.

Perhaps a few people will genuinely have had their attitudes changed, but I suspect it's a far smaller number than people would like to think.