To ask if there's something I'm missing about the allegedly "controversial" Diversity performance

[GlummyMcGlummerson]

Diversity performed on Britain's Got Talent, a performance which incorporated a message about BLM. Their performance, as usual, was incredible and sent out some great messages. The video is below.

It's had 10,000 complaints. Why?! am I missing something? Did someone's nipple pop out or something? What is the basis of people's complaints? The only reason I can think is that some people (probably because they're part of the problem) don't like it when others point out that there's racism in the world? Boo hoo to them

'People with privilege sarcastically telling people without to 'educate themselves' is fucking offensive.'

It isn't sarcastic. I mean it. It isn't ok for anyone to say they arent 'aware' of people like Sasha Johnson and the aims of BLM UK but they support BLM.

@GetOffYourHighHorse, you know full well that 'educate yourself' is an expression used by black people to implore people to find out more about black history and white oppression.

You deliberately turning that message round and telling a black person to 'educate herself' on the subject of racism is fucking grim tbh.

Ah okay, thanks dancing That does make sense. Sean Rigg and Roger Sylvester needed mental health services not the unnecessary restraint and force which killed them.

This piece is great on what defunding the police entails, and explains how it has already worked well in some places in the US:

www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2020/06/19/what-does-defund-the-police-mean-and-does-it-have-merit/

People have tried to point out to you that it’s just an assumption and does appear to be incorrect. Diversity are free to reference a movement that they clearly feel matters to them and is important, at no point have they or anyone else asked you to donate money or support defunding the police or agree with BLM.

At this point I would suggest that it’s naive (or disingenuous) in the extreme to suggest that just because you say “black lives matter” without specifically being linked to the organisation Black Lives Matter, people won’t make that link themselves and feel pissed off about it.

It is exactly the same as being aware that saying “All lives matter”

They were doing something that mattered to THEM. It was their dance it does not belong to anyone else. You don’t have the right to tell any performer to censor their beliefs and feelings, no one does. The concept that performers like diversity are owned by the public and should not step outside of their lane of light entertainment is really distasteful.

I didn’t tell Diversity to censor their beliefs and feelings. I explained to you why some people might have had problems with the performance and view it as inappropriately political.

And by the same token I’m sure that as someone who values artistic freedom of expression, you’d support the appearance of the Trump Fan Club’s Choral Tribute, or the EDL’s brass band ensemble, right? After all, the concept that performers are owned by the public and should not step outside of their lane of light entertainment is really distasteful.

*it is exactly the same as saying All lives matter is not controversial. Language has moved on since the summer and we should all take responsibility for moving with it.

This piece is great on what defunding the police entails, and explains how it has already worked well in some places in the US:

www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2020/06/19/what-does-defund-the-police-mean-and-does-it-have-merit/

That’s an interesting article. I still think the idea is bonkers, but I hadn’t really considered the fact that the police in the US do indeed get involved in all kinds of non-criminal nonsense that really only requires the presence of a reasonably sensible adult. I used to love reading the local news about what the local police had been up to like “resident unable to switch off central heating” and “caller concerned that squirrel had broken into the school” all of which apparently were duly investigated.

I don't get it either . One of the acts is kids singing a song about bullying which is a another huge issue . They have acts based on animal welfare too (Miracle the rescue dog this series) and they've had choirs that formed to support mens mental health in Wales and , the parents of missing people (formed by Claudia Lawrence's Dad). Social responsibility in an entertainment show is refreshing to me. Good for them & Ashley re that routine.

That’s an interesting article. I still think the idea is bonkers

Jillyhilly, I don't give a monkey's what you think, as you've lain yourself bare by comparing 'Black Lives Matter' to the EDL. It is clear what you are.

CSIblonde, exactly. No-one cares about topical subjects being addressed in light entertainment until it's something that raises their heckles. Like some black people complaining about racism. Then they go nuts and spend hours defending their position on social media.

Language has moved on since the summer and we should all take responsibility for moving with it.

Indeed. And the insistence that the slogan Black Lives Matter is only and should only be used by people who want to overthrow the government is clearly silly given its actual usage and therefore people should take responsibility and also move on.

Otherwise it seems an awful lot like they’re trying to stop people saying that black lives matter.

they’re trying to stop people saying that black lives matter.

yep.

I've just watched it and I thought it was awesome with a very positive message at the end. It was also very moving. Not sure what there is to complain about really.

thedancingbear

I'm not sure that the link is allowed to be posted but

• [post edited by MNHQ as we don't allow fundraising links]

"In the meantime, we are proud to share our vision of freedom with you as laid out in our six political demands. They underpin the work we've been doing and how we will support the struggle to transform black lives in the UK and internationally:

1. We call for the police to be defunded and our communities to be invested in

2. We call for an end to the hostile environment and border controls that destroy lives

3. We call for the transformation of our education systems and decriminalisation of black students in the classroom

4. We demand justice for the gross mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating consequences on the most marginalised in our communities

5. We call for a recognition of our global responsibilities and international solidarity with all oppressed people across the world

6. We demand the funding of safe and sustainable futures."

'You deliberately turning that message round and telling a black person to 'educate herself' on the subject of racism is fucking grim tbh.'

Are you serious, I'm not allowed to say people need to educate themselves as that expression has been claimed?! Fwiw it wasn’t 'on the subject of racism' it was on the subject of BLM v BLM the political organisation. There is apparently a difference and people need to know that, although now you're linking to defunding the police articles so you seem a little confused yourself.

Defund the police might well be an American phrase but really the US and the UK are not so different. The same issues do apply here just not so extreme. Fortunately we don't have guns.

The police themselves do complain about their role being expanded to include all kind of social issues here in the UK

I work in mental health
The police hate that they get called out to mentally ill people threatening suicide and acting oddly in the street. They know they are not necessarily the right people to respond and that it increases the chance of violence when police get involved but they have to because MH services are not funded.
All police officers I know hate dealing with issues they feel should be mental health and feel they lack training to manage these issues properly.

They also spend a lot of time on low level anti social behaviour that might be better addressed by investment in youth workers and better housing and education.

Defund is not the same as abolish
Tory governments have always been big on law and order but where does it get is in reality. There needs to be some carrot as well as stick.

People who think institutional racism in the police force (and all of society) is just a US issue are plain wrong.

I do not find myself disagreeing with any of BLM's aims as posted if they are properly understood

They are saying that investment in communities will reduce crime and violence and reduce the need for money to be spent on policing and prisons. We are not exactly winning with the way we are going I'd say so why not some fresh thinking.

TheId

The problem with "defund the police" is that in some areas (mainly rural) the police are under funded already.

In the area that I am from the police response time is 45 minutes. There are no local bobbies in the area any more.

Can you really see defunding the police to mean that they will be defunded in cities? more likely they will reduce funding in rural areas more.

The main killers of black people are other black people. Diversity are made up of very privileged and rich young men who seem to have suffered no racism in fact quite the opposite. They were virtue signalling.

@Muminabun

The main killers of black people are other black people. Diversity are made up of very privileged and rich young men who seem to have suffered no racism in fact quite the opposite. They were virtue signalling.

I think you completely misunderstand the issues. White people killing white people isn’t the issue and neither is black people being killed by black people.

It is about representatives of government, state appointed guardians of law, order and protection, deciding it is acceptable to kill black people in cold blood. It is about stamping on someone’s neck until they die of suffocation because you feel sufficiently empowered by a society that places a lower value on black lives.

Are you suggesting the police treating black people more harshly, brutalising black people, is acceptable? Are you suggesting racism is OK? That’s what is coming across. To be clear racism is no more just the problem of those who have been most disadvantaged by it anymore than sexism is just for little women to sort out.

You seriously need to educate yourself beyond the Daily Express opinion columns.

Muminabun
Like I said to another poster (and they didn't answer), would you be telling David Attenborough to stop talking about plastic polution? Would you be claiming he is virtue signalling because he doesn't even live in a country most affected by plastic polution?

Should anyone with a platform refrain from using it to raise awareness about issues? Or is it just a group of BAME men who should shut up about racism?

Because it seems like most people objecting to Diversity exploring police brutality in a dance about other things as well seem like their main issue is 'a group of BAME dancers shouldn't explore racism, don't use a platform to raise issues because it's attention seeking / virtue signalling'.

Diversity are made up of very privileged and rich young men who seem to have suffered no racism in fact quite the opposite

Either this is trolling us or you are seriously over privileged and deluded yourself. How on earth can you comment on what a BAME person may or may not have experienced in their life, purely based on the fact they became successful as young adults (not as children). Is it possible to avoid racism with money? With fame? I gather you have personally spoken with the group members to back up your statement?

There is blatant racism on this thread and every other social media and news outlet since they performed, so I think they might know something about racism

@Muminabun the post you made above is so sad and poorly educated. It is sad that this is even classed as an ‘opinion’ to be honest

metro.co.uk/2020/09/13/ashley-banjo-target-of-racial-abuse-and-threats-after-bgt-blm-routine-sparks-over-15000-complaints-13265736/

Diversity receive racist threats because of the routine. But I’m sure they know nothing of racism

'How on earth can you comment on what a BAME person may or may not have experienced in their life, purely based on the fact they became successful as young adults (not as children). Is it possible to avoid racism with money? With fame? I gather you have personally spoken with the group'

Banjo had a privileged childhood, he went to a private school, was head boy which doesn't suggest he experienced any prejudice. Now he of course can still dance about the racism others experience but it's as palatable as Jacob Rees Mogg doing a dance about poverty.

Unlikely to have experienced prejudice because he was head boy, wow, I am genuinely amazed by that batshit statement.

You think being head boy protected him from racism in the same way as being the leader of a famous dance group has protected him from racism?

No wait...like I just posted, they’ve been getting racist threats even though they’re in a privileged position.

Stupid argument.

So now coming from a wealthy, privileged family means you can't experience prejudice? Okay then