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

I thought it was an amazing performance.

Yes racism exists but to get back to the op, Diversity doing a dance including a scene representing a man's murder in the US was virtue signalling and not constructive. I believe they could use their privilige [sic] and platform in a more useful and meaningful way. That doesn't mean it's their 'responsibility' to do so, but neither is it their 'responsibility' to dance about US policing on a UK talent show.

I don't agree with this analysis but I can see why you'd say it.

What have you done to combat racism, @GetOffYourHighHorse, in the last (say) 12 months? Other than really quite vehemently and persistently put the boot into some black people on an internet message board?

Oh. Despite been black, his opinions on racial tensions and BLM are irrelevant because you don't agree with his politics?! Fascinating

Good summary of any recent posts on mumsnet discussing racism !

Calvin Robinson, like Dominique Samuels, is black but doesn't sign up to the BLM ideology. He states everyone in the UK has an equal opportunity to succeed, he doesn't support BLM as it is 'stoking racial tension when none existed to start with'.

I see, so we're back at your 'systemic racism doesn't exist' thing again only this time you're hoping that because you've found a black person saying it somehow means your views are any less prejudiced.

What next? My black mate says...

The idea that the UK has equality of opportunity is laughable. If we did then we wouldn't have sex inequality, we'd not have many high profile professions dominated by privately educated people, top universities would be more ethnically representative of the UK when you look at their home students, there'd not be a well known gap in attainment based on where a child is from, women and men would be paid comparable amounts for the same job, maternity discrimination wouldn't be a think, we'd have a House of Commons that represents the make up of the UK

We don't.

I suppose you're going to argue that's because women, ethnic minorities and those with disabilities just happen to not be as talented, not as driven, just not as good and that's why they're routinely under represented in many areas?

Robinson’s opinion isn’t really relevant.
Let’s face it, Johnson is an idiot, but he managed a parliamentary majority. Robinson’s opinion isn’t that of the majority.
Black people do not have equality of opportunity. BLM is not stoking tensions, it is however highlighting them.

'What have you done to combat racism, @GetOffYourHighHorse, in the last (say) 12 months? Other than really quite vehemently and persistently put the boot into some black people on an internet message board?'

Bear. If you read your posts you are often the one 'putting the boot in'. I have just very patiently put my views forward.

What would you suggest, should I apply to BGT and perform some art?

I will continue to educate our dc to be inclusive and respectful of anyone regardless of race or religion. I will also tell them not to swallow the hysteria on social media or from prats like Piers Morgan and to listen to both sides of an argument/discussion, to listen to intelligent people like Calvin Robinson not just those shouting the loudest and of course to challenge racists like Kofi Josephs. HTH.

Good summary of any recent posts on mumsnet discussing racism!
Not teal, Cats, the opinion of the odd black person doesn’t mean it’s that of the majority, just as the opinion of some one mumsnet doesn’t make up the majority, thank goodness!

GetOffYourHighHorse
But not teach them that there's a particularly subtle and insidious brand of racism that's woven into sections of society who think that being a little eloquent and saying 'I'm not racist but systemic racism isn't an issue because some black people have been successful and anyway everyone has equality of opportunity anyway so don't you go listening to the hysterical people who say otherwise'

Oh. Despite been black, his opinions on racial tensions and BLM are irrelevant because you don't agree with his politics?!

Standing for the party of choice of racists seems relevant.

'the opinion of the odd black person doesn’t mean it’s that of the majority'

.

Now if I'd have said that I dread to think how many 'racist!' Reports would be fired off to mnhq.

Doesn't his opinion count, is he irrelevant? I'm very shocked. Who knew minorities should be ignored, it's as if people haven't learnt anything.

Pretty sure you don't hold everyone's opinions in equal esteem, getoff

ITV have issued a statement in response to the complaints.

Apparently lots of right wing extremist groups have got their members to complain about it.

I thought it was very moving.

Doesn't his opinion count, is he irrelevant? I'm very shocked. Who knew minorities should be ignored, it's as if people haven't learnt anything.
Back trying to argue you're the champion of ethnic minorities again are we? 🙄

I don't agree with anyone from the Brexit Party who wants to argue that everyone has equality of opportunity when one look at society shows it isn't the case.

I'm not ignoring his political views. I'm fiercely disagreeing with his political views.

Well done itv for standing by them

Good on Itv..
Do wonder how many who complained actually watched the dance.. or would've complained if there hadn't been a fuss made and papers writing about theres been this many blahhh.

Well done ITV

Round of applause for ITV.

Slow handclap for @GetOffYourHighHorse, @Jillyhilly, and all their racist mates. You're on the wrong side of history, guys.

I haven't watched it yet or read the full thread. It would seem blatantly obvious the complainants were a bunch of racists though.

The views of some people will never change. They simply do not want to have their comfortable world view disrupted or challenged. But others will read posts like some of the ones on this thread, and it’s clear that the replies are right and show them up even more than their original posts. So even if they won’t listen to why what they are saying denies and supports systematic racism, someone else might.

My son was 7 when he was called a n*gger for the first time. By another 7 year old - at school - who was supposedly his friend. He called his friend annoying. They both got the same punishment. It took the school 2 days to admit what my son had been called. My son of course had already told me when he came home - but he had no idea what the word meant. I had to explain to him what racism was, and why it is never ok for a white person to call him that word. My husband and I felt guilty for not having had that conversation with him earlier. That he had to learn about it through experiencing it. At 7.

When my husband was in ICU fighting for his life on a ventilator after being diagnosed with stage 4 Lymphoma, his doctors were afraid to wake him up. They asked me to be in the room because they didn't want him to react badly and hit somebody. They kept saying what a big guy he was. He is 5 foot 9, and at the time had lost so much weight he looked like a corpse.

My children and I put black lives matter posters up in our window. One of our neighbours attacked my husband over it. My husband was having cancer treatment at the time, he had a PICC line in and visible, as well as being on crutches. Our neighbour attacked him outside of our home. Some of our neighbours called the police. 2 police cars and an armed response unit turned up. The regular police went and had a chat with our neighbour. The armed response unit made a B line for my husband.

My whole life I have been told I was 'pretty for a black girl' by white people who think they are complimenting me.

I have worked senior roles in London and white people have been friendly and polite with me - whilst they assume I am an assistant or a secretary (and once even a cleaner).

When giving birth to both my children I was not given the adequate pain relief that I needed. Mortality rates of pregnant black women and their babies is disproportionately high in the UK.

These are just a few of the more recent occurrences I'm naming.

I truly believe if you asked any one of the white people in each of those stories - they would say they were not racist. It has been very obvious to me from day one that many racist people to not understand that they are racist.

However well meaning they may be, however much they may believe that people are equal, however many black friends they may or may not have, society has taught them that people who look like me and my family are dangerous, aggressive, and beneath them.

They are not used to seeing people who look like us fairly portrayed in the media. They are not used to hearing black voices. They were not raised reading story books with black characters. They do not see black people being as valued or respected as white people. We remain an 'other'.

So when a black man is murdered by the police on camera, yet again, whether it is America or down the road from us, and the police officers are not brought to justice, I promise you I take it personally. Because the people asking the question 'well what did he do before this', the people using his criminal past as an excuse for his murder, the people saying 'blue lives matter' and the people saying they are glad he was killed - are not exclusively from the US. Because one day it could be my husband. Or my son. And you will all be so used to seeing black men murdered by police that it won't make you bat an eyelid.

Round of applause for @PandaBearBear. I'm so sorry these things happened to you.

@GetOffYourHighHorse' @Jillyhilly, are you listening? This is reality for many BAME people, however unconfortable that makes you. I hope her post doesn't interrupt your tea time viewing.

@thedancingbear They’ll just say that she should have mentioned the fact that white children get bullied too

'So when a black man is murdered by the police on camera, yet again, whether it is America or down the road from us, and the police officers are not brought to justice, I promise you I take it personally. '

Derek Chauvin has been charged with murder. Tony Timpa was killed in similar circumstances but the charges (misdemeanour!) against the police officers in the US were dropped. Didn't his life matter? But yes, you're of course right to want justice for victims of police brutality.

'have worked senior roles in London and white people have been friendly and polite with me - whilst they assume I am an assistant or a secretary (and once even a cleaner)'

There isn't anything inferior about being a secretary or a cleaner, why are you looking down your nose on lower paid workers? Classism is ok? This happens to women of all ethnicities so yes racism, like sexism, is of course a problem and diversity and equality laws go a long way to addressing systemic and institutional racism.

People's attitudes though, that takes longer. You only have to see all the racial hate Calvin Robinson has had on Twitter for daring to voice his opinion to see that people, of all races and certainly present throughout this thread, are so quick to 'put the boot in'.

@GetOffYourHighHorse yes, Derek Chauvin has been charged with murder now.

After seeing your previous posts on this thread I don't wish to engage with you in particular any longer. You are hell bent on belittling what I have seen and experienced my whole life, what I stay up at night worrying my children will experience.

I can only conclude that at best you are wilfully ignorant and insensitive, and at worst a racist.