Non-white figures you'd like to see portrayed

[JakeyRolling]

Inspired by a combination of another AIBU thread and a pods cast I listened to recently, there's loads of BAME historical figures who would make excellent subjects for a tv show.

So who would you like to see on the small screen?

For me it's Zheng Yi Sao, China's pirate queen.

Forget Grace O'Malley and Anne Bonney, this woman commanded a fleet of ships and up to 60,000 pirates.

Also would like to see Mary Seacole and her sticking two fingers up at Florence Nightingale and going to the Crimea anyway.

Ibn Fadlan.
He was an Islamic scholar who travelled around the world teaching people how to be Muslim and writing travelogs of the places and cultures he encountered.
He is most famous for writing an account of the Vikings. He was equally appalled by them and attracted to them.
It would make an excellent "worlds-colliding" type film.

James McCune Smith

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_McCune_Smith

Actually any of the travelling Islamic scholars (or a composite character based on more than one person) would be an cool central character for an educational kids cartoon about the medieval world.
He could visit a different country each week and show what daily life was like there in the medieval period.

It would just be nice if non-white figures weren’t presented in the white view, virtually everytime something is made it is from the white perspective.

There has already been a film about her, and a book, but I would like a proper movie (not a made for TV movie) about Henrietta Lacks.

Alos, Daisy Bates.

www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/25/claudette-colvin-the-woman-who-refused-to-give-up-her-bus-seat-nine-months-before-rosa-parks

Every teenager should learn about Claudette Colvin - and adults too. We adults can be very dismissive of teenagers' passions for justice. But they can cause pivotal moments in history. Really powerful.

@unlimiteddilutingjuice

Ibn Fadlan. He was an Islamic scholar who travelled around the world teaching people how to be Muslim and writing travelogs of the places and cultures he encountered. He is most famous for writing an account of the Vikings. He was equally appalled by them and attracted to them. It would make an excellent "worlds-colliding" type film.

Ibn Fadlan was the basis for the main character in the early medieval fantasy film The Thirteenth Warrior - although he was played by Antonio Banderas rather than someone actually from the middle east, in true 90's film style.

Oh cool. I've never heard of that film. I'll check it out.

Bessie Coleman.

There are soooo many notable (non-White) historical figures in the Caribbean, African and Asian countries as well as the European and American ones that I'm not sure where to begin. Especially those who aren't as popular or on the mainstream radar.

As someone said upthread, it is important to not let their stories be told from a White perspective or to (mainly) appeal to White audience/sensitivities, as these things are often done.

Also, I'm pretty sure some of their stories have been told in their countries already. But no harm in re-telling.

Josephine Baker - jazz age singer and entertainer, civil rights activist and heroine of the French resistance ...

Harriet Tubman. A true hero.

Queen Amina an African warrior ruler.

Enrique of Malacca from Malaysia. First person to circumnavigate the globe.
www.history.com/.amp/news/was-magellan-the-first-person-to-circumnavigate-the-globe

Walter Tull first black officer in the war and professional footballer.

Ohhh exciting Queen Amina released in 2021 on Netflix.
Thanks op, now I have to subscribe 😜

@Simonjt

It would just be nice if non-white figures weren’t presented in the white view, virtually everytime something is made it is from the white perspective.

Do you mean the tendancy to present things such as slave trade and those that rebelled against it over and over again, usually with a lot of focus on white allies? Or doing stories about people in a white world, such as Pocahontas, rather than stories told in their own culture/politics/history.

I think that there is room for both types of story but definitely the first is overdone.

It's why I felt black panther really worked even though it was fictional as the world,.politics and history we're all very separate from the other marvel universe.
Very disappointed by the otherarvela on general but BP very good.

No, I mean films/TVs shows being made for a white audience.

@Suzanne999 there was a film about Harriet Tubman called Harriet on Netflix a few months ago, unsure if it’s still there.

The Tale of Genji which is accepted as being the first true novel ever written was written by a woman called Murasaki Shikibu it has been dramatised a few times but it’s in Japanese. What people are really asking is for big western film makers with global reach to make films about non whites. If they thought they could make money they would do it.

The Roman writer who said people just needed bread and circuses was spot on and it is as apt today as it was then.

Walter Tull, black footballer and WW1 hero - Northampton loves him!

I'm torn. For example
I read about the Amina fil. Above because it was criticized because it's in English.
httpss://www.google.com/amp/s/travelnoire.com/amp/nigerian-film-queen-amina-controversy
However, I am glad it's in English as it means I get to enjoy it. Would not have a problem with subtitles or dubbing but I know that would limit the audience a bit.

Would love to see more dramatisations of the many colonial resistance movements and independence struggles, especially in African nations.

Touissant L’Ouverture

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toussaint_Louverture

Genuine question but we've been told by our company that BAME is now an offensive term and must not be used. This is a large global company with thousands of employees so not something they'd come out with lightly. Any views on this?

BAME is now an offensive term and must not be used.
Have they given you an alternative? I can see why people wouldn't like to be lumped together in a kind of 'non white' way.
However, if you can't name the groups effected by racism you can't address it very effectively. I'd be worried that racism incidents would effectively be hidden due to colour blindness. I.e would still happen but difficult to name.

But on reflection lumping name together might mean a company can employ a lot of one race but still discriminate against others. I.e employ a lot of Asian descent people but no African but their bame employment looks good.
Maybe this is what your company is tackling. Complex issue and not sure what the answer is.