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.

There was supposed to be a TV series about her:

amp.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/14/life-indian-princess-fought-nazis-tv-series-noor-inayat-khan

But I can’t find anything. Was it pandemic-postponed?

Actually non fiction, but there's supposed to be an adaptation of A Thousand Splendid Suns in the works and I can't wait for that.

Can't wait is probably the wrong term given how brutal the story is, but you know what I mean

@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.

Like Shooting Dogs and The Last King of Scotland?

@JuergenSchwarzwald

Princess Noor Inayat Khan- spied for Allies, killed by Nazis I was going to suggest her as well.

I'd also like to see some programs with more representation of Irish, Welsh and Scottish historical figures (not Braveheart!) without them having to be tied entirely to an English viewpoint.

Sorry was also going to mention Princess Noor Inayat Khan - I've seen a couple of documentaries but no film/drama (attached quote to wrong post)

@Suzanne999

Harriet Tubman. A true hero.

I’ve really enjoyed watching the film Harriet . Cynthia Erivo is brilliant in it

Queen Yaa Asantewaa

@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.

This.

A film depicting the truth about Matoaka, not like the rubbishy romanticised Pocahontas.

@Maireas

Mansa Musa is a very interesting character. Fabulously wealthy, but famously generous on his pilgrimage to Mecca. A very successful Empire builder, expanding the empire of Mali successfully into a large swathe of Africa.

I’d like to see one on him too. As you say, he was far too generous and not bothered about stabilising the economy for gold, etc. He wanted everyone to be comfortable

Haile Selassie I

Dr Who, niche?

Doctor Who was the seventh most streamed show on iPlayer in the UK in 2021, behind Line of Duty, the Olympics, Pretty Little Liars, Euro2020, Silent Witness and Waterloo Road, which hasn’t been on since March 2015. The BBC say Doctor Who was streamed 41.8m times. That figure isn’t just for the current series – every episode since 2005 is currently available – but it does suggest the important place the BBC still sees Doctor Who having in its drama lineup.

From The Guardian review of the New Year’s Day Special …

Great thread!

There was a TFL London tube map done during black history month. They can do a documentary on how that came about. The research done for each person. Speak to those involved. Things like that.

Doctor Who was the seventh most streamed show on iPlayer in the UK
Isn't I player just BBC though? 7th most popular show on one viewing platform isn't amazingly.popular.
Besides, Dr who is very niche. As is all sci fi. I say that as a sci fi fan.(hate Dr who though)

Well … To watch iplayer in the UK you have to have a TV licence - so that’s not a small section of the population. (I don’t, but most people do, don’t they?)

Not that the details matter! In my world Dr Who is the ultimate mainstream family TV. After almost 60 years of intermittent airing I’d be surprised if most people in the country were not aware of it.

That said, I despised all the preachy history teaching of the recent iteration … 🤷🏽‍♀️

Interesting, off topic but I do wonder how many people actually have a TV licence nowadays. All the 35 and younger people I know don't bother.
I watched the extras version of Dr who and some Christmas special. It always seemed awful.to me.

Te Rauparaha and his realisation that he had been tricked after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and following Musket Wars.