Do you find this offensive?

[Meeting]

The Theatre Royal Stratford East is putting on a show and have blocked out 2 dates as "Blackout" nights where they encourage (but I don't think plan to enforce) that only black people may attend these performances.

I saw them discussing it on Piers Morgan and neither of the guests advocating for it were able to convince me that this type of segregation was at all beneficial.

Does anybody think this is a good idea? Personally I think segregation based on skin colour has no place in society, no matter who benefits from it. But I'm interested to hear from others who might away it differently?

Imagine if racism wasn't just historical and had real-world implications for people of colour every day...

White, though from an ethnic group which experiences discrimination in the UK, and I have no issue whatsoever with this. Have you seen how white theatre audiences are?

I don't like "positive discrimination".

Discrimination where one has a dominant characteristic over another is fine (e.g. men and women competing physically), but on grounds where there is no "competitive edge", there should be no discrimination either.

I used to be a mechanical engineer, and many engineering companies are trying to do "positive discrimination" to encourage more women into engineering. So despite only 1 in 8 (or even fewer) engineers being female, over half the applicants selected for interview are female. Why can I not compete on my own merit against any other applicant?!

I do not want to be given an interview just because I'm female. I want to be given an interview because I have worked hard and I am good at what I do!

So to answer the OP, I agree that events that do not involve a beneficial characteristic to complete should have no form of discrimination. By all means encourage women to attend Ascot on a certain day, or encourage groups of black people to attend the theatre, or encourage boys to take up dance, but it shouldn't discriminate against any other group.

The idea of implementing segregation based on skin color, even with the intention of promoting inclusivity or representation, goes against the principles of equality and should not be encouraged.

There would be uproar if it was whiteout evenings hence it’s offensive, hypocritical and actually I think harms race renationalise rather than unifies

As I said, I realise that's not the intention, but that's how it makes me feel. I can't help that. The OP asked a question, I've answered it.

Apparently, this was arranged so black people could attend without being under the "white gaze" - whatever that means.

Did I say revenge? This all sounds a bit Laurence Fox to me.
I talked about feeling empowered, about reclaiming a narrative. And frankly if some black people feel that desire, why would I have a problem with it. It doesnt harm me. Im not that fragile.

It's the equivalent of male gaze.

If a theatre put on a show about male rape of women, would you object to a performance to a women's audience, away from the male gaze?

It’s horrendous.
If I’m mixed race am I allowed to go? Or perhaps I’d have to sit behind a pillar so I only get a restricted view.

@MumblesParty

What if a group of friends wanted to go together, some white and some black - the white ones would feel uncomfortable for gatecrashing a black event, and the black ones might feel like traitors in the eyes of the other black attendees.

Then that group of friends could all go on one of the 28 other nights, no?

Everyone is allowed to go.

I am white and would choose not to go.

@WhatATimeToBeAlive it means they’re every bit as racist as white people. There would be a national outcry if a theatre came out and said they were having a white only night so that white people don’t have to deal with black people and rightly so. It should not be acceptable the other way around either.

White people aren’t a minority just like men aren’t a minority HTH ❤️

It means that black people may want to experience watching theatre and a Q&A that is highly emotive and covers historical topics of oppression (like Slave Play) without their experience potentially becoming teaching tools or having to listen to white people whining.

I mean look at these posts on this thread. Imagine you’re a black person sitting in the Q&A after something like Slave Play and having to listen to a white person raise their hand and whinge ‘why were all the white characters baddies? If there was a play with all black baddies there would be outrage! This is just like apartheid, it’s divisive and it makes me feel bad!’ Maybe they want to ensure that will be avoided and they can participate in a performance that reflects their experiences and history without having to be aware of other people’s feelings.

WHITE PEOPLE ARE NOT BANNED. IT IS NOT A 'BLACK ONLY NIGHT'.

I came believe so many people are in support of segregation

@Twins3007

Imagine the response if it was the other way round , I never get the MOBO awards imagine if there was an only white music award. Okay I know in history the white people have a lot to answer for but surely we are moving on now this just brings division

What an embarrassing example.

The MOBOs aren't awards for black people only. There's no rule that only black artists can win.

They celebrate music of black origin. Do some research before you claim reverse racism 🙄

This thread is a prime example of why racism is still a problem.

A load of white people claiming to be offended because more black people are being encouraged to go to the theatre.

Do you think women who had been raped would feel comfortable with men in their support group? Would you call that segregation too?

Absolutely this. It’s hardly an innovative or controversial idea!

I can't believe some people are still downright lying to spin their own narrative, but here we are.

Of course it's not offensive. They're trying to broaden audiences.

I'm a regular theatre goer and every performance I go to the audience is almost totally white.

Imagine if they did this but in reverse. And ssying only white people allowed

Oh my... I would wanna see how thatwould go down 😅

Its freaking rediculous is what it is
Racism works 2 ways.
This clearly is a case of racism.

Instead of not allowing a certain race. Lets encourage other races to come.

White people aren’t being banned so the faux outrage is extremely dishonest. Anyway I look forward to the next conversation about women’s issues and the complaints about not being allowed to talk without it centering on the menz 😂