Traitors - Black Contestants - WARNING, SPOILERS! (Title edited by MNHQ)

[Jimpson]

SPOILER ALERT!!!

Time and time again black contestants are voted out early doors on reality show. The latest series of the traitors has been on for 2 days and 2 black women have already gone. I even checked the statistics with AI:

Black contestants are statistically eliminated earlier in some reality shows, particularly Survivorand Big Brother, a pattern that has been documented in studies and fan analyses, often attributed to systemic bias or strategic targeting, with discussions on the topic growing as diverse casting increases. While some instances involve clear gameplay, many viewers and players observe a recurring trend where Black individuals, especially women, are targeted in the early stages, leading to deep discussions about racism, privilege, and gameplay within these shows.

Isn’t it about time that protections were put in place on these shows, to make it a fair for all?

The BBC is employing the contestants so maybe they should be offering diversity training annd a more rigorous approach to selecting unbiased candidates. Every place that I have worked has mandatory equality training. I don’t think that the (white) majority are intentionally ganging up on any black contestants but there is obviously an underlying bias there, probably stems from those doing the recruiting/selecting.

You are most likely correct statistically. I work in higher education. There's evidence that older women and people of colour receive worse evaluations than white, male or younger tutors.

I'm not sure how they can deal with this other than to tip the balance of contestants to have fewer young, male and/or white contestants but at the moment they are quite balanced.

Or else contestant have anti bias training or something?!

I noticed this, OP. Additionally, in the first task where choosing a person's name meant they were up for murder, all but one of the people of colour were selected. I think there were two white people in the potential-murder group. I doubt it's deliberate but at this point internal biases seem to be at play, because this happens much too frequently in Traitors for it to be a coincidence.

Yeah, when they were sat together I thought the same thing 'oh no, not again'. Really bad look.

And the rest of the suspicion that day was on Ross.

Yes this

had she upset him because it was insane how rabid he was towards her

for me it seemed personal

i should add, personal and very targeted. The reason I ask had she upset him was how she confronted him before the round table. The way everyone agreed was racism imo but his issue with her was slightly deeper - maybe he felt intimidated by her strength.

I also thought that the gathering of some of the group at the end was super telling

the old guy was like ‘the way he (Ross) jumped up when she was a faithful, didn’t like that’ and was gleefully looking around the group

found that weird

Does anyone remember the black guy in season 2, I think. Working class in his communication style and was voted out as ‘a bad faithful’ by the group who had taken a disliking to him

Yes. Not keen on him at all.

Completely agree.

That sounds sensible

YANBU

I'm not a big one for identity politics but I do think this was a factor with Judy and it leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. It's certainly happened in other seasons.

Didn't get good vibes off Sam.

YANBU, I noticed this in last years series too.

Yeah we also feigned surprise and shouted 'What no way!? Not the northern black woman' when everyone was voting for her

Exactly. I reckon most humans are inherently racist. I'm sure psychologists would cite all sorts of reasons for why we naturally gravitate towards people who remind us of ourselves. It's probably biological bias towards our own genes.

It's interesting that this is a real thing though, as I wondered about it watching the Celebrities, when that content creator chap was voted out first. It didn't seem to play out then though, and seemed more related to the different 'celeb' circles.

PS. I say 'exactly' from the perspective of it being difficult to 'fairly' fiddle with the gameplay, but the show could ensure that there was an equal split of racial profiles when selecting contestants.

Agree OP, and for strictly too. People of colour always have a tougher time at the public vote. Until I see that change I will never agree we are not a racist country 🤷‍♀️

YANBU

Like others, I don't think it's intentional, I believe it's due to unconscious bias and is a disappointingly common trope in this type of show.

Totally agree. I noticed that in the task with the coffins that the white men were left well alone.

Hmm I don't know ... I liked Judy a lot but I did suspect she was the secret traitor! I'm fairly sure I didn't think this because of her skin colour.

Totally agree. There is an obvious pattern and it’s frightening how a confident yet clueless middle class man could away the group to vote for Judy. I really don’t like Sam.

And then where is the line between unconscious bias and positive discrimination?

I agree it is unconscious, which is why I think the idea of unconscious bias training beforehand is a good idea, whoever suggested that. Group dynamics is also a factor. Does anyone remember the show Eden? The idea was that 20 strangers would build a community together on a remote island. It ended early because the men were so overtly sexist toward the women. I am sure they all seemed like decent guys to start with.

Once you are black and female - well, it is infinitely much harder to be treated fairly.

That doesn't happen so much anymore!

Do you watch out for this on every programme or quiz show?

I agree with you OP. It is something I have noticed in previous shows with dismay but with the first two to go being black women it feels particularly obvious this time.

Completely agree OP. It’s been an issue on Strictly too and I believe the BBC took steps to counter, it was spoken about by contestants and by judges on strictly.
traitors will have to be even more careful - when banishment happens because of people ‘trusting the gut’ 🙄that often is just code for ‘ people who are different from me’.