BAFTAs - discussion for black/brown mumsnetters

[BigOldBlobsy]

This is obviously a very sensitive subject, as it involves the impact of racist language and disability.
So, I’m making this thread for MNers who are black or brown, brown because brown people have been referred to as the N word as well historically and may want to weigh in.

for any who don’t know, the summary is, a well known disability advocate who struggles with Tourette’s, and is part of the film ‘I swear’, was at the BAFTAS, and involuntary ticced the N word at two black male actors.

there is already a nearly full thread, with lots saying that people shouldn’t be offended as this is involuntary.

I completely agree that tics are involuntary and that Tourette’s is such a difficult condition to struggle with. However, I disagree that you can’t be offended and that it can’t be experienced as racist still, even if unintentional!

Well I'm very sorry but that is not UK law. As far as racism goes, you cannot demand that someone does not react to a comment that is deemed racist. In our law racism is in how the comment is received, not how it was intended.

If you are not black then your comment is spectacularly inappropriate on this thread. If you are black it was just incorrect.

🙄🙄🙄

Do you understand how rude, and insensitive what you have posted is? Just actually think about it for even a nano second. How dare you say that those people who have been impacted by the use of that word, somehow lack common sense. Tell me, are you black?

I'm not black and not trying to talk over black voices at all, I just want to say I agree. My son has autism and really struggles with outbursts. He's still made to apologise and understand why what he did was wrong. Yes he can't help it in the moment but it's unacceptable to punch me or throw items around the room. I also went NC with my mum because of her MH issues, yes she can't control being ill but she can control her accountability and she wouldn't.

I feel so sad for people impacted by the N word being told they are choosing to be offended rather than having any empathy shown to them. I can't imagine how painful it is reading all these people downplaying a word that is associated with so much generational trauma.

I think his statement should have been better, and actually apologised to those hurt by the word. Sure, he couldn't control it but we still apologise for things out of our control if it hurts somebody. But the blame is on the BBC/baftas. Why on earth did they have audience microphones and why did they not cut the sound from the broadcast.

Right now, I strongly feel the response is doing more damage, and is more painful, than the incident itself. The response to anyone who may have felt a way about two black actors being called the N word while on stage has been to silence, gaslight and even be racist without the excuse of a disabling health condition.

Two black actors, who are direct descendents of slavery, segregation and the leftover crap.

No, you vultures, who are circling and reading this thread angrily, you don't have to spend another thought on us over here, we'll be alright without you. We are not all Jamie Fox, some of us already know the deal. Others can be educated, however, we look forward to seeing you the next time you're given permission to shout us down eh?

@ItsameLuigi Thank you.

That is not common sense.

What part of impact do you not understand? You can’t just erase how someone feels at the time or think they should get over it because the intent was not there.

It’s a racial slur. There is history and pain in that for millions of people. Regardless of his intention, he humiliated and embarrassed people (including others that night) who did not deserve that in a place where they should be safe to be in without ridicule. It’s all over the internet forever.

The BBC and the BAFTAs are definitely at fault (reports saying they were told to take it out and chose not to), still doesn’t take away JD’s actions and the hurt it cause involuntary or not.

You cannot just simply forget being called a racial slur because it was not intended.

Anyway I am now being told that MBJ and DL should make a statement supporting John, as it's human decency.

They wouldn’t know human decency if it poked them in the eye.

What tripe.

Human decency is apologising when you hurt someone unintentional or not. They obviously think only certain people are allowed such things.

Are those people who are suggesting this, suggesting that JD does the same for DL, and MBJ? Are they suggesting that he acknowledges that his words caused a lot of hurt to them, even though, of course, he did not mean to? That would be human decency, would it not?

JD has now personally sent an apology to MBJ and DL.

That is good to hear. That is all that matters, imo, if he has done that. The public needs to know no more.

I agree. But I think heads should roll at BAFTA and the BBC.

'Lessons will be learned' no doubt!

Well you know White is always right! People with Tourette's are the most oppressed group in society and we should know our place.🤔

I don't know if JD is racist or not but Tourettes is doing a lot of heavy lifting for racists. There is nothing in structure of the brain of a person with Tourettes which makes it impossible for them to be racist, they have less choice over when those sentiments are aired and a great excuse when they do.

This situation is just another opportunity for racists to hide behind free speech on sites like MN so they can spread hate and shout down Black voices.

It doesn't count if you have to be asked to do it.

I do feel for JD, I doubt he'd want to be associated by some of the KKKarens who've been making racist comments in "defence" of him. With defenders like that, who needs aggressors?

Jiohn Davidson has given a long interview to Variety saying BAFTA assured him his tics would be edited. Is that censorship if the subject asks fot it?

I am sure they will turn on him soon. Nothing gets in the way of their anti-blackness.

Why do you assume a racial slur would be part of a black-American’s “everyday parlance”?

You really need to update your tired outdated racial stereotypes.

(And even if somebody used a related term as a term of endearment among friends why do you assume they would be ok with it being hurled at them by strangers.)

Not sure I agree fully (Lindo is British) but I do get the point that the African-American community is (enviably) far more willing to bring the smoke than Black-British communities.

Which is a good thing.

That person isn’t black or brown. Just a yt person choosing to be racist snd racially insensitive on a thread for black and brown mumsnetters.

I would be incredibly disappointed if they chose to do that.

Of course they are not!

I am also being told that I need to leave racial slurs unedited in the events I organise So they can educate people about disabiliities.

Quite. If I had energy to waste with those people, which I choose not to, I would have just pointed that out, that's all. As it is, like yourself, I just hid those threads.