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!

This is why I have simply hidden the other threads and am only discussing it here. If JD had unintentionally hurled out misogynist or anti-semetic slurs they would absolutely get it. As these are just two black men on the receiving end they simply cannot get it. Their anti-blackness gets in the way

It is so sad, that some people just can't seem to see our Humanity, and have zero empathy for us, when deplorable things happen, but will extend their sympathies ever so easily to others. I have seen it so many times on Mumsnet. It ceases to get any easier to deal with, so I avoid, or just hide threads.

The expression "foaming at the mouth" came to mind when reading some of those (now deleted) threads.

People are too quick to dismiss the pain of others. They get emotional about the word 'Karen' yet they would be completely emotionally unaffected if someone with Tourettes shouted it at them in front of cameras and an audience during one of their proudest moments? Suuuure. Their comments have caused more pain.

I'm interested to see how Jamie Fox, our democratically elected noble spokesperson for the united souls of people darker than a paper bag, comes out of this.

As I said upthread, I’m not surprised by the response on MN.

I know many are nowhere near as inclusive as they say/think they are. They jump on any non-white person’s thread to defend, make excuses, give sympathy for a white person they don’t know or haven’t met even when they themselves wouldn’t tolerate such behaviour (or so they say) to/from their own family members.

There is such a cognitive dissonance that is so ridiculously shocking that it should be studied. There is no sense, no logic, only their own internal beliefs and self-esteem issues about minorities being shown.

Bet these posters would drop their “inclusive” mask quick if a black/brown person was promoted over them or they perceive was doing better than them.

It is telling they think it is perfectly acceptable to completely ignore the hurt of Black men doing their job to the point of thinking those men should apologise when they did nothing wrong and thinking they don’t deserve an apology when we know they would be hurt if someone called them out their name in public. They would not be oh.. it’s fine regardless of intent. If their own child or partner called them ‘fat’ without intending to hurt them they would be upset and they know it even more so if it was in public. Seen some of those threads here and outpouring of sympathy. Never in a million years would they tell them to do what they said they want two Black actors to do.

Who knows, anti-Jewish stuff doesn’t seem to be taken remotely seriously either.

If the N-word, of all slurs, could be left in a broadcast… the bar is really on the floor.

They don't even hide it - perfectly capable of understanding how another group may feel but when it comes to black people they want to start playing games.

Clowns.

I'm interested to see how Jamie Fox, our democratically elected noble spokesperson for the united souls of people darker than a paper bag, comes out of this.

😄

How to dress up division and misinformation as care and reason.

My parents 'came here willingly' sounds so reasonable until you consider they came from the former colonies our ancestors were trafficked to - the ones who survived the middle passage!

Nerdrotic under attack, Team Grace Randolph on the WRONG side of history

Can't get the link to work - if you search this and go the the video. A little long but you are in for a treat!

I am absolutely convinced that if derogatory slurs about Jews had been yellled, no one would say they should be left in.

I wish you were right, but with the amount of hatred against Jews today (due to Gaza), and the amount of attacks on Synagogues, the Bondi attack that saw 15 people shot dead, etc, I think a lot, a real lot of people would be fine with slurs about Jews left in. Certainly pro-Palestinian actors and activists wouldn't even batter an eye.

The portion of the speech by Akinloa Davies Jr, which mentioned 'free Palastine' was edited. So there was enough awareness, and care taken there, so as not to cause offence.

Not by the same people arguing in favour of anti-black slurs on this board.

I mean they edited out “Free Palestine” and some of those same commentators were arguing “that’s different”.

Its sad to see that the Black Tourettes sufferer who tried to explain Tourette's has been bullied off of social media. Whilst I didn't find her input helpful, I don't think she deserved to be driven off the platform.

The BAFTAs and the BBC have caused harm to everyone involved.

I’m even more disappointed with the BBC now that it appears a tic aimed at Alan Cumming was edited out.

Plus BAFTA placed a microphone near John Davidson, which just seems like silly table planning given the potential issues.

Its been handled very badly all round, but my cynical head says the viewing numbers are probably huge, which for bafta and the bBC isn’t exactly bad news…

Sorry I wanted to add to this thread as well. I've just posted this on the FWR board thread talking about this. Somehow i knew how it would go on mumsnet before looking at the thread, and I was right. It's predictable. But i thought to repost it here:

I wonder what Mumsnet would've looked like had his tic (or worse, if it was a black man's tic) been something aimed only at women (Think of whatever words or phrases you find the most despicable as a feminist or GC feminist).

There would be loads of threads and pages and pages discussing the M-word (Misogyny) and hardly any mention of disabled people or Tourettes or sympathy for the (black) man who ticced.

Bear in mind there are Black people with Tourettes as well as black disabled people in general.

(Not on any side but I"m just holding up a mirror so the double standard and gaslighting that's happening are easier to see).

Not on any side but I"m just holding up a mirror so the double standard and gaslighting that's happening are easier to see)

The people that need to see it, never do, and that is the problem. There would be no defence, or such understanding coming thick, and fast, if this had been a black Man, with Tourettes who had shouted out such things.

Agreed. And they would deny to the death something we all know is truth.

So true! 🎯

Don’t know if any of you saw this, but this was beautifully articulated here by Jayme Lawson.

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/MNsG0KXtEYg

I cannot express my love for this enough! ❤

It’s wonderful right? - so nuanced and full of understanding.

I agree with all that she thoughtfully expressed.

JD was not treated with due care, nor was there care for MJ and DL.

It’s the same insensitivity and lack of care for these black men shown by the BBC that we see reflected in the statements by people on other threads.

Even more remarkable when you note how the BBC were able to take care in other instances including apparently editing out the homophobic slur against Alan Cumming.

I can only presume that, in leaving the footage unedited for hours, they didn’t consider the racial slur problematic.

Thank you, I love seeing Black people protecting other Black people, with no shame, head held high and with their full chests and no caveats.

I felt the love and protection Jayme poured out, so classy.

And it was exploitation and not haphazard.

@JHound Oh wow, thank you for posting that. Jayme spoke, with such eloquence, and truth. Just lovely.

Apparently, as it was rich Black men, it was OK.

I think they wanted to monetarise the outrage they knew it would cause.

I didnt realise the other thread was still rumbling on but wow! Because MBJ might earn big bucks for getting called the n-word in a film, he should just suck it up when he's called it IRL?

Sounds completely reasonable doesn't it?

After all it's just a word...