BBC Apologizes To Darcus Howe

[flatbread]

www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=biJgILxGK0o#at=23

The interviewer, Fiona Armstrong is atrocious! She comes across as condescending and heavy-handed.

FA seems unwilling to look at the "possibili­ty" that the riots are more than a one-off event, because it is much easier and politicall­y correct to lay blame on the 'criminal' kids.

I watched this with my mouth open when it first aired. Lots of people must have complained, and BBC has had to apologize for the interview.

Cogito, your message above is spot-on! I really like the attitude 'you are better than this'. That positive message can help all underprivileged youth - black and white and every color in between.

DH does not look well.

He started off by saying he didn't condone the riots.

Where is the evidence that he has taken part in riots - rather than demonstrations? He was aquitted of affray in the notorious 'Mangrove 9' case in which the judiciary were forced to acknowledge racist actions. I know people who were involved in the organisation where the early Black Panthers met (peacefully) who tell a terrible story of how they were badly set up. At least one other member of the group is now a v high level lawyer in the USA.

I work with many young people who live in Brixton and Peckham and if black they are frequently stopped and searched. One was chased and stopped when police saw him running in the street. he was searched in public - he was running for a bus, on his way to a highly prestigious higher education course. he called us to come and vouch for him - but hs only 'crime' was running in the street. One was cautioned without understanding what he was supposed to have done - didn't understand what a caution is and signed it - when he was entirely innocent. We got a lawyer to get it overturned.

It's hard for the police. There is a high level of disaffected young people in the area. Unfortunately it is the engaged and innocent who suffer as well - and then, understandably, feel resentful.

Blu - I can see how humiliating and demoralising it must be to be an innocent young black man that is constantly being targetted by the police.

However, if it's an area with a high level of gang, knife and gun crime and the perpetrators of those crimes are pretty much exclusively young, black men then I think police must be able to stop and search those that fit the bill. I don't see how they can tackle the problem if they are now allowed to do this.

nancy - the scope for abuse of this is manifest. Iworked for quite a while in Moss Side, Manchester and the transparent racism of police officers was almost viewed as 'normal'. For large parts of some inner city areas the trust in police is still a very steep hill to ascend.

sorry bored - been away. Cogi - it wasn't a 'pop' at your name. Your comment about Tony Benn acheived that by itself.

But we must have some understanding of what that does to the (vast majority) of young black men / teenagers who are ordinary young people.

I witnessed, only a couple of weeks ago, police be rude, dismissive, suspicious, unbelieveing and aggressive to two black teenagers who were the terrified victims of a crime.

I sympathise with the police, overall, I really do. But for those who think that there is no longer an issue of prejudice or discrimination in this country, that a level playing field exists, that there is no race barrier for decent young peopel, they are mistaken.

My DS is mixed race, and has already been witness to a few racist rants....whatever his own expeience of a positive school and home life, he has been made aware that all is not always sweet and dandy.

I guess I was (naively, maybe) hoping that most racism had been stamped out of the police force....i guess not.

Nope.
A member of our staff intervened in the treatment of the two victims of crime, and were asked by police, once out of earshot, if the two teenagers were "really, you know, OK? Half the time they say this shit and they are as much part of the problem". Both had been robbed at knifepoint, and one had been taken into a garage and beaten up and robbed, and for 20 mins we had no idea wher he was. Our staff member had witnessed part of the robbery.

And it's not just the police.

This trouble is bringing racists out of the woodwork all over. (which is of course just showing themselves up as thick as the riots have in no way been race specific).

I can see why DH gets people's back's up, there are flaws in his old school argument as applied today, but that racism is still an issue or that race and racism may well play a little part in some of the rioters motivation cannot be denied IMO.

oh dear - that makes me sad, i had really hoped all that was behind us.

I know a detective that works in vice in London - he's a brilliant guy, a graphic designer that re-trained and moved up the ladder pretty quickly in the force. he's intelligent, cultured, fair-minded and has a genuine desire to do good and make a difference.

sort of hoped he might represent a brave new world of policing.

I think it has improved over recent years. Or some police have just become more careful. Either way it does have a lower profile, I think.

and yes the police do have a really tough job.

Can't tar all the police with the same brush!
I am sure most are decent, and god knows I wouldn't want to be hauled home from a week's holiday with my children to stand in front of a rock-hurling mob all night long.

wasn't doing that Blu?

a lot are very decent and fair and vv professional. Two of them are friends of mine. (!)

Back to the OP.

D. Howe would probably get my back up from time to time. But the apology wasn't for his behaviour - it was for that of one of their employees - you don't invite someone onto your programme and then insult them and think it's fine. Apology deserved.

Pan, I was agreeing with you and Nancy that not all police behave in a racist manner, and can't all be tarred with the same brush as the ones I described

I agree with your pov on the DH interview, too.

When he comes on my screen i have to turn over.