The racism discussion thread

boltonbonce wrote:Nice.Love Betjeman.

Yeah, Floella was great on Playaway.

And did you know that her uncle Campbell Betjemen was once Mayor of Bolton.

True story -he was big mates with my Grandad at Breightmet Labour Club.

And if I remember correctly he was also related to Joan Armatrading?

Did not know that, SK.

I know he was a really nice man though and I spent a lot of time at his house as a kid.

The only black person I knew.

I got bollocked quite a few times for talking during bingo in Breightmet Labour Club. And dare I mention that Bernard Manning was on there about '84? Can't remember whether he asked for the lights on!?!

Liked Joan  Armatrading even more when I found out she was an avid Dandy and Beano collector.
Sadly,her Mother threw them all out when she was on tour.

boltonbonce wrote:Liked Joan  Armatrading even more when I found out she was an avid Dandy and Beano collector.
Sadly,her Mother threw them all out when she was on tour.

If that's a play on words gag about comics, you've lost me, mate.

If it's a bona fide true story, well played her.

(Young Joan, not Mrs Armatrading.)

True story. She was a big fan of both comics.

Fair play.

I was more of a Whizzer & Chips man / 8 yr old.

Now then.......

Back on topic - Citizen Khan on BBC1.

What.....the....fuck......?

I'll freely admit that I've only seen the trailers but from what I've seen, it looks like an anachronistic throw-back to 1973 but with a twist......

.....it's based in a Muslim household.

You get the same gags that we got back then -

"How was your recent trip to Pakistan, Mr Khan?"

"Oh, not bad....like Birmingham. But with less Pakistanis."

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.....!

But now it's delivered by some Uncle Tom character in a Neru hat and suddenly it's all ok to laugh at.

Seriously........I've always tried really hard to live up to the socialist ideals embedded in me by my parents, but when you get shit like this being peddled on the BBC (of all places) in 2014, it does make you scratch your head and ask "What the fuck am I supposed to think? Is this ironic humour? Is this an exercise in self-deprecation by the writers? And if it is, what are us white, non-Muslim people supposed to do? Laugh at the characters? (That'd make us racist, surely?) Smile nowingly and say to ourselves that we "get it"....?

I fucking don't.

It's shit telly and I honestly can't see how it got commissioned.

Rant over.

(I've only had a Pot Noodle to eat today and that was at half seven this morning, so I apologise for banging on.)

How the hell it got past episode 2 is beyond me.
I had a similar reaction to the Milligan/Sykes vehicle 'Curry and chips',which had to be seen to be believed,but at least they chopped it after one series.
Citizen Khan is just a halal version of Terry and June.

It's not just me then, is it?

Honestly, it's shit like this that makes it hard to discuss the issues that 58 touched on in starting this thread without confusing yourself and thinking "What's the point?".........

What are we supposed to think and say?

Go on......give us a clue!

This stuff just confuses me.

Bwfc1958 wrote:

Natasha Whittam wrote:

Bwfc1958 wrote:
You seem to be under the impression racism is only about colour. Racism comes in many forms, colour is just one of many

Maybe, but the fact remains non-white people have been persecuted for centuries and seen as inferior to white people. I'm guessing as a white male you have no experience of racism aimed at you.

Perhaps if people had been calling you "nigger" or "paki" for 40 years you might take offence at a joke aimed at your race/colour.

For a start I didn't use the words you mention above. The word used in the joke was 'black'. I have only had a couple of experiences of racism directed towards me. Both were many years ago. In the first instance I was playing for the school football team against a school that was predominantly Asian. They had supporters all around the edge of the pitch. As I ran down the wing one of them stuck a leg out and tripped me. As I stood up he called me a "fucking milky bar". Hardcore stuff I'm sure you'll agree. The second incident was on my way home from school in Astley bridge (thornleigh if you're interested). As I walked down Blackburn road the mosque was emptying down near the iron church. I was stopped by a group of young lads, 18-20 years old I would say. They asked me if I knew a lad at school, Liam saville was his name. They wanted to kick his head in for some reason and so sent me off with a message I should tell him. Just before I was allowed to leave one of the lads said, "you better not fucking walk home this way again or I'll fucking batter you. This is Blackburn road not whiteburn road you know what I mean." I just thought he was a total bell end TBH. Wasn't offended racially. Just pissed off because I had to go a different way home from then on.

i knew a lad from thornleigh called liam saville, was in my year too!

What year did you leave 58?

I was a year down from you mate left in 2000.

I left in 97. (Expelled) officially it should of been 99

y2johnny wrote:I left in 97. (Expelled)  officially it should of been 99

Probably not a bad thing that with the whole place being governed by catholic priests. It's a wonder any of us left with our arseholes still in one piece tbh

I dont know, a couple of the pe teachers (bod) were just as bad. I knew loads in your year.

This story caught my eye this morning. I didn't realise the native North american Indians were so sensitive. It looks like a few feathers have been ruffled.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2821242/Ellie-Goulding-s-Halloween-fancy-dress-sets-race-row-critics-saying-Native-American-costume-no-different-wearing-black-face.html

However, Conservative MP Philip Davies last night called on the singer to ‘stick to her guns’, saying: ‘As far as I’m concerned, all of these people who are complaining are idiots. 
'I never cease to be amazed at how easily people will take offence – and usually this is white, middle-class, Guardian-reading, sandal-wearing, politically correct do-gooders who are offended on someone else’s behalf. 
'The people concerned are never usually offended themselves.’

Don't normally agree with politicians but this statement seems pretty accurate to me.

Mr Davies is spot on. Some people have nothing better to do than look for spurious examples of racism. It is their raison d'etre.