The Black Florence Nightingale A Pc Myth?

[anotheoldgit]

Further to my thread titled:

/// Should The More Renowned Figures Of History Be Featured In History Lessons? ///

It would seem from this report that a certain Mary-Seacoles, has been wrongfully portrayed in our history books, all in the name of Political Correctness.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2255095/The-black-Florence-Nightingale-making-PC-myth-One-historian-explains-Mary-Seacoles-story-stood-up.html

[jno]

Nightingale fanatics have always been annoyed with her for daring to steal the limelight from their goddess.

[EDDIE51]

Mary Seacoles ? ?
Never heard of her so she can't be that renouned . I have heard of Florence Nightingale though.

[maggiebee]

Read the link Eddie and become better educated.

[tonyav]

I can remember watching a documentary about her a few years ago on TV, but I hadn't heard of her before that.

[jno]

Eddie, she was kept firmly out of the history books when you and I were at school. Rediscovered in the 70s, I think, so most younger people will know of her.

[anotheoldgit]

jno

/// Rediscovered in the 70s, I think, ///

Around the time Political Correctness came into being.

[sandyRoe]

If it's accepted that she did actually exist, and isn't a creation of the PC brigade, then why shouldn't she be honoured?

[anotheoldgit]

/// then why shouldn't she be honoured? ///

Having read the article, the question that must surely be asked is "Why should she be honoured"?

[bazwillrun]

PC and tokenism at its worst.

there are plenty of white Brits who could be put ahead of her for a multitude of reasons...but then that wouldnt suit the PC mob

[naomi24]

//If it's accepted that she did actually exist, and isn't a creation of the PC brigade, then why shouldn't she be honoured? //

I think her existence is accepted - what is called into question is the claim to fame that others appear to have made on her behalf.

[mightyWBA]

Why let facts spoil a good story..Keeps folks happy doesn't it?

[jno]

Nightingale's reputation has long been called into question too

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-479792/Letters-reveal-nurse-Florence-Nightingale-maybe-sinner-saint.html

Nonetheless there still seems plenty of scope for celebrating the deeds of both women - except Gove doesn't think so.

[daffy654]

I wasn't taught about the woman and I was at school in the 70s and 80s. This is the first I have ever heard of her.

[youngmafbog]

The PC mob will do anything to force their point. This is not new but it is stupid. It does nothing to enhance race relations only drives yet another bus through it.

And she wasn't even black really.

[shaneystar2]

I can remember hearing about Mary Seacole way back at school in the early sixties .She was glossed over though and Florence Nightingale was lauded and applauded .She was probably mentioned in passing because the school I attended had been a hospital during the Crimean War and Florence Nightingale visited it and and chose it as a temporary site for the First Army Medical School.

[naomi24]

jno, //Nightingale's reputation has long been called into question too //

That's not my understanding of the article you linked to. It seems to me to portray Florence Nightingale as a strong and ambitious woman bent on improving an appalling situation, and criticised by one bitter man who objected to a "female interloper". Good for her!!

[joko]

her fame etc seems to stem from her popularity rather than her actual skills.

she was motherly and kind and looked after the men when they were alone, frightened and injured and although medically she was no more that any grandma with a first aid kit, some would say that was as much good to the soldiers as FNs genuine medical care.
she is to be commended for that at least - not many people would do what she did.

a statue is a bit much of course, and they need to correct their teachings but lets not try to paint this woman to be a bumbling fraud... she was trying her best with her limited resources ... again not many others did what she did.

i did a film about flo nightingale a few years ago - and yes a lot of the history about her is not quite true either.
in general it was true, but there was a lot of not so good stuff that gets overlooked.

[naomi24]

Joko, //lets not try to paint this woman to be a bumbling fraud... //

I don't think anyone is doing that - and I'm sure she did much valuable work - but it appears that in these politically correct times because she was black her reputation has been enhanced somewhat.

[jake-the-peg]

OK Naomi here's a review of a book that calls her (FN) into question and no mistake:

http://www.standard.co.uk/standard-home/florence-nightingale-the-woman-and-her-legend-by-mark-bostridge-6918828.html

It turns out that Florence Nightingale wasn't actually very good at what she is known for — nursing — and was rarely seen mopping a fevered brow or bandaging the wounds of the dying.


This doesn't mean she doesn't warrant celebrating especially as a statistician, administrator and social reformer but a lot of her reputation is every bit as questionable as Seacoles'.

This is the Mail backing Goves' nasty little attempt to politicise History lessons and turn them into a mouthpiece of Tory mythology - er sorry celebrate our great heritage.

[naomi24]

Jake, //This doesn't mean she doesn't warrant celebrating especially as a statistician, administrator and social reformer //

Precisely.