Why Isn't It Considered Racist

[lankeela]

when news stories point out that people are black or people of colour - twice this week stories have centred on someone's ethnicity. The woman who trekked to the South Pole was the 'first woman of colour' to do so and now Sidney Poitier is being hailed as the first black actor to win an Oscar for Best Actor. Surely that is being racist by pointing it out?

[Atheist]

Most film directors want to create a piece of art which may or may not be inspired by real or fictional events. Most films based on novels don't slavishly follow the original writing - that's not the way to make a successful film. Art pieces often take liberties with earlier works, and why not? It may upset some people to view a film which doesn't stick to the original plot or character list, but I don't think there's anything inherently wrong or sinister about what goes on. The film will be judged on its merits. Artistic licence, creativity, innovation, adjustment to changing times; all the essence of art.

[zebo]

//Time we stopped talking about colour and treated people as people. Prejudice won’t end until we do.//
Absolutely spot on! Some time last year my grandson was met outside school by my daughter and asked the perennial question What did you do today? he would have been 8. He replied We did about black people, don't know why, they're no different from us.
The longer it's found necessary to use a person's colour to define them, the longer it will take to eradicate racism.

[Ellipsis]

This is in the news ...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59878356

And personally, although I have some sympathy with both sides, my favourite quote is:

> Stephen Pollard, editor-at-large of the Jewish Chronicle tweeted in defence of Dame Helen. "I adore Maureen Lipman but she couldn't be more wrong on this," he wrote. "The logic of her position is that the only character any actor can play is themselves."

[mushroom25]

// The logic of her position is that the only character any actor can play is themselves." //

that's a maxim Sean Connery maintained throughout his career - "man frae Edinburgh"......

[Peter Pedant]

// "The logic of her position is that the only character any actor can play is themselves."//

yeah I kinda wondered if the divine oscar has to played by ian mckellen, or The queen by Prince ( the dockland lily) Edward

and or no takers for Marie Antoinette because you end up without a head

[Peter Pedant]

oh Peter O'Toole and Roger moore were the same
( one performance and that was it)

[Peter Pedant]

// Peter , stop being so daft - I asked were both the facts in the OP true?? Nothing else.//
erm not quite

Were both facts true? If so then I don't see it as racist.
=
If both facts were true then it is not racist

dont blame ME for reading what is written

[Peter Pedant]

AB craziness and gormlessness runs out of control

[pixie374]

PP, she was referring to the two in the OP. Not a generalisation.

[Mamyalynne]

Thank you Pixie.

I wouldn't worry, he follows me round trying to mangle my replies and additionally insults the whole AB membership.

Tedious.

[fiveleaves]

If your skin is not translucent, you are a person of colour. I dont understand how simply describing someone's skin colour is racist, but in most cases it is simply unnecessary

[pixie374]

No worries, I can read x

[Mozz71]

Fiveleaves, in the instances in the OP, it isn't racist, it's just certain people on AB enjoy causing these kind of discussions. It's no more racist than saying "the first woman to climb Everest" could be considered sexist.

[Togo]

When Neil Armstrong set foot our permanant satellite there was no mention of him being the first "White" man on the Moon, or indeed for many of mankinds achievements before or after that. The luvvie eagerness to mention a black person's accomplishments is itself an indication that they themselves believe it to be "special". A sort of condemnation by patronisation or something beyond expectation.

[Mozz71]

Gil Scott-Heron might disagree with that Togo.

[Togo]

Are you suggesting that there is no difference between men and women, but plenty of difference between black and white people Mozz?

[Mozz71]

No Togo, I'm implying that they are both "firsts". It's no different from Helen Sharmon being the first Brit in space. People will always celebrate firsts, especially is they share something with the "achiever".

[Togo]

Do we now have to go back and change all the records to register white for all the white achievers Mozz?

[Togo]

^^ In the absence of a reply, I'll take that as a reluctant yes then, ... if we are to subscribe to the psychological nudge team messages.

[Togo]

We can't have you stuck on 99 Lankeela ... why didn't they just call her a "British" woman? Like they do the suicide bombers, child rapists, and assorted new and exciting criminals.