Why So Few Black And Asian People At Glastonbury?

[naomi24]

Lenny Henry, that stalwart champion of 'diversity', says he is “always surprised” by the lack of black and brown people at Glastonbury, as he called for better representation of ethnic minorities in all facets of British society.

Are they prevented from buying tickets - or is it that they just don't fancy living for several days in a tent in a muddy field?

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/jun/14/lenny-henry-always-surprised-lack-of-black-asians-glastonbury

[andy-hughes]

NJ - // But I doubt very much that it will encourage many black people from Peckham or Tottenham to make the trip to Somerset to camp in a field to see them. It’s not their thing and that’s something Lenny Henry seems unable (or perhaps unwilling) to grasp. //

I think 'unwiling' is the point.

Mr Henry is not a stupid man, but he is being foolish in trying to hook his worthy efforts to increase diversity to the nonexistent bandwagon that is the virtual absence of ethnic minorities at Glastonbury.

The simple economics make it accessible only to a certain strata of society who can afford the money for tickets and travel, and that places it outside the means of a large proportion of music fans.

But as we agree, it is not that Glastonbury is too elitist to appeal to a diversity of ethnicities, it is simply that they are not interested in living like refugees in a war zone for a long weekend, queuing , getting sunburned and / or soaked to the skin, eating lousy food, walking miles and getting blisters, and paying three figures for the privilege.

///So no, they don't pay to 'squat in Farmer Giles' field'.
Happy to straighten out that popular misconception.//

Thanks Andy. I was being a little flippant! :-) //

Indeed, I did leap in and bang on with equal vigour, apologies!!

[sp1814]

AH

[i]it is simply that they are not interested in living like refugees in a war zone for a long weekend, queuing , getting sunburned and / or soaked to the skin, eating lousy food, walking miles and getting blisters, and paying three figures for the privilege.[i]

Having been (2019) I can confirm that it is 100% nothing like that.

Apart from paying three figures.

(Closer to four all told).

[andy-hughes]

Sp, I have been three times, and stayed in a hotel, and it was absolutely like that, apart from sleeping there.

Experiences vary, I am sure we both spoke as we found.

[Peter Pedant]

only the strongest survive
perhaps the others go and die there
this is a serious comment folks!

and I think one of the churches there has a wall painting of a sailing ship - as the rivers were navgable in the good old days of the the somerset levels ( being higher)

[douglas9401]

Why So Few Black And Asian People At Glastonbury?

They don't want to be charged within tent

[sp1814]

AH

Perhaps our experience was better than most because we stayed in camper vans and had middle class picnics all weekend.

douglas9401 - if that doesn't get 'Best Answer' there should be questions in the House.

[Ellipsis]

SP, apologies, I've been out all day. Lenny Henry said this ...

> “I’m always surprised by the lack of black and brown faces at festivals. I think, ‘Wow, that’s still very much a dominant culture thing.’”

Do you agree with his use of the phrase "dominant culture" to explain the lack of black and brown faces at Glastonbury specifically?

[sp1814]

Ellipsis

With respect - I think every last bit of juice has now been squeezed from this thread.

Onto to the next topic eh?

[ichkeria]

I agree with sp: when I’ve been to Glastonbury I’ve never been sunburnt, soaked, had to queue for any length of time, always had great food - and beer.
Nothing like being a refugee.
And I was in a tent :-)

[fripfrip]

^^^ ^^^
Maybe you were one of the people who he says are wasted on drugs
and did not notice the weather or food.

[andy-hughes]

frip - // Maybe you were one of the people who he says are wasted on drugs
and did not notice the weather or food. //

I don't believe I said that.

[andy-hughes]

Ellipsis - // > “I’m always surprised by the lack of black and brown faces at festivals. I think, ‘Wow, that’s still very much a dominant culture thing.’”

Do you agree with his use of the phrase "dominant culture" to explain the lack of black and brown faces at Glastonbury specifically? //

No, I don't think 'dominant culture' is an appropriate term at all.

As has been discussed at length on the thread, the reason why ethnic minorities are not well represented at Glastonbury is because the notion of this kind of event with this kind of line up, simply does not appeal to them.

Nothing sinister about that, what ever Sir Lenny may choose to make of it.

[naomi24]

SP, //Ellipsis

With respect - I think every last bit of juice has now been squeezed from this thread.

Onto to the next topic eh?//

You may have finished on this thread but others have added comments after yours and may wish to add more.

AH, //Nothing sinister about that, what ever Sir Lenny may choose to make of it.//

I agree.

[sp1814]

naomi24

Ellipsis was talking to me. I wasn't shutting down this thread and of course if people find more that they want to discuss then far be it from me to dissuade them.

I was assuming that after a certain point all bases have been covered.

[naomi24]

SP, //I was assuming that after a certain point all bases have been covered. //

From your point of view, perhaps. Others may think differently.

[ladybirder]

Nobody's mentioned the loos. Filthy my daughter said and took one look at them and went back home again.
Are they usually that bad?

[sp1814]

naomi24

You may very well be right. It'll be interesting to see what other angles might crop up.

[sp1814]

ladybirder

Actually that's one thing that was pretty horrific. The toilets. There are sets called 'long drops'.

I'll let your imagination work out why.

Also - finding your way to a toilet in the middle of the night by the light of your phone is something you don't want to do too often there.

We obeyed the rule of 'pee before the sun goes down'.

[sp1814]

ladybirder

Have you seen the film Slumdog Millionaire?

If you have, then you know what a long drop is.

(I'm heaving just remembering them).

[aelmpvw]

confused festival goers have been filmed washing their hands in the urinal . . .