Paul Gilroy - Diasporic identity
Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and openFactsheet 170: Gilroy – Ethnicity and Postcolonial Theory. Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets
Read the Factsheet and complete the following questions/tasks:
1) How does Gilroy suggest racial identities are constructed?
He suggests that racial identities are HISTORICALLY constructed and are formed by things such as slavery, nationalist philosophies and consumer capitalism and states that racial identities are the product of racial oppression and caused by historical conflicts. He also states "Race is not the eternal cause of racism but it complex, unstable product. I should probably emphasise at this point that neither race nor racism are exclusive historical property of the minorities who are their primary victims"
2) What does Gilroy suggest regarding the causes and history of racism?
Gilroy is saying that racism isn’t caused by race, racism causes race. Racism is not caused by the clash of two or more races – racism is not a natural phenomenon. Instead, Gilroy states that racial difference and racial identities are the product of racial oppression.
3) What is ethnic absolutism and why is Gilroy opposed to it?
Ethnic absolutism is a line of thinking which sees humans are part of different ethnic compartments, with race as the basis of human differentiation. Gilroy is opposed to ethnic absolutism as it is counter to his argument that racism causes race.
4) How does Gilroy view diasporic identity?
He believes that when you move someone from their home town or if they chose to move they will of course have some of their previous root and cultural differences, however will learn to adopt the new ways of the country which they move to fit in and will therefore have diasporic identity and this can not be reverse.
5) What did Gilroy suggest was the dominant representation of black Britons in the 1980s (when the Voice newspaper was first launched)?
At the time, the dominant representation of black Britons was as “external and estranged from the imagined community that is the nation.” and that their relationship with the nation was broken.
6) Gilroy argues diaspora challenges national ideologies. What are some of the negative effects of this?
Diaspora challenges national ideologies, through the commitment and loyalty to the origin nation or place.Experiences of exclusion, exposure to regressive ideologies and marginalisation.
7) Complete the first activity on page 3: How might diasporic communities use the media to stay connected to their cultural identity? E.g. digital media - offer specific examples.
Things such as social media are allowing people to connect with their past and see the cultural differences of the generations previous to them to the best of their ability, however if the next generations would like to see what how our culture was different to theirs it would not be difficult as they could easily see this as there is a clear record.
8) Why does Gilroy suggest slavery is important in diasporic identity?
Gilroy also argues the importance of slavery to modernity and capitalism.The modern world was built upon a normalised view of slavery, particularly plantation slavery. slavery is a key and influential part of the black culture and changed the diasporic identities irrevocably.
9) How might representations in the media reinforce the idea of ‘double consciousness’ for black people in the UK or US?
These representations then serve to reinforce the double consciousness of the black male, that he is not anything more than what he sees in the media.The dominant representations of black males is either a rapper, criminal or gang member or and athlete.Double Consciousness provides more way of understanding of the world.
10) Finally, complete the second activity on page 3: Watch the trailer for Hidden Figures and discuss how the film attempts to challenge ‘double consciousness’ and the stereotypical representation of black American women.
It challenges the roles that women had in society of just working in the home. There are 3 black women working for NASA and shown that they have excelled in their careers and in society. I have actually seen this film and can see that they chose strong male characters which are recognisable such as Jim Parsons to be shown as arrogant and wrong and that he has mistaken one of the woman and treats her poorly, when she is actually the key to solving their problem and works very hard. In the beginning of the film they are stopped by a white male police officer who discriminates against them till he finds out who they actually work for and then actually drops them to work.
Read the Factsheet and complete the following questions/tasks:
1) How does Gilroy suggest racial identities are constructed?
He suggests that racial identities are HISTORICALLY constructed and are formed by things such as slavery, nationalist philosophies and consumer capitalism and states that racial identities are the product of racial oppression and caused by historical conflicts. He also states "Race is not the eternal cause of racism but it complex, unstable product. I should probably emphasise at this point that neither race nor racism are exclusive historical property of the minorities who are their primary victims"
2) What does Gilroy suggest regarding the causes and history of racism?
Gilroy is saying that racism isn’t caused by race, racism causes race. Racism is not caused by the clash of two or more races – racism is not a natural phenomenon. Instead, Gilroy states that racial difference and racial identities are the product of racial oppression.
3) What is ethnic absolutism and why is Gilroy opposed to it?
Ethnic absolutism is a line of thinking which sees humans are part of different ethnic compartments, with race as the basis of human differentiation. Gilroy is opposed to ethnic absolutism as it is counter to his argument that racism causes race.
4) How does Gilroy view diasporic identity?
He believes that when you move someone from their home town or if they chose to move they will of course have some of their previous root and cultural differences, however will learn to adopt the new ways of the country which they move to fit in and will therefore have diasporic identity and this can not be reverse.
5) What did Gilroy suggest was the dominant representation of black Britons in the 1980s (when the Voice newspaper was first launched)?
At the time, the dominant representation of black Britons was as “external and estranged from the imagined community that is the nation.” and that their relationship with the nation was broken.
6) Gilroy argues diaspora challenges national ideologies. What are some of the negative effects of this?
Diaspora challenges national ideologies, through the commitment and loyalty to the origin nation or place.Experiences of exclusion, exposure to regressive ideologies and marginalisation.
7) Complete the first activity on page 3: How might diasporic communities use the media to stay connected to their cultural identity? E.g. digital media - offer specific examples.
Things such as social media are allowing people to connect with their past and see the cultural differences of the generations previous to them to the best of their ability, however if the next generations would like to see what how our culture was different to theirs it would not be difficult as they could easily see this as there is a clear record.
8) Why does Gilroy suggest slavery is important in diasporic identity?
Gilroy also argues the importance of slavery to modernity and capitalism.The modern world was built upon a normalised view of slavery, particularly plantation slavery. slavery is a key and influential part of the black culture and changed the diasporic identities irrevocably.
9) How might representations in the media reinforce the idea of ‘double consciousness’ for black people in the UK or US?
These representations then serve to reinforce the double consciousness of the black male, that he is not anything more than what he sees in the media.The dominant representations of black males is either a rapper, criminal or gang member or and athlete.Double Consciousness provides more way of understanding of the world.
10) Finally, complete the second activity on page 3: Watch the trailer for Hidden Figures and discuss how the film attempts to challenge ‘double consciousness’ and the stereotypical representation of black American women.
It challenges the roles that women had in society of just working in the home. There are 3 black women working for NASA and shown that they have excelled in their careers and in society. I have actually seen this film and can see that they chose strong male characters which are recognisable such as Jim Parsons to be shown as arrogant and wrong and that he has mistaken one of the woman and treats her poorly, when she is actually the key to solving their problem and works very hard. In the beginning of the film they are stopped by a white male police officer who discriminates against them till he finds out who they actually work for and then actually drops them to work.
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