Paul Gilroy - blog task

Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and open Factsheet 170: Gilroy – Ethnicity and Postcolonial Theory. Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets or you can access it online here using your Greenford Google login.

Read the Factsheet and complete the following questions/tasks:

1) How does Gilroy suggest racial identities are constructed?

Race can be seen as shared biological identities inherited from previous generations. Gilroy would argue that race makes the identity of oppressors and the oppressed seem fixed and uniform; that racial categories are caused by human interactions and as such those categories are subject to change.

2) What does Gilroy suggest regarding the causes and history of racism?

Around the world structures of political and social life have been constructed under race thinking. As Gilroy sees race as a result of racism.

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. Transnational identity is a way which Gilroy disagrees with this statement.

4) How does Gilroy view diasporic identity?

He views it as a term of collective identity. He feels that they have no 'home' to go back to thus forming a cemented cultural meaning around certain black communities.

5) What did Gilroy suggest was the dominant representation of black Britons in the 1980s (when the Voice newspaper was first launched)?

“external and estranged from the imagined community that is the

nation.”

They have no collective identity in the first place so they feel alienated.

6) Gilroy argues diaspora challenges national ideologies. What are some of the negative effects of this?

It depends on the level of commitment to the place of origin. diaspora can become trapped within national ideologies which allow there to be a set of unique traits and identities. This depends on the integration, socially, economically and culturally.

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.

They can use the internet for YouTube to watch/listen to songs from their homeland, this helps them become more connected with their language. There are dedicated TV channels for the diaspora to stay connected with current affairs back home.

8) Why does Gilroy suggest slavery is important in diasporic identity?

Their history doesn't skip slavery, it has become a part of their origins to where the diaspora might've ended up. This adds a layer to their identity as their journey from the homeland to where they are now is also a huge part of their identity.

9) How might representations in the media reinforce the idea of ‘double consciousness’ for black people in the UK or US?

Double consciousness provides more ways of understanding the world, but it places a great strain on black Americans as they consistently feel they are looking at themselves through the eyes of others.

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.

They can't star the actual Katherine Johnson (due to her being dead) so that is already an example of double consciousness because it's through another black actor. Secondly, historical deafness can be applied here as the events may not be 100% accurate as it wasn't all told by the same person, including the idea that the entire cast isn't black so inaccuracies might be present.