1) How does Gilroy suggest racial identities are constructed?
racial identities are historically constructed- formed by colonialization, slavery, nationalist philosophies and consumer capitalism.
Quote from gilroy:
Race’ [is not] the eternal cause of racism [but is] its complex, unstable
product. I should probably emphasise at this point that neither race
nor racism are the exclusive historical property of the minorities who
are their primary victims. (Gilroy, 2004)
Here 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
2) What does Gilroy suggest regarding the causes and history of racism?
Racial identities are caused by historical conflicts that have brought different
groups into opposition. That is not to say that there were no human
differences before historical conflict between different groups; different
human groups existed but their differences were not defined by ‘race’
lines.
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?
Diaspora means a scattering of people, from the original place to elsewhere.
The classic diaspora is the position from which Gilroy develops his concepts of diaspora.
Classical diasporic means that the country a group have been forced to leave will always be the place that defines the cultural or ethnic identity for those individuals.
Despite the geographical dispersion, people will still feel connected to their origins via history and ancestry
The further a group move from the place of origin, the more their culture is diluted.
Gilroy does not see diaspora as limited to national contexts in this way.
He considers a transatlantic diasporic identity, where groups across the Atlantic share cultural practices – a “single, complex unit” of black cultural practitioners as a result of a shared history of oppression and slavery.
the African diasporic identity is based on ROUTES taken throughout history, and not the ROOTS of origin.
Gilroy sees this as a diaspora that cannot be reversed, unlike the classic position which offers the myth of returning to the place of origin.
For Gilroy, the Black Atlantic diaspora is irreversible because the experience of slavery irrevocably changed the diasporic identity. It cannot be ‘rewound’ to a state of cultural purity and cannot return to Africa as the place of origin has changed – the place of origin doesn’t exist as it did before diaspora.
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.” As such, to accept the role of slavery into the cultural identities of Britain would be to challenge the negative stereotype of black Britons at the time, and reverse the “external and estranged” relationship with
the nation.
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.
negative experiences of exclusion, exposure to regressive ideologies and marginalisation will also create an identity which is then shared within the diasporic community and
perhaps from the origin country.
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.
Diasporic communities use the media to stay connected to their cultural identity in many ways. Firstly, they may use the media to read news and stay aware of what is happening in their home country. Secondly, they may watch movies or series that originate from their home country. For example, Netflix now includes many foreign TV series or movies.
8) Why does Gilroy suggest slavery is important in diasporic identity?
Diasporic identity was created as a result of slavery. Slavery can be said to be the root cause of all of it. Furthermore, Gilroy talks about how these events cannot be reversed.
9) How might representations in the media reinforce the idea of ‘double consciousness’ for black people in the UK or US?
Black people can often be represented as being free with full citizenship and rights. However, they may sometimes not feel this way as they "consistently feel they are looking at themselves through the eyes of others".- white people. Black people have to look for their representation through others eyes.
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.
racial identities are historically constructed- formed by colonialization, slavery, nationalist philosophies and consumer capitalism.
Quote from gilroy:
Race’ [is not] the eternal cause of racism [but is] its complex, unstable
product. I should probably emphasise at this point that neither race
nor racism are the exclusive historical property of the minorities who
are their primary victims. (Gilroy, 2004)
Here 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
2) What does Gilroy suggest regarding the causes and history of racism?
Racial identities are caused by historical conflicts that have brought different
groups into opposition. That is not to say that there were no human
differences before historical conflict between different groups; different
human groups existed but their differences were not defined by ‘race’
lines.
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?
Diaspora means a scattering of people, from the original place to elsewhere.
The classic diaspora is the position from which Gilroy develops his concepts of diaspora.
Classical diasporic means that the country a group have been forced to leave will always be the place that defines the cultural or ethnic identity for those individuals.
Despite the geographical dispersion, people will still feel connected to their origins via history and ancestry
The further a group move from the place of origin, the more their culture is diluted.
Gilroy does not see diaspora as limited to national contexts in this way.
He considers a transatlantic diasporic identity, where groups across the Atlantic share cultural practices – a “single, complex unit” of black cultural practitioners as a result of a shared history of oppression and slavery.
the African diasporic identity is based on ROUTES taken throughout history, and not the ROOTS of origin.
Gilroy sees this as a diaspora that cannot be reversed, unlike the classic position which offers the myth of returning to the place of origin.
For Gilroy, the Black Atlantic diaspora is irreversible because the experience of slavery irrevocably changed the diasporic identity. It cannot be ‘rewound’ to a state of cultural purity and cannot return to Africa as the place of origin has changed – the place of origin doesn’t exist as it did before diaspora.
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.” As such, to accept the role of slavery into the cultural identities of Britain would be to challenge the negative stereotype of black Britons at the time, and reverse the “external and estranged” relationship with
the nation.
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.
negative experiences of exclusion, exposure to regressive ideologies and marginalisation will also create an identity which is then shared within the diasporic community and
perhaps from the origin country.
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.
Diasporic communities use the media to stay connected to their cultural identity in many ways. Firstly, they may use the media to read news and stay aware of what is happening in their home country. Secondly, they may watch movies or series that originate from their home country. For example, Netflix now includes many foreign TV series or movies.
8) Why does Gilroy suggest slavery is important in diasporic identity?
Diasporic identity was created as a result of slavery. Slavery can be said to be the root cause of all of it. Furthermore, Gilroy talks about how these events cannot be reversed.
9) How might representations in the media reinforce the idea of ‘double consciousness’ for black people in the UK or US?
Black people can often be represented as being free with full citizenship and rights. However, they may sometimes not feel this way as they "consistently feel they are looking at themselves through the eyes of others".- white people. Black people have to look for their representation through others eyes.
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.
The trailer attempts to challenge the stereotypical representation of black women by having 3 black woman working for NASA. They have very respected careers that are often associated with men only. However, they are very good at their jobs and even appear to be making very big improvements within the company, proving that even black American women can excel in their lives.
The trailer challenges 'double consciousness' by having the women be proud of who they are. They don't care what anyone thinks of them, rather, they aim to prove to everyone how intelligent and worthy they are.
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