Lenny Henry brands TV industry 'racist' - Talk Britain

Sweetpea · #1 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 20:48

Lenny Henry has accused the British TV industry of being racist.
The comedian said the attitudes of the Alf Garnett era are alive and well and that a plan is needed to increase the number of ethnic minority staff at the major channels.

In a speech to the Royal Television Society, he said: "When I started, I was surrounded by a predominantly white workforce, but 32 years later, not a lot has changed."

He claimed that urgent action was required to give people without a degree from Oxbridge an opportunity to work in the industry.

The 49-year-old added: "I'm not talking about cleaners or security guys. I'm talking about decision-makers. To find a black or Asian boom operator is as rare as seeing John McCririck on the cover of Vanity Fair."

Broadcasting - News - Lenny Henry brands TV industry 'racist' - Digital Spy

He's the last person I would have thought said that.

#2 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 20:52

Has it ever occurred to him that maybe there aren't many black or Asian people in those positions because not many have applied for them?

terrywit · #3 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

To find a black or Asian boom operator is as rare as seeing John McCririck on the cover of Vanity Fair."

non white tradesmen............ don't meet many of them?

alf garnet, sterotype in the same manner of Theophilus P. Wildebeeste ?

oh "true colour" a crap film where he whitened up, if I where do the same OMG how racist would I be

lenny henry & "comic" ? advertising standards should have look into the matter......

Bruv · #4 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 21:48

He said

Quote:

"There is still so much work to do. When you can cast a Somalian girl in your piece simply because she's the best actress or when you can cast an Asian girl, and she is not playing the victim of an arranged marriage, or cast a bloke with dreadlocks not playing a drug dealer, then we will have something to work on."

Worth thinking about ?

#5 (**permalink**) 09-02-2008, 12:43

I've seen plenty of Asian girls not playing the part of the 'victim' of an arranged marriage. That statement itself is somewhat racist too isn't it? Is there an underlying assumption that every Asian female in an arranged marriage is a victim? It's only when the marriage is enforced against the will of the bride that she becomes a victim. Many arranged marriages are arranged with the co-operation of the bride and groom who are very happy with the arrangement. Many parents choose a husband or wife for their children with the best of motives. We only hear about the tragic ones.

I wonder what he'd say if a Somalian girl was playing a role in which she was married to a guy played by a Somalian and they had a son or daughter played by a Scandinavian actor because they were the best actor or actress? It would look stupid and it would be stupid.