On Wednesday, my colleague at gal-dem, a magazine collective of women and non-binary people of colour (PoC) aimed at challenging the monolithic media landscape, received an email that threw the realities of our existence in a white-dominated environment into focus.
They were asked or some quotes, contacts, on the subject of “wokeness.”
As a fellow journalist I appreciate that it is sometimes hard, if not impossible, to say no to commissions given to us by our editors – and that there is an outdated mentality whereby editors think that white men can write about anything and everything, whereas black women comment and features writers, for instance, are only ever commissioned on the topic of race. Challenging that, even within an institution, can be hard.
But to ask the head of another media outlet for their contacts rather than doing research in this context seems shabby: an abuse of power in a time when it’s becoming clearer and clearer just how important it is for the voices of women of colour to be centred and our emotional labour respected.
To ask the head of another media outlet for their contacts rather than doing research in this context seems shabby
As the Channel 4 presenter Jon Snow said in the aftermath of Grenfell: “We the media report the lack of diversity in other walks of life – but our own record is nothing like good enough … We have to widen both our contact with, and awareness of, those who live outside and beyond our elite.”
So, you know, we should be widening the circle of people we contact about stories?
At gal-dem we are inundated with irrelevant requests for comment, advice and guidance from white people; and it’s tiring, these tokenistic faux attempts at diversity. Even as I was writing this piece I received yet another email from a journalist looking for a comment on a topic I do not care about. I have been asked only because I am a “black” voice, not because I have any expertise on the subject.
But we shouldn’t widen the circle of people we ask for comment about things.
Seriously, she needs to make her mind up which way she wants to have it.
Decades of “non-whites have a unique and interesting perspective so should be consulted” means that she gets contacted by journos asking for her supposedly unique and interesting perspective on various topics and this is now somehow offensive?
As the Channel 4 presenter Jon Snow said in the aftermath of Grenfell
“We’ll never get tired of hearing about this!”
WTF is Woke?
Black women are only allowed to write about blackness, womanness and black womanness whereas
there is an outdated mentality whereby editors think that white men can write about anything and everything.
What a waste of talent when black women could turn their hand to all kinds of topics and yet
Even as I was writing this piece I received yet another email from a journalist looking for a comment on a topic I do not care about
they sometimes just can’t be bothered.
Ref Grenfell: so does this lady think that the enquiry shouldn’t have local reps on the panel? Or should the experts do the job?
Mr Yan: WTF is Woke?
It’s how a lot of blues songs begin.
On Wednesday, my colleague at gal-dem, a magazine collective of women and non-binary people of colour (PoC)
Lol
aimed at challenging the monolithic media landscape
Interesting…conservative points of view?
…
No.
Is it just me?
I saw the Grenfell memorial service on the news last night. It was surreal.
It looked like a bunch of extras from Star Wars got invited to St Paul’s so that Fish Face and Prince Tampon could fawn over them and show off their best sad expressions to the cameras. Charles always looks regally constipated, so he won that round.
Apparently it’s a source of national dishonour that we’re paying people from the Third World to live in tower blocks in London which might catch fire. Al Beebra did a documentary on it called “Britain’s Shame”.
And it is, just not for the reasons they claim.
Are we supposed to feel white guilt, or something? Because, while I agree that fires are bad and nobody wants to see anyone suffer – even low IQ immigrants who moved here to consume our resources – I’m still struggling to give a fuck. And all the ostentatious shroud-waving isn’t helping me in the fucks-giving department.
Back in the UK for the first time in 18 months and definitely noticed how the media are still flogging the Grenfell tragedy for all its worth
“magazine collective of women and non-binary people of colour (PoC)”
So, that’s a bit like finding a park bench or a bus seat with a “no white males or cisgender coloured males” sign on it.
Feel the diversity!
“It’s how a lot of blues songs begin”
I woke up this mornin;
(dadadadada)
With nonbinary Fred
(dadadadada)
Turned out she had a dick so I threw her outta bed, I got the blues…
Doing favours all day for no return? Damn right you should say no. the real art.. that one that it pays well to get good is getting something out of it. “Sure i’ll help you out and actually its funny because i was about to ring you too because a,b,c” ..
Charlie approaches it differently, rather than nuture a back scratching relationship, we’ll go straight to defcon 5 and at least we can get a guardian article out of it.
whereas black women comment and features writers, for instance, are only ever commissioned on the topic of race.
She complains, in an article she’s writing about race.
It’s how a lot of blues songs begin.
Very good!
BiG wins the thread…
@BiG + 100
A black woman (of any sexual identity), who jumps to the conclusion that the only reason a white person would ask her opinion is to use her as a Token Negro, is exhibiting racism. In fact, bringing “gender” into this just emphasizes that it is not about reason but about making y’all see Who I Am.
The same people recently had no problem advising black voters in Alabama how they had to vote to prove their racial bona fides.
Token complaining about being token. Just be thankful you have a job, M_ Brinkhurst-Cuff.
‘the realities of our existence in a white-dominated environment’
Whites in ENGLAND ?!?! That’s got to be fixed!
‘a magazine collective of women and non-binary people of colour (PoC)’
I wonder who thought that represented an opportunity. What is that, eight people?
A magazine collective of bitchy women and non-binary people of colour (PoC) further limits their appeal.
Do Guardian editors compete to get the most ridiculous article published? Is someone getting back slapped for getting this one out?
“Gal-dem”
FFS
The mutilation of the English language continues unabated. And I’m not talking about the natural evolution of new terms, meanings and spellings, but this complete and utter destruction of verb/noun/adjective structure and placing. They can’t even culturally appropriate properly.
@ Mr Yan
“Woke” is a deliberate misconjugation of “to wake” it is used in the present (continuous) tense. It means enlightened, aware, condescending and self-important.
“I am woke to their suffering” or just “I am woke”.
Avoided by careful writers.
@ jgh
English is demonstrably heading towards a purely positional grammar. Sit back, accept it and enjoy the show.
I heard my late father use “thou texteth” when he spotted that “to text” had become a verb. There is currently a very slow and polite battle going on about whether it is regular. “I texted her yesterday” vs. “I text her yesterday”. I use the former but I hope the latter wins.
How about “texed”?
She’s just annoyed because the ES was so obviously taking the piss.
rjb: verbification in English almost invariably leads to a weak verb. Examples to the contrary are usually for reasons of humour/incongruity.
I wonder how long I could read an article in this harridan’s magazine before weeping blood. Over/under is three minutes.
@ rjb
I now know why I wasn’t aware of the term – ‘cos I don’t give a crap about their self importance.
I think I preferred the other explanation about Blues songs…
On Wednesday, my colleague at gal-dem, a magazine collective of women and non-binary people of colour (PoC) aimed at challenging the monolithic media landscape, received an email that threw the realities of our existence in a white-dominated environment into focus.
Honey, you wouldn’t know focus in a business environment if it kicked in your woke black non-binary ass.
WTF is Woke?
It’s an easy way to tell other people you’re a complete asshole without actually saying you’re a complete asshole.
Kind of like telling people you’re a vegan.
@Solid Steve 2: Squirrels of The Patriots, December 15, 2017 at 11:38 am
You are not alone. I know nobody who cares having seen their ungrateful, demanding behaviour and complete lack of any semblance of gratitude for the help, money & free accommodation they’ve received.
JuliaM summed it up months ago ~”never seen sympathy change to don’t care so quickly”
Al Beeb & C4 believe they’re helping the “victms” – they’re helping UKIP, Brexit & Trump.
“Al Beeb & C4 believe they’re helping the “victms”
Al Beeb and C4 believe they’re helping ZaNu.
Fixed it for you.