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Racism in culture and politics
Two stories, one personal and one public showing the endemic racism in the UK in Thatcher's '80s and wondering how much things have changed.
- Over Xmas I watched this old episode of Minder, originally published in 1982 with my son. The episode is a homage, or pastiche of "12 Angry Men" and I remembered it for the repartee between Arthur and Chisolm, his police nemesis and the final twist in the jury room. However what's remarkable today is the casual racism and sexism in the program; it made my son who is much younger than the show quite uncomfortable, all I could say is that it was a different world then, but oddly maybe not so very different since ITV are showing this series at the moment.
- And two days later, we see more evidence of the same casual racism this time from then politically appointed advisers to the Thatcher Government, some of whom still hold significant positions of power and influence. While I strongly believe that people can change their mind, I wonder what this says about the Tory party today and then.
Furore over Oliver Letwin's 'racist' memo on black riotersOne of David Cameron's most influential ministers has apologised "unreservedly" after finding himself at the centre of a racism row, following the release of government papers kept secret for 30 years which revealed his "appalling" and "disgusting" attitudes towards black communities.- The minder episode was published the year following the Brixton Riots. The Letwin comments were in response to the second round in 1985.
- The picture was found on the internet via a google search, and may belong to the paper Socialist Worker since a Socialist Worker URL is displayed if you try to view the picture, however a Tineye search finds no other copies. I have tried to find the owner and failed. I believe this to be an orphan work.
