Paul Gilroy - blog tasks

1) How does Gilroy suggest racial identities are constructed?

He suggests that racial identities are constructed by colonialisation, slavery, nationalist philosophies and consumer capitalism. 

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

He suggests that the causes and history of racism are due to racial difference and racial identities are product of racial oppression. Racial identities are caused by historical conflicts that have brought different gorups into opposition. 

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.

4) How does Gilroy view diasporic identity?

Gilroy views diasporic identity as "dispersion" and "scattering of seeds", where it means scattering of people, from the original place to elsewhere. Diasporas are considered to comprise of members of ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious groups who live in countries to which their ancestors migrated.

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

He suggests that the dominant representation of black Britons in the 1980s was “external and estranged from the imagined community that is the nation”. 

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

Some of the negative effects of this are experiences of exclusion, exposure to regressive ideologies and marginalisation will also create and identity which is then shared with the diasporic community and perhaps the origin of the 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 media to stay connected to their cultural identity by being able to connect with other people, internationally. Social media allows diasporic identities to gain more community and social interaction which could perhaps lead to them staying connected to their cultural identity. These could be through using social apps like instagram or even YouTube so they know that there are still other people who have their own culture.

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

Gilroy suggest that slavery is important in diasporic identity Slavery was only rejected  when it was revealed as incompatible with enlightened rationality and capitalist production. Gilroy argues that the figure of the black slave of  ‘the Negro’ provided enlightened thinkers and philosophers an insight into concepts of property rights, consciousness and art.

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

Representations in the media reinforce the idea of ‘double consciousness’ through limiting inclusivity, and the idea of these representations often limited from some groups more than others. For example, the dominant representation of black males are either a rapper, criminal or gang member. These representations then serve to reinforce the double consciousness  of the black male, that he is not anything more than what he sees in the media.

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 film attempts to challenge ‘double consciousness’ and stereotypical representation of black American and women by using most of the cast as black as well as the idea that they needed a black woman go help them with the work, who is also good at maths, subverting the typical stereotypes of women only being good in humanity subjects. Furthermore, the idea that it started off as woman having that female empowerment as it shows women driving instead of depending on a man.