1) How does Gilroy suggest racial identities are constructed?
He has consistently argued that racial identities are historically constructed – formed by
colonialization, slavery, nationalist philosophies and consumer capitalism.
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.
Ethnicity is the identity that is shared with others in your ethnic group; inherited from parents; passed down from generations before. Ethnicity is defined by: the national and/or religious holidays an individual observes; the language spoken; the religion followed; the food eaten.
Absolutism considers separate ethnic compartments are absolute which are invisible & tightly bonded together. Compromising your ethnic group would, for an ethnic absolutist, be against natural order and risk the future existence of that ethnic group
4) How does Gilroy view diasporic identity?
Diaspora means a 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.
The classic diaspora is the position from which Gilroy develops his concepts of diaspora. The classic diaspora considers the originating place for those displaced as the original source of unity and permanence for the diasporic identity.
Gilroy does not see diaspora as limited to national contexts in this way.
5) What did Gilroy suggest was the dominant representation of black Britons in the 1980s (when the Voice newspaper was first launched)?
Gilroy sees black identities as a product of movement – 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.
Gilroy argues that we need to take British slavery into account & consider the influence on history, culture and identity. However, in acknowledging the British slave trade as an essential component to British culture caused political issues in the 1980s.
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. However, diasporic identities can also become trapped within a national ideology; diasporic cultural ideologies and practices exist within a national ideology based upon its social, economic and cultural integrations and as such there is a cultural difference with the diasporic identities.
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.
It shows the ethnic minorities that they've been fighting for equality for a long time. Creating pages like The Voice of changing the image of a stereotype in Teen Vogue magazine.
'The media will offer a range of representations for various groups. However, these are often limited from some groups more than others.'
8) Why does Gilroy suggest slavery is important in diasporic identity?
Gilroy also argues the importance of slavery to modernity and capitalism. The modern world was built upon a normalised view of slavery, particularly plantation slavery. 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?
Gilroy claims that the inside/outside position of black people enabled writers and thinkers to question the liberty offered to white North Americans and Europeans. It ‘forced a special clarity of vision – a dreadful objectivity’ (Du Bois) as a result of being black and living in the modern world with a sense of double consciousness.
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 is about a woman fighting for her rights and throughout the trailer we can see that she tries to be herself but the pressure of middle-ages, white man that she works with set various challenges throughout her already hard life.
He has consistently argued that racial identities are historically constructed – formed by
colonialization, slavery, nationalist philosophies and consumer capitalism.
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.
Ethnicity is the identity that is shared with others in your ethnic group; inherited from parents; passed down from generations before. Ethnicity is defined by: the national and/or religious holidays an individual observes; the language spoken; the religion followed; the food eaten.
Absolutism considers separate ethnic compartments are absolute which are invisible & tightly bonded together. Compromising your ethnic group would, for an ethnic absolutist, be against natural order and risk the future existence of that ethnic group
4) How does Gilroy view diasporic identity?
Diaspora means a 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.
The classic diaspora is the position from which Gilroy develops his concepts of diaspora. The classic diaspora considers the originating place for those displaced as the original source of unity and permanence for the diasporic identity.
Gilroy does not see diaspora as limited to national contexts in this way.
5) What did Gilroy suggest was the dominant representation of black Britons in the 1980s (when the Voice newspaper was first launched)?
Gilroy sees black identities as a product of movement – 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.
Gilroy argues that we need to take British slavery into account & consider the influence on history, culture and identity. However, in acknowledging the British slave trade as an essential component to British culture caused political issues in the 1980s.
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. However, diasporic identities can also become trapped within a national ideology; diasporic cultural ideologies and practices exist within a national ideology based upon its social, economic and cultural integrations and as such there is a cultural difference with the diasporic identities.
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.
It shows the ethnic minorities that they've been fighting for equality for a long time. Creating pages like The Voice of changing the image of a stereotype in Teen Vogue magazine.
'The media will offer a range of representations for various groups. However, these are often limited from some groups more than others.'
8) Why does Gilroy suggest slavery is important in diasporic identity?
Gilroy also argues the importance of slavery to modernity and capitalism. The modern world was built upon a normalised view of slavery, particularly plantation slavery. 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?
Gilroy claims that the inside/outside position of black people enabled writers and thinkers to question the liberty offered to white North Americans and Europeans. It ‘forced a special clarity of vision – a dreadful objectivity’ (Du Bois) as a result of being black and living in the modern world with a sense of double consciousness.
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 is about a woman fighting for her rights and throughout the trailer we can see that she tries to be herself but the pressure of middle-ages, white man that she works with set various challenges throughout her already hard life.
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