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Yes you're right, sorry if anyone read my comment to imply that BBC actively used that word to describe a black person themselves. But it's pretty much accepte
by corin_ 6y ago
Yes you're right, sorry if anyone read my comment to imply that BBC actively used that word to describe a black person themselves.
But it's pretty much accepted in the UK and especially UK media that if reporting on it, you say "the n word", especially if you're a white reporter.
A lot of people were extremely offended, even in the context you've added, and the BBC have now acknowledged it was wrong.
The reason for today's boycott is partly their delay (and initial defence), and partly a wide, subjective view of institutional racism among large parts of the BBC.
This is obviously a very complex topic, but for now can't we at least agree that we don't need to hear the n-word purposefully spoken by BBC News?
- scohesc 6y agoI disagree... It's the same thing as saying "the n word" to me. You're still telling someone the word and it shouldn't matter in this instance, because they're reporting on what was said, written, or done. Context and intent matter. If a single word causes so much outrage, you need to look at who exactly is getting offended. I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of black people don't find offense in it being said at all - again, if you give them the context. Just telling them "BBC guy said the word!" is a bit disingenuous.
- corin_ 6y ago> It's the same thing as saying "the n word" to me The difference IMO is that one is a reminder to anyone listening that they should never use that word, whereas the other is a normalisation or hearing it. I'm certainly not an expert on this subject though, and being white myself I take my lead in this area, and on this story, from non-white people who I know or who I follow in politics/media/etc. I can't speak to how the majority of black people on the UK feel, but definitely plenty of them understood the context and were still very outspoken against it. Here's one high profile example (the one that arguably made BBC back down) https://news.sky.com/story/sideman-quits-bbc-over-use-of-racist-term-in-news-report-12045515 https://news.sky.com/story/sideman-quits-bbc-over-use-of-rac...
- sukilot 6y agoNo, we can't agree to sweep such things under the rug. Please read MLK's letter from Birmingham Jail. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_from_Birmingham_Jail https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_from_Birmingham_Jail