OSP: PAUL GILROY - POSTCOLONIAL THEORY AND DIASPORIC IDENTITY

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 Paul Gilroy - blog tasks


1) How does Gilroy suggest racial identities are constructed?

- Racial identities are caused by historical conflicts that have brought different groups into opposition. After the Renaissance, lines  of race were established as a useful way to legitimise oppression

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

- Around the world structures of political and social life have been constructed under race thinking. As Gilroy sees race as a result of racism, the fact that these aspects of society are based upon race thinking is problematic, and as such there is scope to evaluate the equality of representations and identities created in the media.

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.

4) How does Gilroy view diasporic identity?

- He considers a transatlantic diasporic identity, where groups across the Atlantic share cultural practices – a “single, complex unit” of black cultural practitioners as a result of a shared history of oppression and slavery. 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.

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

- The dominant representation of black Britons was as “external and estranged from the imagined community that is the nation.”. As such, to accept the role of slavery into the cultural identities of Britain would be to challenge the negative stereotype of black Britons at the time,

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

- 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.

- Negative experiences of exclusion, exposure to regressive ideologies and marginalisation will also create an identity which is then shared within the diasporic community and perhaps from the origin 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 can be able to watch television shows or movies from their home country or listen to music and news. This can help them stay connected to their origin and may even help them learn more about their culture.

8) Why does Gilroy suggest 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?

- The dominant representations of black males, primarily in the US, is either a rapper, criminal or gang member, or an athlete.
- The dominant representations pf black males in the UK is associated with crime poverty and other negative aspects.

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 focuses on the achievements of three African American women who are scientists that faces rasicm, sexism and tension from their white male peers. 
- The stereotypical representation of black American women is that 
- This film allows the audience who relate to see themselves reflected in the movie.

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