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Ella-Henderson
What if they were black?
Ella Henderson examines important role race plays in the spotlight
Written by Ella-Henderson
06/02/2012 02:30 PM

SHOW: Frankie Cocozza

THINKING ABOUT the hungry shenanigans of wannabes, has-beens and never-will-be celebrities on Channel Five’s Celebrity Big Brother, it occurred to me that there are some things white people do that black people, simply because they are black, would not be allowed to get away with.

Take someone like Frankie Cocozza, who first came to the public attention’s on ITV’s X Factor, baring his backside to the nation. Bad behaviour combined with drug allegations soon saw him axed and on the road to paparazzi and tabloid heaven.

Rather than frowning at his reported sexual antics, the general feeling, it seemed, was that he was a harmless, naughty teen with raging hormones. Imagine if was black.

If he had even made it through the first rounds of X Factor with that voice, I suspect he would have been described as an aggressive sexual predator.

Thinking about it, there are numerous situations where a change of colour of the person might bring about a change in opinion. For instance, white women with attitude are ‘strong willed’, or they are ‘empowering themselves’, or being ‘assertive’.

Big hair, ultra tacky jewellery, barely there clothes, over the top make-up on a white woman would equal ‘gaudy’, whilst big hair, ultra tacky jewellery, barely there clothes, over the top make-up on a black woman would equal ‘ghetto’.

If a black child goes missing, there is a two-inch mention in a local paper. A cute blonde-haired blue-eyed child goes missing, he or she will show up on every national newspaper for months.

A classic is walking in a group. Nine or 10 white teens can walk down the street together and no one will bat and eyelid. Four or five black boys together would be considered a gang.

An absolute no-no is for black people to go to work in a bad mood. A white employee may get excused because ‘they’re just having a bad day’. But, a black employee, on the other hand, can never have a bad day, as he or she would be regarded as aggressive with a bad attitude.

The Government can legislate against discrimination until the kingdom comes, but can never legislate against deep-rooted beliefs.

Your Voice

Comments

I agree with you ReRe, Big

Alcatraz Lost's picture
Alcatraz Lost

I agree with you ReRe, Big Brother doesn't show Black people in the right light. That said, I may upset you for saying this but Big Brother isn't exactly the most intelligent piece of TV you are going to see. Why are you looking for them to show you Blacks in Harmony. If they were to do that, it will probably counter-act the drama they intend to show us, that very same drama which gets viewers, of which you are one. And as Britain is for the majority a white country, any reality TV show with as much hype as Big brother has will seldom show you what you want to see, how you want to see it by way of black.
I don't mean to speak down about what you find entertaining but I just believe its more important how blacks are perceived in different mediums. Big Brother for all the shame it brings, I say let the majority of contestants be white.

And I also agree with you Black Star.My family has endured a serious grievance as a result of Jamaica and the state of mind it's allowed to ferment among its people.
JTK, I love Jamaica, it filled me with pride when I visited but as the land that I hold closer to my heart in terms of heritage, it also hurt to see the social state that its in. And the state that it is in is so dire that WE HAVE TO overlook the good and focus on the bad. We don't have the luxury that Africans have. They exist on an entire continent. For every atrocity that exist in Africa, there is beauty beside.
Jamaica is only habited by 2 million people. We must save the country before it destroys itself and along with it, our heritage.

Tue, 2012-03-06 21:33

Black Star, so you choose to

JTK's picture
JTK

Black Star, so you choose to casually discrimainate against Jamaicans and diss Ella in the process?! Ella was right, you can't legislate for deep-rooted beliefs. That chip hurting you much?...

Sat, 2012-02-11 01:41

I agree that if a black man

ReRe's picture
ReRe

I agree that if a black man was behaving like Frankie there would have been an uproar!!!

The main point i want to raise is - HOW COME IN ALL THE BIG BROTHERS THERE HAS NEVER BEEN (AT LEAST) TWO BLACK PEOPLE WHO ARE OF SIMILAR AGE, SHARE SIMILAR INTERESTS etc???! - WE ALWAYS GET 5+ WHITE WOMEN OR MEN THAT SHARE THESE AND SO WE AS VIEWERS GET TO WATCH THEIR FRIENDSHIP GROW, & WATCH HOW WHITE PEOPLE INTERACT. I WANT TO SEE MY PEOPLE (THE BLACK SIDE OF ME!!!!) SHARING JOKES, DISCUSSING THEIR BACKGROUNDS, AND SO ON, THE WAY BLACK PEOPLE DO! SO WHY HAS BIGBROTHER NEVER DONE THIS?? BECAUSE THEY DONT WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR STRENGTHS. THEY WANT TO KEEP IT SIMPLE AND JUST CHUCK PEOPLE IN THERE WHO ARE GAY, OLD, SILLY, ACT LIKE THEIR WHITE, SAY SOMETHING GHETTO TO GET THORWN OUT & THE LIST GOES ON.
I WANT TO SEE A GROUP OF BLACK MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE 'SANE' AND SHARE SIMILARITIES!!!!!

THANK YOU VOICE!!!!

I could go on but will just keep it short and sweet XXXXX

Thu, 2012-02-09 22:11

I so agree with your last

Black Star's picture
Black Star

I so agree with your last sentence. However, you're failing to address the most important issue, which is the insane behaviour of so many of your own JAMAICAN people. I guess this is too painful for you, or you're just too dim or indifferent to see it.

Cheers, Ella. Can't waste any more time!

Tue, 2012-02-07 08:27
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