OSP: Paul Gilroy - Diasporic identity
Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and openFactsheet 170: Gilroy – Ethnicity and Postcolonial Theory.
Read the Factsheet and complete the following questions/tasks:
1) How does Gilroy suggest racial identities are constructed?
Gilroy suggests that racial identities are historically constructed- formed through colonialization, slavery, nationalist philosophies and consumer capitalism.
2) What does Gilroy suggest regarding the causes and history of racism?
Interestingly, Gilroy expresses an alternative view of racism. He states that 'racism isn't caused by race' but that it is 'racism that results in the creation of race'. Racism isn't a natural phenomenon, rather, racial differences and racial identities are the product of racial oppression. 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 (the slave trade reflected the European perspective that their ‘race’ was superior to those whom they enslaved, and as such it was acceptable for less intelligent, less moral races to be taken as slaves for Europeans).
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.
Essentially, this means that people are defined by their race and that their race is something that is a strong part of who they are and how they live (national and/or religious holidays an individual observes; the language spoken; the religion followed; the food eaten.)
Gilroy is against this idea of ethnic absolutism as it goes against his theory that 'racism causes race'.
4) How does Gilroy view diasporic identity?
Gilroy considers diasporic identity in a different way. He views it as a 'translantic diasporic identity', meaning that groups across the Atlantic share cultural practices. This is a result of the 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.
Therefore, his idea counteracts the classic position that diaspora can be reversed. For Gilroy, the Black Atlantic diaspora is irreversible because the experience of slavery irrevocably changed the diasporic identity. The place of origin itself has changed so this also adds to Gilroy's point.
5) What did Gilroy suggest was the dominant representation of black Britons in the 1980s (when the Voice newspaper was first launched)?
At the time, the dominant representation of black Britons was as “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?
Diaspora creates cultural differences and these become associated with minority groups, in turn creating cultural tension. 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 use the media to stay connected to their cultural identity in many ways. Firstly, they may use the media to read news and stay aware of what is happening in their home country. Secondly, they may watch movies or series that originate from their home country. For example, Netflix now includes many foreign TV series or movies.
8) Why does Gilroy suggest slavery is important in diasporic identity?
Diasporic identity was created as a result of slavery. Slavery can be said to be the root cause of all of it. Furthermore, Gilroy talks about how these events cannot be reversed.
9) How might representations in the media reinforce the idea of ‘double consciousness’ for black people in the UK or US?
Black people can often be represented as being free with full citizenship and rights. However, they may sometimes not feel this way as they "consistently feel they are looking at themselves through the eyes of others".
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.
Read the Factsheet and complete the following questions/tasks:
1) How does Gilroy suggest racial identities are constructed?
Gilroy suggests that racial identities are historically constructed- formed through colonialization, slavery, nationalist philosophies and consumer capitalism.
2) What does Gilroy suggest regarding the causes and history of racism?
Interestingly, Gilroy expresses an alternative view of racism. He states that 'racism isn't caused by race' but that it is 'racism that results in the creation of race'. Racism isn't a natural phenomenon, rather, racial differences and racial identities are the product of racial oppression. 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 (the slave trade reflected the European perspective that their ‘race’ was superior to those whom they enslaved, and as such it was acceptable for less intelligent, less moral races to be taken as slaves for Europeans).
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.
Essentially, this means that people are defined by their race and that their race is something that is a strong part of who they are and how they live (national and/or religious holidays an individual observes; the language spoken; the religion followed; the food eaten.)
Gilroy is against this idea of ethnic absolutism as it goes against his theory that 'racism causes race'.
4) How does Gilroy view diasporic identity?
Gilroy considers diasporic identity in a different way. He views it as a 'translantic diasporic identity', meaning that groups across the Atlantic share cultural practices. This is a result of the 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.
Therefore, his idea counteracts the classic position that diaspora can be reversed. For Gilroy, the Black Atlantic diaspora is irreversible because the experience of slavery irrevocably changed the diasporic identity. The place of origin itself has changed so this also adds to Gilroy's point.
5) What did Gilroy suggest was the dominant representation of black Britons in the 1980s (when the Voice newspaper was first launched)?
At the time, the dominant representation of black Britons was as “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?
Diaspora creates cultural differences and these become associated with minority groups, in turn creating cultural tension. 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 use the media to stay connected to their cultural identity in many ways. Firstly, they may use the media to read news and stay aware of what is happening in their home country. Secondly, they may watch movies or series that originate from their home country. For example, Netflix now includes many foreign TV series or movies.
8) Why does Gilroy suggest slavery is important in diasporic identity?
Diasporic identity was created as a result of slavery. Slavery can be said to be the root cause of all of it. Furthermore, Gilroy talks about how these events cannot be reversed.
9) How might representations in the media reinforce the idea of ‘double consciousness’ for black people in the UK or US?
Black people can often be represented as being free with full citizenship and rights. However, they may sometimes not feel this way as they "consistently feel they are looking at themselves through the eyes of others".
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 trailer attempts to challenge the stereotypical representation of black women by having 3 black woman working for NASA. They have very respected careers that are often associated with men only. However, they are very good at their jobs and even appear to be making very big improvements within the company, proving that even black American women can excel in their lives.
The trailer challenges 'double consciousness' by having the women be proud of who they are. They don't care what anyone thinks of them, rather, they aim to prove to everyone how intelligent and worthy they are.
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