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#BlackLivesMatter This month we shall be recording responses made to the killing of George Floyd on 25th May. Too many black people have died at the hands of state racism, institutional racism – and individual racism stoked by the first two. We can all work together to turn the tide of racism. It will be a long and difficult struggle – but George Floyd’s death has brought many young people into that fight. We may yet change the world. Should we name 25th as George Floyd day, to ensure that we never forget?
Many celebrities have spoken out about Black Lives Matter since George Floyd was killed. One of the most surprising moments came when the rather mainstream Alison Hammond, a bubbly presenter on the highly mainstream This Morning spoke out powerfully and movingly.
The excerpt is also interesting for the response from the show’s anchor presenters, the über-mainstream Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby. Holly is surprised to hear Alison talking like this. Had Holly never thought about race and discrimination before, and the way in which her colleague would experience racism? She has no resources with which to respond, and overall is just pious, as if the discussion was just about how much better it would be if we all ate wholemeal pasta. Phillip Schofield is just patronising. Alison wins the day – but there is a long way to go.
“[When I say ‘Black Lives Matter’] I’m not trying to offend white people. If you are offended by it then you need to look within yourself. […] It’s a basic goodness, an appeal to your basic instincts of goodness. It’s not about ‘all lives matter’ – obviously we know that. It’s all about the fact that if black lives mattered, we wouldn’t be in this situation now. When black lives matter, then all lives will matter.”
Presenter Alison Hammond, speaking live on This Morning, 3rd June 2020
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Thought for today
The Thames Today
