Is Sarah Kennedy a racist?

WillowTheWhisp · 01-11-2007, 12:12

Remember the old advert:

"use you ingenuity, wear something white that we can see" ?

Apparently on her early morning Radio 2 program Ms Kennedy was discussing the need for children to wear clothing which makes them visible to motorists on dark mornings. Ms Kennedy said:

"That's not just children. You know what happened to me yesterday. It was this black guy. It's lucky he opened his mouth to yawn or do something and I saw him. He was wearing a black hat, black clothes and he was just invisible."

Is that a racist remark or simply a statement of fact?

To me it sounds like a statement of fact. A dark skinned, dark haired person wearing dark clothes in the dark does tend to be less visible than a pale skinned blond in a white anorak. I see nothing offensive in reminding people that if they cannot be seen in the dark then they are in more danger. I have a black coat with a black hood and I was thi king to myself one rainy night that I really ought to have something more visible when out in the dark.

However, it would appear that ethnic minorities are in uproar and calling for resignations and the BBC to apologise for what she said etc etc.

Now I'm not saying Sarah Kennedy is the world's best presenter and she has been known to say some dodgy things at times but isn't this just making a mockery of real racism?

lancsdave · 01-11-2007, 12:17

If the ethnic minorities are in uproar she has no chance of keeping her job.

katex · 01-11-2007, 12:37

Agree Willow .. just a fact and sure she was only trying to help !!

Have thought this many times when 'dark skinned' children have rushed across a road and have mentioned it in a jokey way to coloured friends, etc., but was a serious issue to me and to them.

They should be grateful for her concern

Ianto.W. · 01-11-2007, 12:42

I remember willow a campaign being run by the government, they even had a little ditty on television "Wear something light at night"

WillowTheWhisp · 01-11-2007, 12:51

Yep, that's the one I was thinking of Ianto - but apparently to tell black people that it helps if they wear something light is racism.

Tin Monkey · 01-11-2007, 13:02

The issue is that this is not the first time that Sarah Kennedy has made such a remark. She has also made comments such as, black people are good at running because they're used to being chased by lions!!!
The issue with the comment above is that she said she only saw him when he opened his mouth, which is similar to various racist jokes about black people being invisible at night until they smile.

It's about time Kennedy bit the bullet and went. She is is a dinosaur and her views have no place in a forward thinking, media driven society.

beechy · 01-11-2007, 13:03

im sure sarah kennedy wouldnt hurt anyone
purposely she does however engage mouth
whilst brain is in nuetural and say what many
people are thinking

BERNADETTE · 01-11-2007, 13:06

Surely in a job like she has you should think before you speak. Maybe if she had thought about it this could have been avoided!!

beechy · 01-11-2007, 13:23

i wish id thought before i said what i thought
is a good maxim but seldom enforced

jambutty · 01-11-2007, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tin Monkey

The issue is that this is not the first time that Sarah Kennedy has made such a remark. She has also made comments such as, black people are good at running because they're used to being chased by lions!!!
The issue with the comment above is that she said she only saw him when he opened his mouth, which is similar to various racist jokes about black people being invisible at night until they smile.

It's about time Kennedy bit the bullet and went. She is is a dinosaur and her views have no place in a forward thinking, media driven society.

Is it just a coincidence that some of the best long distance runners of recent years were Ethiopians or from other African countries?

Although she is not the best presenter in the world, if Sarah Kennedy loses her job it will be a travesty. But why let the truth get in the way of an accusation of making a racist remark.

A dark skinned person dressed in dark clothes is difficult to see on unlit roads and flashing smile will contrast against that darkness.

MargaretR · 01-11-2007, 13:44

I remember being taught in Physics lessons (about fulcrums and levers) that the heel bone in persons of African descent protrudes more than in other races - so that they have more leverage and so can sprint better. Pointing out such racial differences is not being racist.

LYNX1 · 01-11-2007, 13:45

No, obviously that is my opinion..........which no one listens to anyway

But on a serious note....no one can open their mouth without thinking very long and hard because it is so easy for anything you say to be taken out of context and you are jumped on from a very great height.

Ianto.W. · 01-11-2007, 13:52

The'd have had something to moan about if she'd knocked the guy down an killed him, It is high time the coloured people stopped being so damn touchy and using any old excuse to shout foul. It's becoming boring listening to them moan about the most trivial slip of the tongue, Black is Black White is White you cannot alter the fact.

WillowTheWhisp · 01-11-2007, 14:06

The bit about the lions wasn't racist. It was just daft. Of course black people don't spend their lives running away from lions any more than Lancashire folk wear clogs and flat caps and keep whippets. The only difference is that when someone jokes that we do we tend to laugh at it.

What about that film "White men can't jump"? Was that racism? Was it banned?

Mr Aleks · 01-11-2007, 16:26

Its a fact but no doubt they will shout racist as they always do! Id just like to see what happened if we had or own music awards for "the best in white music" as they have the MOBO's. Someone mentioned that in another thread and its true.