Paul Gilroy - blog task

Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and openFactsheet 170: Gilroy – Ethnicity and Postcolonial Theory. Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets

Read the Factsheet and complete the following questions/tasks:

1) How does Gilroy suggest racial identities are constructed?

Gilroy states that racial differences and racial identities are the product of racial oppression. Racial identities are often caused by historical conflicts that have different groups into opposition.

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

Gilroy suggests racism cause race rather than racism causing race. Racism is not caused by the clash of two or more races - racism is not a natural perception.

3) What is ethnic absolutism and why is Gilroy opposed to it?

Ethnic absolution is a line of thinking which sees humans are apart of different ethnic compartments, with race as the basis of human differentiation. Gilroy has opposed ethnic absolution as it counteracts 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 as a result of a shared history of oppression and slavery. Gilory sees the idea of black identity being a product of movement. The African diasporic identity is based on ROUTES taken throughout history, and not the ROOTS of origin. Gilroy sees this as a diaspora that can't be reversed as black people are unable to return to their place of origin. 

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

Gilroy suggests the dominant representation of black Britons in the 1980s as being "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 challenges national ideologies, through the commitment and loyalty to the origin nation or place. 

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.

8) Why does Gilroy suggest slavery is important in diasporic identity?

Gilroy suggests the modern world was built upon a normalised view of slavery, particularly plantation slavery. 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?

Double consciousness provides more ways of understanding the world, but it places a great strain on black Americans as they consistently feel they are looking at themselves through the eyes of others; there is a 'two-ness' within the identity of black American which is reconciled.

The dominant representations of black males, primarily in the US is either a rapper, criminal or gang member, or an athlete.

these representations then serve to reinforce the double consciousness of the black male, that he is not anything more than what he sees in the media. 

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 attempts to challenge 'double consciousness' representation as the Hidden Figures trailer tries to promote female dominance amongst the black community. Instead of having black males that follow the conventional representations (like being a rapper, criminal, gang member or athlete),...