Celebrity Big Brother teaches us how to deflect accusations of racism in 3 easy steps at Racialicious

Celebrity Big Brother teaches us how to deflect accusations of racism in 3 easy steps

by Carmen Van Kerckhove

The UK’s Celebrity Big Brother reality show has made international headlines because of the racism endured by Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty at the hands of her housemates, particularly a woman named Jade Goody, who has since been evicted. (Thanks to Rochelle, Vandia, Rob and Rachel for the tips!)

From Wikipedia:

As of 16 January 2007 this series has attracted the largest ever number of public complaints to the UK broadcasting watchdog Ofcom about a Big Brother series. The complaints received detailed concerns that housemate Shilpa Shetty had been subjected to bullying, allegedly with undertones of racism. As an example, one English woman even called a fellow Indian participant “a dog” and that she should “fuck off home”. This sparked widespread anger and demonstrations in India, where the alleged racism was reported on the news, and led Big Brother’s main sponsor Carphone Warehouse to sever ties with the show.

It’s been interesting to see some of the similarities between US racism scandals and this one in the UK. It appears that there’s a set of rules that people follow when accused of racism. Now obviously these are not the only three techniques for deflecting accusations of racism or suppressing conversations about race. Be sure to check out How to Suppress Discussions of Racism and Jeff Yang’s terrific breakdown of the typical non-apology, or what he calls the Rosie Carolla defense. But these are three tactics that seem to come up most frequently.

1. Deny that you are a racist, no matter what.

Michael Richards went on David Letterman to apologize but simultaneously declare that he is not a racist. Rosie O’Donnell apologized for her “ching chong” remark while expressing skepticism that it was considered a racial slur. By calling into question the racism of the remark, she of course defused accusations of her being a racist.

According to the BBC, a spokesperson for Goody said: “Jade will be mortified when she comes out to learn that her conduct is being interpreted as racist. Anyone who knows Jade knows that she is not a racist.”

2. Invoke your non-white relative or romantic partner as proof that you’re not a racist.

According to the same BBC article, Goody’s mother Jackiey Budden suggested that Goody couldn’t possibly be racist because she’s mixed: “Jade has never been racist, she is mixed race herself and suffered racist abuse as a youngster.”

We’ve seen plenty of examples of people denying accusations of racism by pointing to the fact that they have been in interracial relationships before and/or have mixed race children, or (my personal favorite) that they live in the Dominican Republic.

Newsflash: Interracial couples and mixed race people can be racist too. Which by the way, also means that increased numbers of both does not mean our society is heading towards an inevitably racism-free future.

3. Point to a non-white person (preferably the focus of your remarks) who was not offended by your behavior as proof that you’re not a racist

After Arnold Schwarzenegger was caught on tape discussing state assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia’s spiciness (“I mean Cuban, Puerto Rican, they are all very hot…They have the, you know, part of the black blood in them and part of the Latino blood in them that together makes it”), he trotted her out at a press conference so she could say that she was not at all offended, and actually refers to herself as a “hot blooded Latina”.

Rosie O’Donnell also used this tactic. At the end of her non-apology, she pointed to two Asian women in the audience and said, “You two weren’t offended, right?” and used their smiles and applause as evidence that she was in fact, not racist.

According to this report (hat tip to Angry Asian Man), Shilpa Shetty is taking back her earlier statement that she felt like a victim of racism by saying instead, “I don’t feel that there was any racial discrimination happening from Jade’s end … I think there are a lot of insecurities from her end, but it’s definitely not racial.”

I’m sure that by the time this post comes out, someone will have said: “See? Shilpa doesn’t think it was racist, so it must not be.”

Trackbacks & Pings

Hotashi » Celebrity Big Brother teaches us how to deflect accusations of racism in 3 easy steps on 17 Apr 2007 at 2:11 pm

[…] Celebrity Big Brother teaches us how to deflect accusations of racism in 3 easy steps by Carmen Van Kerckhove […]
Racism aplenty on Big Brother 8 at Racialicious - the intersection of race and pop culture on 05 Sep 2007 at 7:09 am

[…] racist shit the cast of Big Brother 8 has been saying. I guess they’re trying to top their UK counterparts. (Thanks […]

Comments

Mom2One wrote:

Oh my.

The tactics are definitely used all the time. One lady where I work has been known to use “I’m not racist. I grew up in Detroit.”

Oh, so no racists live in Detroit. Now, THAT was news to me.

Posted 23 Jan 2007 at 10:57 am ¶
Rob wrote:

The last one is used the most and is commonly referred to as the Strawman Argument.

They pick one person out to interview and use that person as a basis of fact for a larger group.

“Ever notice that when they want to interview people on line, they always chose the dumbest person possible?”

Posted 23 Jan 2007 at 12:04 pm ¶
Julia Stepchild wrote:

I just googled this Jane Goody. Look at her website! A big, blaring, “I’m not racist” statement and that’s it… denial.

http://www.jadegoody.co.uk/

Posted 23 Jan 2007 at 1:29 pm ¶
kim wrote:

Mom2One:

Of course that co-worker is talking about her familiarity with whatever group was at the center of your conversation with her, and her presumed exemption from being thought to harbor racist ATTITUDES towards said group, because she has socialized, been educated among or around, and lived near members of that group.

I think there is more to be said to her if you feel she needs to re-direct, because I don’t think she can understand herself to be part of an ‘outsider, privileged’ group, whereas she might identify others as you (seem to want to) identify her.

Posted 23 Jan 2007 at 1:30 pm ¶
Nadia wrote:

“The tactics are definitely used all the time. One lady where I work has been known to use “I’m not racist. I grew up in Detroit.””

Haha, except that anyone who’s actually from Detroit would know that a great deal of white people who grew up in Detroit but don’t currently live their either were themselves, or had parents who got laid off from auto plants and blame these layoffs on non white auto workers stealing their jobs. At least this is something I have heard over and over from white suburban Detroiters. Not to mention the entire concept of white flight…a white person grew up in Detroit, but doesn’t live their anymore…and now Detroit is in very bad shape…but none of that has anything to do with race?

On topic, I think it’s awesome that there were protests in India about this and that it has garnered so much attention. The post at Sepia Mutiny here pretty much sums it up.

Posted 23 Jan 2007 at 4:28 pm ¶
Just Wondering wrote:

Carmen:

While I understand where you are coming from with this post, what exactly do you think people such as Rosie should do or say following an inappropriate public comment? Do you really expect anyone to address the media and say “I’m a big ol’ flaming racist and I hate everyone who doesn’t look like me?”

What these individuals are trying to do is show that they acted without malice. Whether we believe them or not is up to us, but is it not possible for someone like Rosie O’Donnell — a comedian — to imitate a voice and not do so with hatred or ill feelings?

One can find in popular culture all kinds of comedians who make fun of voices — black comedians who imitate white people as plain-speaking nerds … Middle Eastern or Indian characters in shows such as Seinfeld and The Simpsons … the Scottish guy in Caddyshack … the list is endless. Surely not all of those are racist or mean-spirited.

Comedians have been pushing the proverbial social envelope for years and in the past, they’ve gotten away with it every time. Now, there’s a line in the sand and people are saying “Whoa, wait a minute.”

It’s a change in the environment that they aren’t cognizant of … and they are caught off guard when they embarrass themselves.

That may make them insensitive. It may mean they are idiots. But it doesn’t necessarily prove that they are racist.

Screaming at them with the “R word” only makes it more likely that they will fight back and defend themselves.

Posted 23 Jan 2007 at 4:40 pm ¶
Carmen Van Kerckhove wrote:

Just Wondering,

I think that for one, people need to realize that “racist” does not have to mean that you’re a cross-burning, white hood-wearing bigot who goes around beating people up and calling them racial slurs.

I very much agree with Dumi’s post “Reclaiming Racist” which you can find here: http://tinyurl.com/28563o

All of us have racist beliefs and impulses and we should be striving constantly to challenge those in ourselves. If someone tells me that they think something I said was racist, my first reaction wouldn’t be to deny it, instead, I would take some time to think about what I said and where it came from.

As for comedians making fun of voices, yes, those can be racist too. Any kind of racial satire is potentially explosive and if you engage in that kind of satire, you need to be extremely aware that people may not respond positively.

I think that Jeff’s suggested rules of engagement in the Princeton post (http://tinyurl.com/ypj8l6) are a good place to start. To paraphrase:

1. Are you using racial satire to make a larger point? Or are you just parroting the racist language to no real effect?

2. If you’re satirizing your own racial/ethnic group, it’s a more defensible and informed position.

3. Being funny helps. Saying “ching chong” is just not that funny, sorry.

4. If it’s a new take on a topic, that helps.

5. Power matters. An upper-class white person making fun of a working class non-white person is not the same as the other way around.

But of course, none of these “rules” absolve you from being racist or offending people. They’re just things to think about.

Posted 23 Jan 2007 at 5:34 pm ¶
FrancesM wrote:

Just Wondering wrote:
“While I understand where you are coming from with this post, what exactly do you think people such as Rosie should do or say following an inappropriate public comment? Do you really expect anyone to address the media and say “I’m a big ol’ flaming racist and I hate everyone who doesn’t look like me?””

Saying “I’m a flaming racist” would be a good start for those who are actually.

The truth is most folks regardless of minority status have some racism, homophobia and sexism. When folks are called on this the response doesn’t have to be a guilt ridden apology or “I heart David Duke” it can be simply this:

“I’m learning more about myself and my relationship to racism and I’m willing to explore my beliefs on this topic.”

Life isn’t -excuse the phrase- “black & white.”
Folks don’t have to be dixie flag waving a-holes to be racist or admit to racist thoughts. We humans know very little & it is okay to say that we may have misguided preconceived notions and would like to learn to be better people for the sake of our own hearts & minds.

That’s my humble opinion. Thank you!
~F

Posted 23 Jan 2007 at 6:32 pm ¶
Meg wrote:

before Goody was voted off the show she had a heart-to-heart with Shilpa where she apologised (according to news i haven’t seen it) and there’s the suggestion that this turnaround was because the producers tapped both of them on the shoulder to let them know the controversy (which producers deny) - this helps with step 1. There were also attempts to frame this as a class struggle - so working class (?) Goody against a bollywood star - which blames the subject of the racial abuse for the tension in the house. I think what annoys me the most about this is that Shilpa (or any target) now has to shoulder the blame for what happens next. If you complain and say it was racist you have to defend why (e.g. why do black comedians get to say n-); you have to defend what happens to the aggressor (Goody is being treated for depression,etc). So now out of this whole mess, that producers could have squashed very quickly, the weight of race relations falls on Shilpa who did nothing wrong except stand up to a bully.

Posted 23 Jan 2007 at 6:34 pm ¶
drydock wrote:

Original post: “Newsflash: Interracial couples and mixed race people can be racist too.”

I agree. However maybe you should call out the liberal/leftists who go around saying the old canard “people of color” can’t be racist.

Posted 24 Jan 2007 at 2:22 am ¶
Rob wrote:

I have no problem with minorities having to explain why something is racist as long as the offensive party is willing to listen and change.

This is usually not the case. What usually happens is that minorities have to explain why it’s racist and when they do, it’s dismissed as trivial and “doesn’t make sense.”

Posted 24 Jan 2007 at 10:42 am ¶
Just Wondering wrote:

” … people need to realize that “racist” does not have to mean that you’re a cross-burning, white hood-wearing bigot who goes around beating people up and calling them racial slurs.”

Of course … but that is hard sell in today’s acrimonious racial environment.

And the reaction to these types of incidences — where everyone is angling for visibility and the chance to “score some points for their people” — makes it worse.

Posted 24 Jan 2007 at 12:00 pm ¶
Ray wrote:

“Goody is being treated for depression,etc”

don’t take this “fact” too seriously, just add it to your list or responses to being called a racist.

I would as be depressed as Ms Goody if my media career which has been built solely on Bog Brother looked as if it was about to come crashing down around my ears.

Whenever celebrity’s are embarrassed or shamed publicly for bad or criminal behaviour they seek to portray themselves as victims. Whilst I agree that are human and subject to the same weaknesses as the rest of us. It’s amazing how often the public fall for it.

In this case Goody is ;
1. depressed
2. her paternal grandfather is black.
3. she strongly denies being racist and is sorry if her actions could have been interpreted in that way.

Looks like Nazi lawyers misssed a trick or two at Neuremburg.

Oh damn there I go again, reductio ad Hitlerum.

Posted 30 Jan 2007 at 9:11 am ¶