OSP: Paul Gilroy - Diasporic identity

1) How does Gilroy suggest racial identities are constructed?

• He suggests that racial identities are 'historically constructed' through colonization, slavery and consumer capitalism. 

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

• Gilroy suggests that the causes of racism come from historical disputes that separated societies. 
• He also suggests that 'racial differences' and 'racial identities' cause racial oppression. 

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

• Ethnic absolutism: when people segregate eachother based on their ethnicity. 
• Gilroy suggests that 'racism causes race' so, by segregation, people automatically have a sense of prejudice against one another which is why Gilroy opposes it. 

4) How does Gilroy view diasporic identity?

• He views diasporic identity as the body of a large culture and that diaspora cant be reversed due to historical events such as slavery. 

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

• The dominant representation was that Black Britons were "external and estranged from the imagined community that is the nation".
• This suggests that Gilroy felt that Black Britons felt out of place and didn't have anywhere to fit into society.

6) Gilroy argues diaspora challenges national ideologies. What are some of the negative effects of this?

• bad experiences of exclusion
• exposure to regressive ideologies 
• marginalisation: an identity that spreads within the diasporic community  

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 would stay connected through social media such as Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook.
• Websites such as 'Ancestry.com' allow people to view their family history and feel more connected and included in society. 

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

•  Slavery is something which Gilroy thinks shouldn't be forgotten and it makes it important as it can never be reversed due to post-slavery events. 

9) How might representations in the media reinforce the idea of ‘double consciousness’ for black people in the UK or US?

• Media representation reinforces 'Double Consciousness' as they put out media products that have perceptions of a white person which means when black people, in the UK or US, view these products they internally feel self-conscious of what they are in society. 

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.

• 'Hidden Figures' challenges 'double consciousness' and stereotypes of black American women through its representation of Black women being smart and successful instead of being stereotypically seen as poorly educated and as having a poor education.