Eastenders To Air All Black Episode Tonight

174130

Long running BBC One soap Eastenders, is to screen its first ever all black episode.

The show will centre around Patrick Trueman and examine Britain’s changing attitude to black people and racism as a whole.

The Sun reports that most of the scenes will take place in the Truemans home, but even the few that take place elsewhere will include no speaking white characters.

In tonight’s episode, Chelsea discovers that Patrick was arrested for assault in the 1958 race riots. He then tells her about how things were in the 1950s. He remarks that race relations have improved since then.

But Chelsea says: “Have they? It’s still there, though. It might not be as obvious as it once was, but we all know.”

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Follow us on Twitter! Get the latest news and chat with @unrealitytv

Chat about this on the Unreality TV Forum »

49 Responses to “Eastenders To Air All Black Episode Tonight”

  1. Jennifer Jones says:

    I am outraged at the episode I am watching now on BBC ONE. People complainede when there was a racist remark made about Yolande (yet people want soaps that are based on real life situations), or when people complained because Gus was a road sweeper and it was seen that only Blacks could do jobs like that. Now on Eastenders, a program that is broadcast in England, that was made in England, has now cut out EVERY white actor for one night so they can critisise White people? And talk about things that happened years ago? I’m disgusted that even our favourite television programmes have been changed to suit people other than whites. I have been an Eastenders fan for many years. I have now lost interest in this programme. I have many black friends, but cut out a well known black television cast and replace them with white for a jamacian or african programme and see what happens, it wouldn’t even be allowed!

  2. Lisa McGarry says:

    Honestly? Do you really think this is worth complaining about? I think that the BBC took an admirable step tonight. Very brave.

  3. Jennifer Jones says:

    Excuse the spelling I’m in a hurry and not really going to waste my time on this matter any more so I’m not interested in replies from anyone moaning about my spelling. Face Facts, England is bloody racist and it’s whites that are the victims… oh I’m sorry I’m not allowed to say that am I?

  4. Jennifer Jones says:

    Brave how? Because they know it will annoy white people? 90% of white people in the UK are too scared to speak out well I’m sorry but I’m not PC & I never will be. They have taken yet another step to push our culture to one side.

  5. Lisa McGarry says:

    Black people suffered at the hands of white people for decades in the UK. Even still our popular TV shows and soap are very white centric. I don’t think one episode is a very big deal do you?

    BTW no one is asking you to ‘waste your time’ defending your spelling. Calming down might be an idea?

  6. Jennifer Jones says:

    Calming down…I am calm thank you but some people are very quick to pick up on spelling when they are unable to comment on the actual subject.

    Do Jews still mention the Holocaust EVERY SINGLE DAY and take over German televsion channels? No because they have diginity and know full well that the new generation has nothing to do with the past ones, they use their brains and know that what happened in the past is appauling but you cannot blame people today for it. Yet we are pushed aside and reminded that *blacks suffered at the hands of white people for decades*. If you don’t like white people don’t live in a white country, I don’t like Jellyfish, so I don’t go in the sea. You can’t expect to live somewhere and still get away with slating it’s culture/race/views. It’s common sence. So Eastenders broacasting this ‘just once’ or 50 times is still showing lack of respect for the country it was created in.

  7. Jennifer Jones says:

    I ask that Eastenders broadcast an episode where a young white boy is mugged by a group of black boys for his phone and stabbed because he’s ‘an easy white target’. It happens every single day in my area yet NOTHING IS SAID. Broadcast that Eastenders and I can promise you the black community will be up in arms. That is my point. It’s called race equlity not favour any race but white.

  8. G-Man says:

    Hey Jennifer – I’ll admit, I agree with you that loads of ethnic groups get hung up on things that happened in the past. And that pisses me off too: why do people insist on holding generations-long grudges?

    But I think you might have missed the point of the episode altogether – why not think of it as an education? I think what the Eastenders producers were trying to do was take an issue and look at it from the perspective of people who’ve experienced racism.

    In one of your other comments, you’ve said “don’t live in a white country”: What’s that say about your own attitude? No offense, but that’s a racist person trying to call everyone else racist!

    You’re complaining that there’s racist violence in your area with black youths picking on white youths. You can see clearly that this is wrong and protest against it. But when the shoe is on the other foot, your attitude is “Don’t live in a white country.” A very one-sided, tabloid approach, Jennifer.

  9. Jennifer Jones says:

    Eastenders didn’t educate me, I’m already educated. Respect has to be earned whether your white, black, asian or green! Its true…if you don’t like a culture or a way of life then don’t live in that country. Instead of staying there and complaining. It’s simple…there is non stop attacks on white kids by black youths, and it rarely makes the dinner table debate let alone television. Yet when a young black boy gets mugged/stabbed/shot it’s national headlines.

    It’s not racist by saying don’t live here if you don’t like us, it’s common sence. I have grown up with my black friends who were also born in this country and they treat me (white) , black and any other race friends the same. Yet I’ll name you one example, the other day on a bus, an African lady and I were waiting to get on, and as everyone who Lives in London knows bus drivers make you wait ages to board a bus when they change drivers & I was waiting. The bus driver was white, hurried up and opened the door, the African lasy barged past me, kissed her teeth at the driver and said “dirty white pig, you are all the same, dirty white smelly pig”. Now to me common sence would be to live in a non-white country as it’s so obviously she can’t stand white people, but instead she lives here, plays by her rules and shows no regard for the original english community.

    If I travalled to Jamacia I’d have respect for their culture, political views and way of life but NO REGARD is shown for this country by non-whites.

    “You’re complaining that there’s racist violence in your area with black youths picking on white youths. You can see clearly that this is wrong and protest against it. But when the shoe is on the other foot, your attitude is “Don’t live in a white country.” A very one-sided, tabloid approach, Jennifer.”

    Black youths beat white kids up all day long because they think their frightened. They should have respect for other people their age whatever their race but they dont. Easy white target is what young white kids are. If a white kid attacks a black kid, it’s wrong no matter what but it is taken more seriously. A life is a life yet we are shown no respect. The slave trade was disgusting, but I will not apologise for something that part of my ‘white’ heritage has done to black people. just because I’m white it does not mean I’m related to the previous generations who were pro-slave trade

    This is not racism it’s fact.

  10. G-Man says:

    Surely that’s a social issue, Jennifer? Essentially what we’re hearing here is that black and white kids are picking on each other.

    Just curious, how do your black friends respond when you say “don’t move to a white country”?

  11. Jennifer Jones says:

    Exactly the same as me. They were born here….some wern’t and they say exactly the same..if they didn’t like England they’d move to the country they were born in/their family come from or a non english/white country. They are not as narrow minded as most and I am not PC like most whites. I speak my mind and speak the truth. Black epople can voices their hatred of whites in a white country, why can’t we voice our opinions on our poor treatment in out own country? You are not only hearing that white kids and black kids fight. You are also hearing that white people’s views are not noticed in this country, that Black people seem to believe they were victims of the slave trade, when the wasn’t even born, or that they are still suffering because of every white person. I have no idea how it’s only me, my non-white friends and the millions of PC (scared white people) who know this as a fact. It’s pretty simple. If I went to a black country and said how much I feel black people neglect our opinions, or how I have no respect for black people what do you think would happen? Do you think the black people would keep quiet? Do you think they’d ignore my comments? No they’d go mental at the cheek of me going to THEIR country and degrading their way of life. If you can’t understand that then you never will.

  12. Jennifer Jones says:

    To be honest I’ve got 1 full english friend. The rest are black (from Africa/Jamacia & Trinidad)/irish/greek/turkish/italian and spanish… a wide varity of people, which is obviously the case in London and they all know my views and they all agree…they are the people who get on with their own lives and don’t put down others views. They are people with brains and dignity not people who disrepect others for the colour of their skin. But one friend, spanish is leaving the UK (where she was born) because she can’t stand the rising violence with young black people and she doesn’t want her kids being bought up here. Does that not say anything?

  13. Tania says:

    What a bit hoo-ha over nothing. I watched tonight’s episode before i realised that it was made into a bit discussion point about it being an all black cast. And i watched it as….another episode of eastenders not an episode of eastenders with just all black people in it. So what!? What’s the big deal?? Stop taking it personally. Yes they mentioned FACTS like when people such as my grandparents first came over to the UK – amazingly, that kind of thing was not mentioned in history lessons in the 70s, 80s or 90s. It is also true that no one makes an issue of it when it’s an episode focussed on the Slaters or the monologue of Dot Branning. Judging by the reaction on here and other sites, maybe what Chelsea said is true – have race relations improved or are they just covert and the ‘tensions’ emerge when things such as “an all-black episode of Eastenders” occur?

  14. Jennifer Jones says:

    No one makes a big deal when it’s an episode about Dot or the slaters because it’s not described as an ‘all white cast with no black speaking actors’ so that point was compleatly pointless. Its making a point that we STILL have no valid point on out own country. I didnt really notice untill I was online during eastenders and it came up on a page. I wouldnt have cared if it just happened to be about the Trumans but to make it a point of having no white actors is racist. End of.

  15. Lucy Contostavlos says:

    I agree with Jennifer. I am Greek and have a mixed race daughter. My ex (who was obviously black) hated White English people, he was always talking about how they made him and his family suffer, how they pay no respect to him etc but he never deserved their respect.

    He sold drugs to young kids, he was never a victim of racial abuse from White English people and his parents (both black)were not racist & had white friends) He took it upon himself to verbally abuse white people in the street if they knocked him by mistake ‘looked at him the wrong way’

    He’s beaten white people up just because ‘their White’. He’s done nothing to show people they are wrong about black people. White people are ignored in their own country and they have been for a very long time.

    A lot of black people have no respect for them and showing this episode of Eastenders, I think is racist to white people. I for one will bring my Daughter up to respect all races but I feel that Jennifer and myself are the only two people left who have the courage to say what we feel to be correct.

    I have more rights than white people in England and I didnt move here untill I was 3 (I’m now 27) and it’s not right. I act/speak just as English as any genuine English person because thats how I’ve been bought up, but I still have respectg for this country because I know it is not my home land. If I didnt like English people I would have moved back to Greece when I grew up.

  16. Len says:

    Well Lucy your ex is 1 person not all black people, so if you want to bring in an example you’ll need a lot more to back yourself up. I mean after all black people like other groups and individuals not a monolith If your not a racist white person, then why are you taking such offense to this episode?

    When I viewed tonight’s episode I saw it as a chance to learn more about Patrick’s past, which unfortunately dealt with racism. And yes, there is still discrimination in the world, and England as taken a lot of strides to combating racism, but don’t think for one second it is not all the way out the door.
    Quite a few non-white people STILL face racism and discrimination, so why can they not discuss it? I mean IT IS their truth, so my question is, why is it bothering YOU when their discussing THEIR experiences? Do you feel in a sense that they are blaming you? When I’m going to let you in on a little secret, ITS NOT ABOUT YOU, you are not all white people, you are an individual.

    Also dating, befriending a black person or even an Indian person is NOT the same as being one, no matter how much they tell you what their going through, you never completely get the full brunt of what its like because you’ve never walked in their shoes.

    Another thing, telling someone that they are being racist for discussing race, is a racist act it in it self :-) . But if you feel your supposed non-white friend is being racist against whites or any other group you NEED to speak up, don’t just sit there at let it happen!

  17. Len says:

    the argument that a person would know how it feels to be of group X because she spent a lot of time with people of group X is fallacious. If you are not of group X, then spending time with people of group X does not change the fact that you are not of group X.

  18. Jenny Jones says:

    Len it makes no difference to me. Black people are racist to white people and I’m sick of it being dragged out so much that Whites are too scared to speak up. I have no sympathy for new generation blacks because they bring the ‘bad lifestyle, drug abuse and crime’ on themselves. I was bought up in a rough area but I’ve done good with my life, I fought to get a good career and never blamed anything on anyone else. If I fail it’s my problem not anyone elses so there is no point trying to say that I don’t know how it feels to be black because if I was black I’d still do something with my life. I’m sorry but your talking to the wrong white girl if you think I’ll retract my views.

  19. Lucy Contostavlos says:

    Len I know full well what it’s like I was with him from the age of 15 till I was 26, I lived with his family. I’ve been to Jamaica god knows how many times,I’ve got a mixed race daughter, I don’t have one Greek friend their 90% black because thats the culture I grew up in, I converted from Orthadox to Christian for him. He made his choice to be a low life, racist, drug dealing bully. He stereotyped himself. He thought he had it hard when his family were a well respected, religious, and lovers of all races. He decided to behave like this no one made him this way, so DO NOT patronise me Len.

  20. Lucy Contostavlos says:

    I havent sat there and let it happen I threw him out. And what…because I am Greek does that mean I cannot see that tonights episode WAS racist? I think Eastenders should do what Jennifer said, show an Episode where a white/non-black kid gets stabbed, they wouldn’t show it because they are too scared of what the black community would say. The full brunt of what? Having black skin? Get over it. It’s a skin colour, you make your life what it is by making sure you do right in life and get a good education. My ex was born in this country he has NO REASON to feel threatened by white people other than because he’s a thick narrow minded idiot. How say I’m being racist for calling eastenders racist? Yet ‘Gollywog’ dolls have been banned because their racist, who said they were racist to begin with? They are a black coloured doll? Do you see white people complaining when a black person says Barbie Doll & their talking about the actual doll? No BECAUSE IT’S A DOLL THAT IS WHITE COLOUR. Get over it. You make yourselves look like victims all the bloody time and it’s getting pathetic. I couldnt care less what it’s like to walk in a black person’s shoes because I get funny looks of black girls for having a mixed race daughter! Black people really need to grow up and take control of their lives and stop proving everybody right!

  21. Tania says:

    Jennifer honey, you just illustrated my point very well in your response to my comment. This is only an issue because it has been described as an all black cast. It is no different to the Dot episode or the episode that was based solely on the Slaters when Kat revealed to Zoe she was her mum. What strikes me is that you keep saying ‘our country’ as if the UK is a white country. Please get over yourself and move on. The fact is this is just as much my country as yours or your ancestors and I find THAT insulting that you feel it necessary to distinguish the fabric of a country by the colour of its people. My ancestors contributed to the economy and strength of this country even though they lived in another part of the world. Another fact is that the 60s and what happened with people who supported this country’s economy for the past 200 or so years with hard work and graft of people from countries that were part of the British Empire, when they came over to live and contribute to the country further by working in hospitals and on the buses, etc is an integral part of this country’s history. If you don’t like that or seeing that, then maybe you should think about moving on.

    Lucy, if that is the kind of bloke you chose to father your child then that is a personal decision but don’t apply your experience of one black man as endemic of all black men please. Also, being a black woman that has gone out with plenty of greek men, there is even an issue with greeks and how they view non-greeks particuarly black people where they may be partners of greeks.

    Again, what this thread proves is that race relations is still an issue. People, whether white or black or greek or turkish or whatever still hold views about and against cultures and races that they are not part of. Seriously, just acknowledge the issue and move on instead being ‘outraged’ and feeling ‘disgraced’ and disgruntled about it. And that is coming from someone where this country is her homeland the same as the white english girls and boys i was born next to in London, that i went to school with, that i raved with, that i work with and that live next door to me.

  22. Tania says:

    Lucy

    Maybe you’re the one that has the issue. Your last statement happens to anyone who has mixed race children, and from people of both sides. I used to get looks from the greek community when i went out to greek restaurants or wedding with my partner because at the end of the day, it’s not a regular situation and maybe more irregular for a black woman-greek man than to see a mixed race child. Instead of feeling like, oh god why don’t they accept me, I actually enjoyed the attention and understood that it’s just because it’s different. I hope you teach your child to revel in being amazingly gorgeous and different not to carry forward feelings of disgruntlement.

  23. Jennifer Jones says:

    I’ll explain it because obviously you didn’t understand. IT STATED CLEARLY THAT TONIGHT EPISODE IS AN ALL BLACK CAST AND THERE WILL NOT BE ONE WHITE ACTOR ON TONIGHT SHOW. If any storylines are all about dot, slaters whatever it’s because it’s an important story regarding them & NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE WHITE. Any stories involving white cast members are not broacasted online stating that NO BLACK actors will be on the show that day. Do you understand now? It is not difficult. This is not your country the same way as a black country, a European country, an asian country etc is not my country. And do not ever tell me to leave my own country, the country where I, my mum, gradmum, great, grandmum etc were born and raised. My Family were born and raised in Brixton but moved because of the abuse they suffered by Blacks and the way their once quiet peaceful neighbourhood has been destroyed by crime which is 99% black culprits. If thousands of white people moved to Jamaica, ruined the country and banged on about how hard done by they are, while still living in their country The Jamaicans have every right to tell the whites to leave so do not have the audacity to tell me to leave a country where I was born and raised all because you feel your family contributed to it. One of my friends came over tonight who is African and I asked him what he thought…he said I had every right to feel this way as all he hears about is his family STILL talking about the slave trade as if it were yesterday. It is pathetic. THIS IS NOT RACIST…IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NATIVE TO A COUNTRY WHERE YOU NOW LIVE, DONT LIVE THERE. IT’S COMMON SENCE.

    PRODUCERS OF EASTENDERS: PLEASE BROADCAST EITHER: AN EPISODE WHERE A YOUNG WHITE BOY GETS MUGGED & STABBED BY A BLACK BOY OR HAVE AN ALL WHITE EPISODE TO SHOW THE GOOD THAT WHITE PEOPLE HAVE DONE FOR ENGLAND. Racist isn’t it Tania?

    You have 1Xtra (Black music) You have Negro college funds, you have the voice newspaper (which is extremely racist to white people). Have you actually ever read the voice? Our papers talk about current affairs, silly things and sport, The Voice is an anti-white newspaper. They actually have nothing interesting to talk about apart from what low down scum we whites are. I think we should set up a white music radio station, a white only newspaper, a white college fund…can you not see what I am getting at? None of this would be allowed because it is offensive to Black people, so why the hell should you get to run us down while living in the UK and more than likely living ina free house which is paid for by me and other hard working people. No I am not saying all black people don’t work because I know some that work hard I also know a hell of a lot that sell drugs, refuse to work and live off the benifit system…because hey…we are only dumb white people arn’t we? Maybe you should learn something about what EVERY non- black person in the country is too afraid to say. Get off your arses, get a job, stop selling our children drugs, stop mugging our children and start putting something back into this ruined country or sod off. Simple. x

  24. Lisa McGarry says:

    Lucy, Jennifer….same person maybe?

  25. G-Man says:

    Maybe you should learn something about what EVERY non- black person in the country is too afraid to say. Get off your arses, get a job, stop selling our children drugs, stop mugging our children and start putting something back into this ruined country or sod off. Simple. x

    Dear Jennifer

    I don’t know what propaganda you’ve been reading (or indeed possibly writing), but that you denied being racist in an earlier comment then wrote the above shows a complete lack of self-awareness on your part.

    For a start, where you are born is a complete accident of birth. You colour is dictated by your parents, your religion is dictated by your parents. You may have been born in an inner-city slum or middle-class neighbourhood. You may have experienced so much racism growing up that you become aggresive toward the people who’ve been picking on you all your life.

    Now, as I said up in my first comment, I’m against segregated communities. But I can see why people coming to this country feel the need to band together into little pockets of culture/colour – they have much to fear.

    Besides, white people have their own special groups…like the BNP for instance. Nice open-minded organisation, that one.

    For my part, I believe Eastenders tackled a thorny issue last night, and anyone who cares about these issues (instead of sticking to their preconceptions) will have appreciated the story they told. I’m just sad that your self-righteous anger didn’t allow you to see someone else’s point of view for a change.

  26. Lindsey Bushay says:

    There are episodes where it is an all white cast and actors of colour don’t have speaking parts/aren’t involved. IS IT REALLY AN ISSUE! Is it something really worth pointing out, complaining about or taking offence to?????

    Eastenders decided to do a story on an issue relating to racism, it’s one of many. Why not just watch it and see what story/messaage it brings.

    Personally I am intrigued to find out what Patrick actually did.

    Going back to work now

  27. Lisa McGarry says:

    Welcome Lindsey! Nice to meet another rationally minded person on here :)

  28. Natalie says:

    Oooooooooo…what a carry on!..I know what Patrick did, But I darent say
    incase it all kicks off again.

    *legs it* ;-)

  29. Lisa McGarry says:

    Might be a good idea. Can I join you?

  30. Natalie says:

    Lol! yep! we gotta be quick though! and we`l pass out chill
    pills on the way.. ;-)

  31. Jennifer Jones says:

    G man, it’s pretty simple if I was ’scared’ to move to a country or didnt like another countries culture I wouldnt live there it’s not hard. So ‘G Man’ The white guy with the typical black nice name, are you ashamed to be white? Thats quite pathetic. No I am not ‘Lucy’ I dont even know the girl so forget that one, just because your shocked that a non-rnglish person can share the same views as an english person.

    Lindsey how many times to I have to make an obvious point so bloody clear…it stated that not one white actor would be speaking on last nights show if it happens to be an episode where it’s based on one white family then no one says ‘NO BLACK PEOPLE WILL BE ON TONIGHTS SHOW’ Do you get it now are you all really that thick you cannot see a simple point? Last night show outcasted whites and made a point of it. Face facts. There’s a difference between being racist and seeing whats real.

    As for the BNP so what? One group, I don’t agree with the BNP and Black people campaign against them and bitch about them yet we can’t complain about ‘black’ radio stations, black newspapers…or even ‘black social clubs’ in london that won’t allow whites to hire out their halls for functions. THIS IS BLOODY ENGLAND, TAXPAYERS MONEY PAYS FOR THOSE ‘community centres’ yet we are not allowed to hire it out because we are white? Its disgusting so face facts we are not the ones who are racist you are. Either live by our rules or piss off because Im getting sick of having to defend what it right. I have respect for other peoples countries, learn to have some respect for ours. And G Man get a grip and act your colour.

  32. G-Man says:

    Act my colour? You are a classy lady Jennifer Jones.

    Let me tell you something – I believe all people are equal, regardless of their colour or where they came from.

    And as a matter of fact, I don’t see anything as a matter of colour. Not a ‘white’ country, not a ‘black’ neighbourhood, or anything like that. I’ve always believed that if people mix and get along and try to understand each other, then the world will be a better place. I’m as uncomfortable with the thought of segregated communities of black, Asian, Turkish and Greek people as I am with the jackbooted neo-Nazis who want to found some kind of all-white Utopia.

    Any time I visit London, I’m in awe of its ethnic mix. Yes, I understand there are tensions in places, but to see so many cultures mixing and thriving and getting along (I mean, they’ve even got Australians). To be honest, I wish there was a better mix in the place where I live.

    You see, the fact of the matter is that I don’t have an allegiance to a ‘colour’. That’s just a ridiculous way to decide who to like and dislike. The colour of your skin? Ha bloody ha. So because I’m white, I should be comfortable with white vicars, white office workers, white murderers and rapists alike, regardless of the quality of the person?

    Maybe if I get ill, I should choose a less qualified white doctor instead of the black doctor who might save my life? Because, after all, if I was acting my colour, I’d want to support whitey and damn that clever black doctor!

    In fact, why not get the black doctor put out of a job? Yes, stop giving these black folks jobs and force them to live in impoverished neighbourhoods, where they’ll grow quietly desperate and violent and then they’ll fulfil all those things you said about them in the first place. Then we can tell them to respect our damn country or…what was it you said? “GET THE HELL OUT!”

    Lovely speaking to you though. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on ethnic cleansing :)

  33. Jennifer Jones says:

    Yes G Man your right, if we mixed more the world would be a better place but after years of not bothering to mix and treating us like dirt, do you really think things are gonna change now? Act your race/colour whatever it’s true, thats like having my username as Mexican Mammi and deefending all mexican people when I’m white, looks a tad stupid so my ‘class’ doesnt even come into it. I dont wan’t all white utopia, I want people of different races to have resepct for a country that is not native to them, I would respect someone else’s native country it takes two to tango ‘G Man’. G Man stop being so thick, Have I said EVERY SINGLE BLACK PERSON IS WORTHLESS? NO! So don’t start with the waffling on about white murderers are better than black murderers. Don’t patronise me you mindless little idiot. This is coming from a man who DOESN’T live in a multi cultrual area, a man who doesn’t have to pick his friends child up from school because they’ve been muged 4 times by black kids, a man who doesn’t have to hear EVERY SINGLE DAY that BLACK kids have stabbed someone, a man who does not have one mixed pub in their area instead their all pubs where they wouldnt even let a white person in, where crack is sold by 99.9% of the pubs customers. move to East London, the ru8n down areas and then tell me that ‘we get along fine’ because we dont.

    Your comment about the ‘black doctor’ is pathetic, I couldnt care less about black doctors, black, fire fighters, black dentists THEY WORK, THEY PUT SOMETHING INTO THE COMMUNITY.

    What about large estates with thousands of flats where the housholds are all black, where a group of black MEN attack a white man for walking there to visit his black friend, beaten unconsious and being told ‘do you know where you are’? Only recently this happened to my friend, my black friends sorted it out but we couldnt…because ‘we are white and have no chance against them’. What about Notting Hill carnival every year? At least one person gets stabbed/shot and theres always hundreds of arrests..ALL BLACK. Yet we have raves with music that most black people dont like and there isnt hardly even an argument. Black music is what? Or do you not know because you live in a quiet ‘white’ village? Popular ‘black’ music is Hip Hop, grime & bashment, 90% aggressive music, yeah I listen to it, yeah I buy albums but don’t you think it’s a bit strange that everything is aggressive in their lives? God one of my Jamaican mates is a lawyer..they’ve worked bloody hard and are doing so well. So don’t tell me Im saying they are all the same but go to a community round here where its mostly black people the high majority are selling drugs, yet I was bought up with them, I didnt sell drugs, the odd white kid did but its 90% blacks.

    So next time before you think I’m genralising why dont you read it through. You stick with your comfy little life thinking that we all dance around a bonfire together Ill let you know the next time a white kid gets shot on my street by black kids, because the news wont tell you.

  34. Jennifer Jones says:

    G Man Ive actually been reading through your past posts and it makes me laugh. You sound like a typical ‘older’ white guy who insists on racial equlity even if one side does nothing to help themself. They havent had it hard, 200 years ago maybe, they’ve made it hard for themself since. God if only the Jews werelike that, oh hang on, they keep the past in the past, know that what happened is sickening but made the most of the future and worked bloody hard, yet oh dear the black community were treated worse than the Jews…I DON’T THINK SO! ‘You havent walked ina black persons shoes’..what? get over it G Man they walk in the same shoes I walk in, their born in the same hospital I was born it (if they were born in UK), they live on the same road as me, they’ve had THE SAME CHANCES as me yet have done nothing to do well in life. You havent got a clu about black culture. When you walk in MY shoes then tell me about it because you have no idea.

  35. G-Man says:

    My dear, without meaning to patronize you, I come from Northern Ireland. I think I know a little bit about social segregation. The best bit about it is, we have drug dealers, nasty little terrorists, bigotted clergymen and communities defined by the religion or political outlook.

    And rarely a black person or Asian in sight. All white. And no bloody respect for your precious ‘British culture’. So many of your arguments are purely a matter of social background rather than colour. The point I was trying to make in my earlier post is that white people in deprived areas are just as prone to violence and abusive behaviour. Plenty of evidence on Jeremy Kyle’s show to back that one up.

    The situation you repeatedly mention – a group of black people selling drugs and beating up white people – I wonder how widespread that is? I mean really, backed up by police data and hard fact? Is it a secret nationwide epidemic of ethnic folks beating up white people that the papers are failing to report on?

    What’s frustrating about this conversation is that you don’t seem to want to see any other point of view. That bothers me. Because on one hand, Jennifer, you’re talking about people having respect for a white country. You’re painting the vast bulk of ‘immigrants’ as disrespectful of British culture, but on the other hand, you don’t want to give them an inch of respect or compassion yourself.

    And for my part, I don’t know what British culture is anyway. Is it the stiff upper lip variety? The old-fashioned, colonizing the world and creating a British empire (a lot of respect for other cultures that time, wasn’t there?) Or is it that good ol’ inward looking Brit, with the knotted hanky and string vest, holidaying in Blackpool?

    I think ‘culture’ can be flexible. And it can change and grow and adapt. There can be jobs and space and a place for people coming into this country. And it can be fun and exciting and interesting for everybody, if somebody remembers to put the welcome mat out.

  36. Jennifer Jones says:

    Most of my family are from colraine so yet again…you assume you know me. Like I said live in the poorer parts of London so you obviously don’t have a clue. No respect or compassion? My god daugher is black, I have NO full english white friends, so dont tell me about giving non english no respect. Jobs and space and place. I was unemployed for a year and being made redundant and EVERY JOB I applied for was given to a non british person. Please stop this conversation untill you know a little more about where I come from and what the real world is like. Would you bugger off to spain to live without a job? Nope because you know you wouldnt get handouts. Do the math and realise this country is weak and too giving.

  37. Natalie says:

    Hmmmm! I wonder who`l have the last word?

    I would say its even at the moment.

    Back later for a catch up! ;-)

  38. Jennifer Jones says:

    Me of course…women always do :)

  39. Clare Ibbett says:

    I am shocked that everyone is taking this so seriously. One thing I will say though is that maybe Eastenders should just be true to life all the time rather than doing just one completely black episode and enraging people, the BBC are stupid and think that this will help the situation of race, NO!! They should embrace it in every episode instead of segrating people even further. I’m from East London and Eastenders has lost its true identity completely. I used to watch the programme when there was a greek family, and asian family, a black family a white family all living together and going through the trials of life… Now everyone is white apart from the Truemans…. This is not a real picture of life in East or any part of London for that matter… Bring back the good old days when it was much more true to life. Isn’t this why we watched it in the first place… Please everyone, remember life is too short to be soooooo angry, opinion is one thing but battering each other round the head about it is not going to change anything over night… Maybe if we try to understand each others differences instead of saying I am educated enough and opening up to others we could all learn something and progress in this multi-cultural society a bit faster…. I hope you all have a pleasant day…. Xxxxxx

  40. Lady T says:

    Personally I am utterly disgusted by Jennifer’s comments and believe that you have some personal underplaying issues here. You have made a simple programme which was meant to look at Britain’s history and especially that of Black migrants and turned it into a huge proper-gander. There is an old saying which states “To know where one is going, one must know where one is coming from” that is to say that history whether good or bad can never and should never be forgotten as it helps future generations to introduce and implement change, so that the mistakes of the past are not made in the future.

    I personally agree with Clare and believe that the BBC should not have segregated blacks and whites and should go back to the issues the reiterate the trials and tribulations faced by families living in the UK regardless of race. But then it is important to show that people’s experiences are different depending on their background and opportunities available to
    them.

    In life we come across good and bad people and what we need to do is to look beyond that persons colour and see them for the person they really are, however due to personal believes and discriminations this has become almost impossible to do.

    Jennifer I think it is important that you understand that racism was a major issue for the people that experienced it, and you have to understand that when a culture is a minority in a community it becomes easier to pay more emphasis on the issues that separates them, and you saying that if people can’t deal with English culture they should go back to their country….Have you forgotten that Britain wouldn’t be what it is today without these so-called descendants of slaves.

    In all our getting people let us get understanding. Wish you all the very best.

  41. [...] predictably, the “reverse-racist” brigade have come out in full-force on this thread, including this little gem from someone called Jennifer Jones: Now on Eastenders, a program that is [...]

  42. patrick johnson says:

    for your information miss jenifer jones,dont talk about what you dont know, blacks are still discriminated every day in british society its just done behind the scene now and not blatantly, your not black so dont talk rubbish on the internet.

  43. patrick johnson says:

    to miss lucy constostavlos, i realy suggest you move back to greece, if you have a problem, and u realy shouldnt use the words a lot of black people, where did you get that statistic from, you people are funny, because you have black friends and black exs you realy do think that doesnt make you racist because you keep emphasising that you do. your opinions to me sound a bit racist and people like you are the problem this country has, your friend jennifer talks about black youths attacking white kids, wtf are u talking about.you people are just racist folks using the internet as some kind of protection for yourselves, its clearly obvious that you are cowards. i am black and proud of being black and have no problems with England or white people or that black people where slaves, so keep ur racist ideology to yourselves and stop using the net to promote racism. GOD bless Chelsea football club

  44. patrick johnson says:

    miss jennifer jones, i also know a lot of white people that sell drugs, live on benefits, n sum of THEM r scum of the earth and most of them are friends of mine lol, but you dont here me complaining about it do you now lol,you also talk about stabbings like white people dnt do that, from your views on here it just seems that u have a problem with BLACKS, that you need to deal with, it has nothing to do with EASTENDERS. This woman should be ignored by all.

  45. patrick johnson says:

    THE ONLY EDUCATED OPINION ON HERE IS G-MAN, I HOPE YOUR A CHELSEA FAN

  46. G-Man says:

    Heh, thanks Patrick! I eventually gave up on the thread.

    I have taken instead to chatting with inanimate rocks about racial issues. I’m finding them much more responsive and willing to consider other opinions. ;)

  47. patrick johnson says:

    lol, i personally think jennifer has been scared from something that happened in her life or the lives of people she knows, just as ive experienced racism in my own life, that shouldnt make you judge everyone as been the same, its got nothin to do with colour, its more to do with individuals than that of a whole race. its like saying all muslims are terrorists, sometimes i realy think people like jennifer should use their common sense a bit more before broadcasting such provocative views.

  48. Matthew says:

    Does any one have the episode because i am constructing an essay thee topic: ” Does the BBC Represent Ethnic Minorities Realistically? An investigation of the representation of ethnic minorities in BBC’s ‘Eastenders’.” if anyone can help with the video or suggestions to the essay please reply. thank you

  49. Anonymundo says:

    Lol at “Jeniffer Jones”.

    Really, get a clue