Paul Gilroy

1) How does Gilroy suggest racial identities are constructed?

Gilroy suggests that racial identities are caused by historical conflicts that have brought different groups into opposition. 


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

He suggests that Gilroy states that racial difference and racial identities are the product of racial oppression.

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

Ethnic absolutism is a line of thinking which sees humans are part of different ethnic compartments, with race as the basis of human differentiation. Gilroy has a opposite way of thinking as he says racism cause race.

4) How does Gilroy view diasporic identity?

Gilroy sees the diaspora that cannot be reversed, unlike the classic position which offers the myth of returning to the place of origin. For Gilroy, the Black Atlantic diaspora is irreversible because the experience of slavery irrevocably changed the diasporic identity.

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

He suggested that  “external and estranged from the imagined community "which means that black people left out form the society in Britain.

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

• Experiences of exclusion, 
• exposure to regressive ideologies 
• marginalisation.

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.

They might do this by viewing the media like Netflix and other places in which you are easily able to access it and can also watch movies which are based in their home or culture.

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

he suggests that the impact that slavery had (and is still having) cannot be ignored, and that because of this, there will always be Diaspora.

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

They do this by seeing themselves from other people's perspective and in the USA the black people are represented as criminals,rappers or gangsters.

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 trailer challenges double consciousness by showing three independent black women who are good at their work and are determined for the future. This shows that black women can also stay independent and be the future for the companies in america.