White saviour? Stacey Dooley in row with labour Mp David Lammy

Tv star Dooley was photgraphed in Africa as part of comic relief. This angered labour mp David Lammy who accused Dooley of perpetuating racial stereotypes.


Dooley responded by asking Lammy to come out with her and see the work Comic Relief do. CR claimed Lammy snubbed an offer from them, something Lammy denies.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/feb/28/david-lammy-stacey-dooley-comic-relief-white-saviour-row-uganda-red-nose-day-film

What do we think of this. Is Lammy being unhelpful (for somebody who prides himself on being anti-racist, he does seem to enjoy bringing skin colours up)

Tv star Dooley was photgraphed in Africa as part of comic relief. This angered labour mp David Lammy who accused Dooley of perpetuating racial stereotypes.


Dooley responded by asking Lammy to come out with her and see the work Comic Relief do. CR claimed Lammy snubbed an offer from them, something Lammy denies.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/feb/28/david-lammy-stacey-dooley-comic-relief-white-saviour-row-uganda-red-nose-day-film

What do we think of this. Is Lammy being unhelpful (for somebody who prides himself on being anti-racist, he does seem to enjoy bringing skin colours up)

He isn't wrong though that the charity sector have continued to spread a particular view of Africa (starving children and desperate women) that does well for donations but isn't in any way representative of the continent as a whole. In fact, many African countries have made considerable progress in improving living standards and dealing with poverty. That's a story we don't get exposed to but we are constantly assailed by the negative imagery.

On the white/black thing, it's also been true in the past that the classic charity posture was the white man/woman holding little black babies and weeping. There was a hidden suggestion there that all the Africans need is white do-gooding and they will be fine. They in fact do need more generosity from us, but it's to do with the terms of trade. The EU have fierce protectionist barriers against African goods, which makes it hard for them to export to us. The UK may or may not drop these on leaving, but the UK also has a long history of blocking African exports, so perhaps nothing will change.

For students on gap years, white voluntourism also often has very negative effects.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/pippa-biddle/little-white-girls-voluntourism_b_4834574.html

Shoulda known you'd support his BS.

And your thoughts on what I actually said? Or was that it?

I get mad, so I have to close my eyes.

I am interested to know about the protectionist barriers. What sectors are those? Because under the WTO there's obviously various exceptions designed to encourage favoured trade with the least developed nations. (Note in some articles people are even miffed by this, as it reinforces an inferior view of the least developed nations -- damned if you help and damned if you don't.).

There was a hidden suggestion there that all the Africans need is white do-gooding and they will be fine.

It's true that the picture is better now than it was (not least due to extensive public pressure), but the LDC rules exclude Africa's three biggest economies - Nigeria, RSA and Kenya - and the tariffs by an amazing coincidence still bear down heaviest on the food produce of Africa, which is generally their most profitable output after mineral extraction.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45342607

Shoulda known you'd support his BS.

Indeed.

Why is Stacey being targeted when white people have been helping Africans for many years? Was Lenny Henry more acceptable as a black man? I don’t know his history, but I doubt he has ever experienced true poverty - why is it any different? Is it not acceptable for white people to help Africans now? Should they just stop?

I wonder how Mr Lammy would feel if this majority white country, as well all of the other mostly white countries, cut foreign aid to Africa. I bet he wouldn’t be praising us for giving up the white saviour complex then.

I would much rather hear from the actual people in poverty and the actual people helping them not another celeb doing their 10 minute segment on how important it is for us to give our money while they live in their mansions.

Raising awareness is complete bull**** at this point. Everyone is aware of the poverty on the African continent.

I would much rather hear from the actual people in poverty and the actual people helping them not another celeb doing their 10 minute segment on how important it is for us to give our money while they live in their mansions.

He isn't wrong though that the charity sector have continued to spread a particular view of Africa (starving children and desperate women) that does well for donations but isn't in any way representative of the continent as a whole. In fact, many African countries have made considerable progress in improving living standards and dealing with poverty. That's a story we don't get exposed to but we are constantly assailed by the negative imagery.

On the white/black thing, it's also been true in the past that the classic charity posture was the white man/woman holding little black babies and weeping. There was a hidden suggestion there that all the Africans need is white do-gooding and they will be fine. They in fact do need more generosity from us, but it's to do with the terms of trade. The EU have fierce protectionist barriers against African goods, which makes it hard for them to export to us. The UK may or may not drop these on leaving, but the UK also has a long history of blocking African exports, so perhaps nothing will change.

For students on gap years, white voluntourism also often has very negative effects.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/pippa-biddle/little-white-girls-voluntourism_b_4834574.html