Please watch this video - David Starkey

Lucy - David Starkey

To clump all "black people" together is dangerous and fundamentally wrong. African and Caribbean culture and heritage is a rich and diverse one. Someone who is a historian really should be much more informed about the complexities and intricacies of what he deems to be "Black culture." To lump all black people together and to define black culture or "black male" culture, as he calls it, down to "a particular sort of violent, destructive, nihilistic gangster fashion" is simply outrageous. How dare he debase, demean and attempt to define black culture in this way. As for his irrelvant rant about slang..it is important to note that words like "innit" derive from the British Cockney language and many of the negative words used amongst these gangs actually derive from American culture. Also be aware that "this faux patois that has intruded England" is actually a legitamate language again based on the English language after the British Empire LOOTED, oppressed, enslaved, raped, murdered and stole not only literally but also the original roots of "Black culture and language" from African countries. The real problem here is; commercialism- the constant pushing and forcing on products, the continuous message that to be someone in this world or to be successful is equal to the amount of goods you have, another issue- common criminality that runs through the veins of the human race whatever colour, culture or race, another issue lack of positive role models, morals, ethics and fundamental core values, another issue, bleaker prospects for young people in regards to brighter, successful futures- a truth in this unfortunate economic decline. I work with young people and I see it every day. Another major issue people like Starky whose ill-informed preconceived notions about "Black male culture" stopping and hindering the prospects of these black males by continuously reinforcing "faux" and dangerously negative stereotypes.