Reclaiming narratives: Black representation in the British media

Inspired by Black History Month 2024’s theme, ‘Reclaiming Narratives’, I’ve been focusing on the underrepresentation of black people in the British media throughout October. Here’s my take…

Today marks the end of British Black History Month 2024. This year’s theme was ‘Reclaiming Narratives’, offering an opportunity to highlight historical inaccuracies and share the untold stories of black heritage in the UK. Taking inspiration from this theme, I’ve spent the month of October exploring the underrepresentation of black people in the British media.

Black people have spent hundreds of years in the background of global achievements and movements, receiving little to no recognition despite often being the driving forces behind these milestones. In recent years, we have witnessed a much-needed positive shift in attitudes towards black people and how they are portrayed in the media. However, while it’s important to recognise and celebrate progress, there is still much work to be done.

The content selected for inclusion in this blog is designed to illustrate why the theme of ‘Reclaiming Narratives’ is so important, especially in the context of the British media.

Negative portrayals and stereotypes
For many years, black people have been purposely neglected in the general media, both through negative stereotyping and a lack of black actors, writers and broadcasters. In the 1960s and 1970s, several programmes stereotyped and ridiculed black people and other minority ethnicities. These shows serve as troubling reminders of how comfortable society was with racist and bigoted portrayals of people based on the colour of their skin.

While diversity in the British media has increased significantly in recent years, black characters are still often subject to tokenism and negative portrayals. According to a survey conducted as part of the Black British Voices Project (BBVP), 93% of respondents feel that both black men and women are negatively stereotyped by the media.

So, have attitudes really changed? Well, while it’s no longer acceptable to publicly shame entire groups for arbitrary reasons, that’s not to say that similar views are no longer held privately. Together, we can reclaim narratives surrounding the representation of black people in the British media by challenging false, offensive and racist depictions when they arise.

A brief history of blackface
It seems remiss to discuss racist portrayals without paying specific attention to blackface. Practised by non-black actors, who drew on negative stereotypes to portray caricatures of black people, blackface describes the painting of one’s face to imitate darker skin. With roots stretching back to medieval Europe, it grew increasingly popular as a form of entertainment in the US during the early 19th century. Indeed, many agree that ‘blackface minstrels’ played a significant role in proliferating racist attitudes.

Despite its controversial nature, blackface remained commonplace on British television until relatively recently, with examples ranging from The Black and White Minstrel Show (1958-1978) to Little Britain (2003-2006).

After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, protests demanding change around the globe resulted in a widespread culling of outwardly offensive materials. In the UK, for example, all characters depicted in blackface were permanently deleted from Little Britain, and other British shows such as The Mighty Boosh and The League of Gentlemen were also edited to reflect changing attitudes.

Historically, blackface was regularly dismissed as being ‘just a joke’. Some modern viewers have even expressed their dismay at the practice’s demise, claiming that society’s refusal to accept blackface has been detrimental to British comedy. Regardless, the negative and lasting impact that this harmful practice has had on black audiences is too significant to ignore. Racist caricatures, portrayed in the name of entertainment, diminish black people’s emotions, experiences and culture.

We can correct and reclaim the narrative that blackface is ‘harmless fun’ by acknowledging its offensive origins and the damaging effect it has had on black people.

Diversity in news broadcasting
When it comes to the theme of ‘Reclaiming Narratives’, news broadcasting feels especially pertinent. Although by no means perfect, today’s British news media features greater diversity than at any point in history. Historically speaking, however, this sector has been dominated by white broadcasters.

It took the talent, hard work and determination of several trailblazers – coupled with changing societal attitudes – to pave the way for other black people to break into an industry that was previously closed off to them. Such pioneers included Barbara Blake Hannah, the first female reporter to appear on UK television, Sir Trevor McDonald OBE, ITN’s first black reporter, and Moira Stuart CBE, the first black woman to be featured as a newsreader and presenter on British TV.

Despite the various obstacles they had to overcome, these individuals went on to enjoy long and illustrious careers, breaking down barriers and opening up new opportunities for black people everywhere. Today, black journalists and broadcasters play a pivotal role in the British news media, providing positive representation and empowerment to black people.

Of course, we can continue to correct and reclaim the narrative that news broadcasting is the preserve of white people by pushing for even greater diversity and championing black professionals in the British media.

Black media pioneers
Shifting our focus away from news readers, many black comedians and actors have also had to contend with a broad array of barriers, unjustified criticism and – in some cases – flat-out racism. Nevertheless, a wide range of celebrated and influential black media personalities have succeeded in overcoming prejudice and carving out thriving careers, providing black people across the UK with crucial representation.

Here are just a handful of individuals and shows that had a transformative impact on British broadcasting:

✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 Born in Guyana in 1919, Cy Grant became one of the first black people to appear regularly on British TV in the 1950s. An actor, musician, writer and poet, Grant remained a lifelong opponent of marginalisation and cultural supremacy.

✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 In 1951, Earl Cameron made his screen debut in Pool of London, one of the first British films to feature an interracial relationship. Cameron went on to star in numerous high-profile films and TV shows, ranging from Thunderball to Jackanory.

✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 Sir Lenny Henry CBE is a renowned comedian, actor and writer who burst onto the British entertainment scene in the 1970s. Co-founder of Comic Relief, Henry received a knighthood for services to drama and charity in 2015.

✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 In 1976, The Fosters became the first British comedy series on UK television to feature an entirely black cast.

✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 In 1981, Dame Jocelyn Barrow DBE, a founding member of the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination, became the first female black governor of the BBC.

While there are far too many black pioneers to mention in a single blog, these individuals – and others like them – proved instrumental in combating the perception that black people should not appear on British screens, successfully reclaiming this narrative through their talent, professionalism and sheer determination.

We can all contribute to a more equitable, diverse and inclusive media landscape by supporting current and future generations of black talent in the British entertainment industry.

A personal perspective
British Black History Month 2024 may be drawing to a close, but the reality for black people across the UK is that racism, prejudice and misrepresentation will remain a permanent fixture in their lives.

Earlier this year, I and many others were shocked and saddened to see riots breaking out across our country in response to a perceived threat posed by immigration. For many people, these events proved that racism and xenophobia are still extremely rife in the UK despite being constantly downplayed.

As part of my work over the past month, I have produced a selection of content exploring the underrepresentation of black people in the British media and pioneering black figures from this sector. However, I have barely scratched the surface – especially in terms of contemporary black talent. Some of my personal inspirations, who I have not yet mentioned, include Ade Adepitan, Adelayo Adedayo, Akala, Andi Peters, Charlene White, Daniel Kaluuya, Gamal Fahnbulleh, Idris Elba, Indiyah Polack, John Boyega, Judi Love, Michelle Cole and Reggie Yates. And it won’t surprise you to learn that I could go on and on.

Black History Month offers an opportunity for black people to reconnect with their roots, celebrate their culture, learn more about themselves and, most importantly, have their voices heard. With this in mind, and against the backdrop of the riots, this year’s theme of ‘Reclaiming Narratives’ has proved particularly emotional for me.

Black people have been mistreated for centuries and left completely out of conversations at times when they should have been uplifted and recognised for their talents, contributions and strength. As such, the content I have produced during October has been both enlightening and difficult to develop. Nevertheless, I feel it is vital that this information is spread. 

So, thank you to everyone who has taken the time to learn a little bit more about black culture and the roles of black people in the British media, whether by reading this blog or engaging with Chatty Duck Creative’s recent posts on social media. I hope that, together, we can continue to reclaim narratives for black people across the UK and beyond.

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