Double Standards on Racism (II)

It emerged today that Helen Lawal, a beauty queen of mixed race crowned both 'Miss York' and 'Miss Black Britain', has been left concerned for her safety after her promoter received a racist phone call.

The man who left the threats implied that York was a 'white city' with no place for Miss Lawal.

Now, this is clearly reprehensible behaviour, and I unequivocally condemn it; even if you disagree with something, I don't see the purpose in threatening violence. Miss Lawal is a medical student and by all accounts an upstanding citizen, and in any case her background isn't something she can be held personally responsible for.

However, having said that, she seems very much clued in on the current state of politically correct Britain.

According to the last census, just 3% of York's population was born outside the United Kingdom or the European Union. According to the Mail and Miss Lawal (and ironically the abusive caller), this makes it a 'white' city.

What does Miss Lawal think of this? Here is what was reported:

When Helen Lawal was crowned Miss York she hoped her mixed race background would help improve the image of the predominantly white historic city.

Ah. So now we get to the part I personally feel is a double standard. If you want a white beauty queen to represent York, an English city, you're an evil racist scumbag. If anyone even dared to suggest that a beauty queen improved the image of a city simply by virtue of being white, there would be an uproar.

However, if you think your own non-white background 'improves the image' of the city more than a white beauty queen would, you're an enlightened progressive.

One of the comments on the article hit the nail on the head:

No-one should have to endure racist threats. I would like to know what exactly is meant by this "she hoped her mixed race background would help improve the image of the predominantly white historic city". How exactly does mixed race ancestry improve the image of York?
- Kate, UK, 20/4/2009 14:24

Exactly. We're either colour blind, or we're not. There's no in between. It's either racist to judge on colour or origin, or it isn't. One rule for some and another for others simply stokes division.

This leads me on to the question of why there is a 'Miss Black Britain' contest at all. A 'Miss White Britain' contest would be seen as a racist throw-back to a past age, and roundly condemned. I very seriously doubt you could even find organisers and contestants willing to host and take part in such a thing.

For my part, I simply hate hypocrisy and double standards. This young lady does not deserve abuse simply for living her life, but she should be more careful of what she says and examine her attitude - a white contestant would have had to resign her crown for making such a statement, for believing in her own colour and background.

I'm not hopeful, however. The political correctness which stifles any independent thought in this country is active in the comments (and this from an oft-derided Right-wing newspaper); some imply that Miss Lawal's pride in her background is delightful, but would balk at any such pride from a white person as evil.

Many support the idea of a 'Miss Black Britain' because 'black people are a minority'. They obviously miss the point that the onus is then on them as a minority to integrate rather than constantly being accommodated in ways which would not be acceptable for other groups.

Most worrying is the notion, which appears a couple of times, that if one does not find Miss Lawal attractive then one must be a racist 'caveman' or 'neanderthal'.

The day when even taste in women is subject to scrutiny from the Thought Police is not one I look forward to, but like so much it seems inevitable.