OSP: Paul Gilroy - Postcolonial theory and diasporic identity

 

OSP: Paul Gilroy - Postcolonial theory and diasporic identity

Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and open Factsheet 170: Gilroy – Ethnicity and Postcolonial Theory. Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets or you can access it online here using your Greenford Google login.

Read the Factsheet and complete the following questions/tasks:

1) How does Gilroy suggest racial identities are constructed?

He has consistently argued that racial identities are historically constructed – formed by colonialization, slavery, nationalist philosophies and consumer capitalism.

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

Gilroy states that racial difference and racial identities are the product of racial oppression. Racial identities are caused by historical conflicts that have brought different groups into opposition.

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 is opposed to ethnic absolutism, as it is counter to his argument that racism causes race.

4) How does Gilroy view diasporic identity?
He sees diasporic identity as hybrid rather than rooted in one single origin. For him, diaspora is the ongoing cultural, social and political connection formed through travel and memory. "Diasporic identity is based on ROUTES taken throughout history, and not the ROOTS of origin."

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

At the time, the dominant representation of black Britons was as “external and estranged from the imagined community that is the nation.” As such, to accept the role of slavery into the cultural identities of Britain would be to challenge the negative stereotype of black Britons at the time, and reverse the “external and estranged” relationship with the nation.

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

On the other hand, negative experiences of exclusion, exposure to regressive ideologies and marginalisation will also create an identity which is then shared within the diasporic community and perhaps from the origin country.

8) Why does Gilroy suggest slavery is important in diasporic identity?
Gilroy argues that slavery is a key part of diasporic identity because it played a major role in shaping both modern society and capitalism. The transatlantic slave trade built systems that linked racial inequality with economic power. Although slavery was later abolished, its legacy still influences ideas about freedom, ownership, and humanity. For Gilroy, the shared history of slavery is important for understanding how black identity developed within Western culture.

9) How might representations in the media reinforce the idea of ‘double consciousness’ for black people in the UK or US?
The media often contributes to the experience of ‘double consciousness’—where Black individuals feel they exist both within and outside mainstream society. Gilroy suggests that while black people are a central part of Western history, they’ve also faced exclusion and misrepresentation. When the media presents stereotypes or limited roles for black people, it reinforces this inner conflict between how black individuals see themselves and how society chooses to depict them.

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 Hidden Figures trailer challenges ideas of double consciousness by portraying black women as intelligent, determined, and essential to America’s success in the space race. Instead of relying on typical stereotypes, the film highlights their talent and contributions, showing them as confident professionals who demand recognition. This representation redefines how black women are viewed in mainstream media, celebrating empowerment and equality.