Ridley Road- surely the wrong time.

Is the drama advertised as being part of Black History Month on the BBC?

It's based on true events that affected the Jewish community in the East End, so inevitably the focus will be on anti-semitism.

There is never a wrong time to speak of Anti semitism

But surely the people who were responsible for the anti-semitism were racist and against immigration as well. I know that Jewish people were targeted. but weren't black people as well? Why should it have to be advertised as part of Black History month? Shouldn't all the stories told about those times include black history? I saw one or two black people in the crowds and one mixed race main character, but surely it wasn't only Jews the National Socialists were abusing?

I didn't say it was a wrong time to speak of anti-semitism I questioned why the black history wasn't there.

Surely a focus on Black History doesn’t preclude a drama about anti-semitism. In fact it is as much in the forefront of discussions as black history is these days.

I agree Riverwalk and Anniebach. As this is about what actually happened to the Jewish community, obviously they are going to be the main focus.

Jewish communities all over the world are today facing a resurgence of anti-semitism and that includes the UK.

Are we really at the point where unless a drama based on historical events also has a large focus on the experiences of black people at that time, even though the main characters as in this case are not white, that there will be accusations of erasing black history?

sorry, that should read even though the main characters in this are white.

With the rise in anti semitism in recent years such programmes are needed.

for some reason …

2022 will be the 60th anniversary of the 62 Group Trafalgar Square riots which provides the backdrop for Ridley Road.

That it is Black History month doesn’t mean that programmes about other issues cannot be broadcast. Essentially this is about opposition to the National Front which promulgates hatred of Jews as well as black people.

We know that the autumn TV schedules deliver new and original drama that will remain in the catch up schedules for several months so the more exposure and publicity these historical events gets the better imo.

It isn't erasing black history. It's drawing attention to the heinous work of the National Front which I think black people will applaud.

Ridley Road is not about black people, not everything is about black people. It’s about Jewish people, and anti semitism. Why exactly is that apparently a problem?

It's based on a novel written about true events, so if the novel is about Jewish people then the drama has to reflect that.

They are actually advertising it as part of black history month?

I think it is fair enough to show the program in October but it's not about black history so shouldn't be advertised in that way. I like the styling of the program, The hair especially

We don't know what will happen further down the line. The guy in the hairdressers has already received racial abuse when trying to help the girl after she was trapped in the crowd. He is also seen spying on her so there maybe be more incidents relating to black or mixed race people.

It isn't advertised as being part of black history month I just think it is the wrong time to televise something which doesn't actually seem to mention black history or the racism involved in the National socialist movement.

This shouldn’t be either/or.

There is room for both

I think what Trisher is saying is that although the story line covers the anti Semitic movement the portrayal of other ethnic groups is not correct for that period and she is right
The drama is still covering the anti Semitic movement but the background stuff should be correct too and it isn’t

I think what Trisher is saying is that although the story line covers the anti Semitic movement the portrayal of other ethnic groups is not correct for that period and she is right
The drama is still covering the anti Semitic movement but the background stuff should be correct too and it isn’t

I didn’t even know it is Black History month (I’ve been away on holiday so might have missed advertising) but I thought we had Black History month not long ago. Or could it be that it was a whole year ago and I didn’t realise? If that’s the case, my God, where did that year go?

travelsafar

We don't know what will happen further down the line. The guy in the hairdressers has already received racial abuse when trying to help the girl after she was trapped in the crowd. He is also seen spying on her so there maybe be more incidents relating to black or mixed race people.

Yes, I wondered this too. Was the close up of her stomach to suggest she was pregnant with Jacks baby?

I only caught the second episode but it seems like a excellent drama to me and captured the times extremely well.

Is there ever a wrong time to educate people about their own history?

I thought last night’s episode was the first episode. Have I missed one episode whilst we were away?

This happened when I was 14. I remember hearing the name Colin Jordan, but knew nothing about what is going on in this story until I saw last night's episode.
The slogans the National Front were shouting are still being used today. "Take our country back", Take back control".
Now it is about black people as well as Jews. The evil is still there.

Thanks Bluebelle you have explained things much more clearly. I'm feeling a bit Pooh-bearish this morning -you know you have an idea in your head but when you write it down it just
isn't!
maddyone it was the first episode last night and I only know it is Black History Month because my library is advertising it

If it isn’t advertised as Black History Month why the need to
bring Black History into a programme about anti semitism.

I don’t except anti semitism to be included in a programme about The Windrush and wouldn’t complain that it wasn’t.