Racism - still a problem in C21st?

I'm sure most of you have seen or heard the stories about the blatant and disgusting racism towards Shilpa Shetty in the Big Brother House the last few weeks. So much attention has been paid to this that the debate has now reached the Commons, with over 10, 000 calls/signatures/petitions from the viewers of BB.

Comments about "thin Indians", disease, arguments over pronouncing her name - it's "Shil - PA" Jackiey, NOT that difficult😡, the disparaging comments about Shilpa using bleach because she was "hairy", undercooking the chicken (who the hell cooks chicken for TWO hours unless its a roast?) and the most IMPORTANT one - being called a P*** by Jack (even though Channel 4 insist that the word was c***) etc etc.

My point is, after spending much time being absolutely DISGUSTED by the antics of some of those has-been/never-was "celebrities", I got to thinking. The Big Brother house is essentially there to plonk a few random people in a house together and trap them there for obscene amounts of time, forcing them to get along or kill each other. Inevitably, no matter how hard a person tries to maintain a "mask", with all those cameras around, people are bound to show their true colours and speak their minds, as it were. In this case, are Jo, Jade, Jack and Danielle the examples of working-class white people in Britain today? Do they represent the majority of white people living and working alongside ethnic minorities in cities such as London and Manchester and Birmingham - and is this what white people are truly like?

I live in the UK, and as yet, have never faced the sort of racism - for it IS racism, contrary to what Channel 4 thinks - that poor Shilpa is having to face. Despite the fact that she is an A-list celebrity in India, and most of the culprits have the "15 minute" approach to fame, they seem to be intent on teasing every aspect about her - from her cooking to her accent to the way she does things. Is this what she will remember about the British people? Or is this simply a case of huge class divides and a clash of cultures?

I have a point to this rant, I swear! I wonder whether I and other British Asians have been duped by our fellow "white" Britons into believing that racism is a thing of the past and multicultural societies can and DO exist...I find it disgusting that people like the above-mentioned can call India a poor country riddled with disease, when they in fact are only highlighting their own ignorance of the world, their petty jealousies and dislikes and their intolerance of anyone who doesn't look like them. Having said that, Jermaine Jackson (the only other person of "colour" as he stated) has not been subjected to that kind of vile attitude. Is it because he is black, and so it would be far to obvious if the "white" people turned on him, causing uproar within black communities? Or is it simply that those people are jealous of Shilpa?

Comments will be highly appreciated?

Great subject to talk about Vasu!! I agree with everything u have just mentioned...and i agree it IS racism that is occurring in the BB household right now.It cannot be called ignorance or bullying, of which the latter is totally unacceptable also. Why do the other housemates not get targetted for their cooking...or jermaine or dirk for the way they speak..theyre not from Britain and therefore have an accent so why are they not targetted?!?

In fact, forget Dirk and Jermaine - can anyone EVER understand what the hell Jade is saying? If anyone's accent should be made fun of - and I am NOT condoning that - then it should be Jade and Danielle, who speak like ignorant chavs who've never been out of their home town. Ironically, English may be Shilpa's second language, but she has a much better command on it than they will ever have. She comes across, despite her accent, as more educated, witty and intelligent than all three of those plebs put together!

yeah and to be honest i think that is EXACTLY what is getting to them...wheneer jade and daanielle speak i have lsten VERY carefully to understand what they are saying...fair enough jade is not as educated, but having lived in this country all her life u would think that she would have learned a thing or two about the english language 😆 😆 and dianielle, well for someone who has a levels and wanted to become a forensic scientist..she is VERY dumb!she was worried about peoples perception of her when she comes out of the housem shes gonna be in for a nasty surprise...i wonder what teddys gonna say! 😆

at the end of the day, a few comments here and there u can brush off as just mickey taking, but these continuous comments is just unacceptable...and ur right it IS THEIR TRUE COLOURS coming through

There is more of J-factor for their behaviour towards shilpa.

As she is measured to be one of the pinnacle challenger for the show, and hence this could not be digested well by the other contestants.

Comparatively she is most beautiful and good looking than rest of the contestants.

She was paid an attractive package estimated to be around 3 crores amount which could also be the cause for their envy.
They are frustrated and venting out it by these racial remarks,it shows their insecurity.

The program should be withdrawn anyway, irrespective of who said what about whom. The entire set up is an insult to peoples intelligence.
Bring back programs on subjects which really matter, on drama, the environment, instead of wasting money on this rubbish.

Unfortunately, century changes do not change people's mentalities. 🤢

Hidden racism is prevelant everywhere. It was just very clear on BB where you have 24 hour surveillance cameras.

seriously i ddnt see racism much there...

just classness bitchiness

Originally posted by: T.

Unfortunately, century changes do not change people's mentalities. 🤢

Hidden racism is prevelant everywhere. It was just very clear on BB where you have 24 hour surveillance cameras.

Exactly - I hate to say it, but BB has just shown what was previously hidden in Western society; an inherent hatred towards multiculturalism and ignorance of anything beyond your own peripheral vision...