Coronation Street Racist Storyline.

[Ann]

Did anyone else almost miss what Paul said? If I heard correctly it didn't sound that bad to me, it wasn't a remark directed at Lloyd either. I struggled to understand why such a huge storyline has been built up from tonight's episode - maybe I missed something else that was said.

[silliemillie]

No you didn't miss anything else Ann, Its probably another nail in Pauls coffin as we all know he is leaving the show soon.

[Jeza]

Paul said to Steve who he was playing darts with "play the white man" on a disputed arrow. Lloyd on entering the pub objected to his remark, even though Paul was not speaking to him.

[Ann]

Bit silly to make so much of it in the storyline - but I suppose they daren't say anything really racist in the soap or the writers will be for it!

[Ann]

Thanks Jeza - that's what I thought I heard. What does that remark actually mean then?

[elliemay1]

I have never heard that remark before either.

[lynbrown]

Playing the white man is an old fashioned way of saying that white men act better than black men. By playing the white man, there is an implication that your standards are higher, more honest etc. It dates back to the days when all black people were regarded as second class. Totally dated and ridiculous.

[DJHawkes]

it's a phrase i used to hear my brother using back in the 70s, it just meant play fair, that's it, nothing else. storylines like this are outdated and totally unnecessary

[elliemay1]

Think it's a bit silly to introduce it to Corrie as it's so dated and nobody would relate to it.

[DJHawkes]

my 10 year old brother did not use it in any racist context when he was playing football. it must be a northern saying but it is about being the goodie, playing fair.

[tonyav]

Not just a northern saying dot, it was used in the West Mids to.

[DJHawkes]

actually i think i can remember all those years ago thinking it was about playing a snooker

[hc4361]

It's not a northern saying, I'm all too familiar with it, usually in full - 'don't be a black b*****d, play the white man'.

In other words, rise up from your uncivilised, tribal ways and meet our standards of behaviour.

It's nasty

[DJHawkes]

i can absolutely assure you that if my little brother had been using any language like that mum and dad would have boxed his ears and i have never ever heard anyone ever use it in that way! No way.

[elliemay1]

Haven't watched it yet. Did Paul retract it and apologise when he realised he had caused offence?

[Jeza]

No ellie he didn't.

[DJHawkes]

I only caught the last few minutes and couldn't be bothered with the whole drama, turned it off.

[hc4361]

No, but then he was very stressed about his work problems and it got out of hand when Lloyd accused him of being racist, which Paul took great offence at.

[thejudderman]

It was just another all too common attempt to make the white man the nasty racist and the black man the poor innocent victim! It seems impossible for the black man to be racist no matter how hard he may try!

[factor-fiction]

I think that's rubbish, thejudderman.

I would agree though that producers sometimes use programmes to raise social issues (racism, gay relationships, abortion) and it can seem a bit false. I doubt though that an incident like this in real life would have have led to so many people in one street having so many conversations about it.
I was a bit surprised that they gave a warning as the programme was about to start that it contained language some may find offensive.
I was half expecting the announcer to give out one of those messages at the end saying "If you've been affected by ..."

[mikkin59]

Very true Judderman. Why do we never get a storyline about black on white racism?? Because it would be considered racist thats why!! It must be tough being a poor innocent black person when all us white people are so racist! PATHETIC!!!
Black people are just as capable of racism as white people. Come on all you sad little Sheeple, wake up to reality!