OSP: Paul Gilroy - Postcolonial theory and diasporic identity

 Paul Gilroy - blog tasks

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?

Gilroy argues that racial identities are not natural or fixed, but historically created. They’ve been shaped by events like colonisation, slavery, nationalism, and consumer capitalism,  all of which have influenced how different races are seen and treated over time.

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

According to Gilroy, racism doesn’t come from race instead, it’s the other way around. Racism actually creates race. He believes that racial difference and identity are products of racial oppression, not biological or natural facts. Racism is therefore a social and historical construction rather than something that exists naturally between groups.

3) What is ethnic absolutism and why is Gilroy opposed to it?

Ethnic absolutism is the belief that people belong to fixed and separate ethnic or racial groups, almost like being placed in permanent compartments. Gilroy rejects this idea because it goes against his argument that race is something created by racism, not something that defines people from birth.

4) How does Gilroy view diasporic identity?

Gilroy sees diasporic identity as something that goes beyond national borders. He talks about a transatlantic sense of identity, where black communities across the Atlantic share cultural experiences and histories, particularly the shared legacy of slavery and oppression. This creates a connected, collective identity that spans continents.

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

In the 1980s, black Britons were often portrayed as outsiders, people who didn’t belong to the imagined British nation. Gilroy suggested that recognising the role of slavery and black history within British culture would help challenge this exclusion, allowing black Britons to be seen as an integral part of the nation rather than separate from it.

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

Diasporic identity can challenge ideas of national loyalty and belonging, as people may feel connected both to their home country and their country of residence. However, this can also lead to feelings of exclusion, marginalisation, and discrimination. These shared negative experiences can, in turn, strengthen diasporic communities but also highlight their struggle for acceptance.

7) Complete the first activity on page 3: How might diasporic communities use the media to stay connected to their cultural identity? E.g. digital media - offer specific examples.

Diasporic communities often use digital media to maintain cultural connections. For example, social media allows people to share music, news, and traditions from their home countries. The South Asian diaspora, for instance, might follow Indian or Pakistani political developments, stream Bollywood music, or watch cultural influencers online to stay connected to their heritage.

8) Why does Gilroy suggest slavery is important in diasporic identity?
Gilroy sees slavery as central to both modernity and capitalism. The modern world, he argues, was built on systems that normalised slavery, especially plantation slavery. Although slavery was eventually rejected, it played a huge role in shaping Western ideas about property, freedom, and human rights. For Gilroy, the experience of slavery is therefore crucial to understanding black identity and history today.

9) How might representations in the media reinforce the idea of ‘double consciousness’ for black people in the UK or US?

Media representations often reinforce the feeling of ‘double consciousness’,  the sense of living both inside and outside of modern society. Gilroy argues that black people have historically been excluded from full citizenship and humanity, while also being central to Western modernity. Media portrayals that stereotype or marginalise black people can deepen this conflict between self-perception and how society views 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 trailer for Hidden Figures challenges double consciousness by showing black women as intelligent, capable, and confident, breaking away from traditional stereotypes that have historically devalued or marginalised them. The film celebrates their achievements and portrays them as central figures in America’s space race, helping to redefine how black women are represented in popular culture.