But this week, the BBC upheld a complaint against the breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty for stating a truth as obvious as “water is wet”. The BBC’s misguided response suggests that reacting to racism is worse than racism itself. This isn’t the first time that the BBC has framed racism as a conversation with two legitimate sides. Any approach to impartiality needs to clearly acknowledge that racism – particularly of the blatant “go home” variety – is a violent and illegitimate standpoint. But racism is racism, and when people of colour are silenced, it sets a worrying precedent as to which experiences are seen as objective, and what is left up for debate.

Source: The Guardian September 26, 2019 17:42 UTC