Racial Representations in TV and Emmerdale's next week spoilers

Racial representation has always been a subject quite close to my heart. I've been married to a black man for seven years, going out with him for 21 years and having known him since we were three. 

Growing up, his mother always taught him he was a person before his colour. He was just Craig, not black Craig. He could be anything he wanted as long as he worked hard. 

Even though he was sometimes known as a bad boy due to personal things going on in his life, he managed to work hard and became a police officer.

And throughout his career, he gets the saying, oh, you only got the job because you are black. To make up a quota, to be a number. No, he got the job because he is calm, an easy talker, works hard, and is a damn good policeman. 

So what has this got to do with representation on TV? How many people of colour do we see on TV that aren't drug dealers, criminals, etc? Where are the black police officers, firefighters, detectives? 

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My husband, my mother-in-law and I watch most soaps, and we have to say we aren't impressed with Emmerdale's representation of black families. 

At first, we were pleased that Charles was a vicar, a black person in a good community position: his son Ethan, a lawyer, another black person in a great job. 

Then they bought his daughter in, and my God, didn't they ruin it. Naomi was everything that everyone thought a black woman was. Loud and rude. 

How dare they go down the stereotypical route. Yes, some black women are loud and rude, but guess what? So are white women. My mother-in-law doesn't like noise; she hates it; she whispers when she talks and doesn't have the TV on above twelve volume-wise. 

The only redeeming quality of Naomi was the small scenes with Marlon when she helped him in the kitchen; it showed a caring side to her that we didn't see enough. 

Then they had her take Vinny's money to go off and probably never pay him back. I couldn't believe it; we watched with our mouths open. 

Then Charles's parents came, and they could have been more stereotypical. A father who's been in prison for a violent crime, a con man, a liar, everything that the media might have, you believe, is like a typical black man. 

No, just no! How dare they. How dare they portray a black family like this? Yes, some families happen to be black like this, but guess what? There are white families like that too. 

They could have had a storyline like Sickle Cell, which only affects black people, a severe condition, and it would raise awareness of this condition. 

Now the positives with Emmerdale and racial representation. How lovely was it to see the Hindu aspects recently since Rishi died. I learnt a lot about the Hindu culture. It was beautiful to see. 

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EastEnders has always managed to do race relations so well; they show a wide range of black and Asians in various ways. 

Denise had a hairdressing business, Patrick and Yolande were Mini Mart owners, and Alan Jackson worked in the cafe, just everyday jobs that anyone can be. 

I remember growing up watching EastEnders in the early nineties and hearing racist language for the first time when Jim Branning didn't want Carol to marry Alan because he was black. It was hard-hitting and thought-provoking because it gave me and my parents a discussion. 

I didn't get how anyone couldn't want Carol to marry Alan; he was just Alan. My parents explained about racism and that some people judge others by the colour of their skin. I said Craig's that colour, and we don't judge him. I'm going to marry him, I said. And I did. 

How about that storyline now? It still exists both ways, not just the white family not wanting their family to marry into another race. My husband's father isn't happy he married a white girl. 

My parents have had family members not speak to them because I married a black man. I'd love to see a storyline about that now. A hard-hitting, thought-provoking race storyline that has nothing to do with drugs, violence or the stereotypical image around it. 

EastEnders would be the only soap that could pull this off. But I would like Sarah Dingle to bring a person of colour home, and the family act surprised, or comments are made. It would give Sarah a storyline, and the actors pulled this storyline off. Of course, the boy or girl would not be a drug dealer or a violent criminal; he could be at college learning to be a scientist, a doctor or anything. 

Do better, Emmerdale. 

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This week and spoilers for next week:

I will probably be in the minority, but I liked the Dan and Amelia scenes on the hill. They remembered the history of Ali, Ruby, Sean etc. If this is Liam Fox's last few days in the soap forever, I am pleased he gets a good storyline. (It would have been better if Amelia hadn't had so many storylines in the past year. If it had been the pregnancy and then this, I believe many would have liked it more.)

Dan and Chas were married, but the scene with them this week wasn't necessary. When was the last time Chas had a scene with Amelia? That scene would have been better with Charity. Charity is, first of all, Esther's Godmother. Secondly, she has Amelia live with her more often than not; thirdly, she is Esther's grandmother; let's be honest about that. 

The Mary, Marlon and Rhona scenes are always great; I adore Mary and hope Jane Hudson doesn't ruin her. But I am so annoyed that we didn't have the court case on screen; why not?

You have had this long-running storyline and don't show the conclusion; why not? Is it not worthy of an ending? 

Spoilers:

Oh my, where do I start? 

When you thought Jane Hudson couldn't get worse, she throws more shit at you, hoping you will still watch. 

Charity and Mack, Charity and Mack are the worst pairing in the history of soap. I don't say that lightly. I am thirty-five and have watched all soaps, Neighbours, Home & Away, and even soaps like Night & Day, Crossroads and Family Affairs. 

I hated Will and Dani in Home & Away because I shipped him with Gypsy, I disliked Libby with Mike because I wanted her with Drew (Neighbours), and I hated Lorraine with Grant because I loved Tiffany (EastEnders). I don't even need to bring up my utter hatred for the Bob and Laurel and Laurel and Marlon pairings; they were awful. 

But I would watch all those couples on repeat for twenty-four hours a day and enjoy it compared to Mack and Charity. Do you know why? Because at least the writing was good, the characters had depth, and you could understand their feelings and emotions, even if you didn't like the pairings. 

Emma Atkins deserves better than this; you only have to watch the ITV3 episodes to see her brilliant acting. 

Now the Sam, Lydia and Samson storyline. 

If they go down Lydia having an affair, I give up. I want Lydia to get a storyline because Lydia is one of my favourites; she is kind, caring, funny, adorable, and she and Sam work. 

Is this just Lydia trying to better herself, get money, and help Samson get experience, and it isn't the start of an affair storyline? If it's an affair, I will be so disappointed. 

 

My husband, mother in law and I.
 

Thank you for reading.