18th August 2020

A BBC report states (A former Cardiff University student is seeking legal advice on how it dealt with a racism complaint. Natasha Chilambo, 25, was one of eight black students to complain when a fellow student wore blackface as “a stereotypical, hyper-sexualised black man” in a 2016 play. She felt “isolated” and “paranoid”, one student attempted suicide and another could not attend lectures. The university apologised for the “pain and upset” caused.)

Is this not taking things a step too far? Do the rest of the general population ignore the fact that most probably they were unwittingly placed in front of a traditional seaside play many times during their childhood. Punch and Judy show has roots in the 16th-century and there has been very little by way of complaints during the period these show have been performing. I wonder if we can make a retrospective claim for distress and anguish? how many of us as children were “blackfaced” for the church nativity play as a child? I know I was, very odd as I was a little ginger kid with a sooty face being one of the three kings!

Today it appears that it is an opportunity to become a celebrity if you can show in some way that you are a victim of some outrageous piece of literary output which in all probability the author has passed many years ago.

We are allowing the creation a weak and feeble generation who will be incapable of holding their own on the world stage, they want respect given to them without having to earn it. Crying because of a play that upset her is saying something of this young ladies character that as a medical student does not place her in a good place to be in that line of work.

We have all been placed in uncomfortable situations, just that some are more important than a piece of fiction that upsets you, get a grip on life.