- There is clear evidence this is generally unpopular.
- It has not been called for by anti-racism campaigners; (it is projected onto them by a small number of well-wishers)
- most ethnic minority Britons will probably see the row as a big distraction from anti-racism campaigns.
- It has not been called for by anti-racism campaigners; (it is projected onto them by a small number of well-wishers)
- most ethnic minority Britons will probably see the row as a big distraction from anti-racism campaigns.
It was an earlier proposal from the Times Music critic Richard Morrison, who has always disliked the Last Night of the Proms, and who now sees Black Lives Matter as a chance to pursue his long-standing personal view of that
11% of the public overall think these songs should go. 7/10 don't. This highlights the potential for pointless and distracting cultural polarisation
On different but analogous issue of statues
By 4-1 ethnic minority respondents (60%) think focus on statues distracts from more significant anti-racism issues (but would remove major slavers)
Majority ethnic minority concern about "PC" going too far
By 4-1 ethnic minority respondents (60%) think focus on statues distracts from more significant anti-racism issues (but would remove major slavers)
Majority ethnic minority concern about "PC" going too far
The Sunday Times reports that Dalia Staveska, 35, from Finland, "is a big supporter of Black Lives Matter" and sees a Proms without an audience as a "perfect moment to bring about change". (A very questionable argument).
Indiv views will differ. Some people will be entirely indifferent. More opposition than support.
A white liberal classical music establishment is again imagining & projecting an anti-racism agenda that some may support but many will find a distracting & unhelpful polarisation
A white liberal classical music establishment is again imagining & projecting an anti-racism agenda that some may support but many will find a distracting & unhelpful polarisation
Mixed views/plurality of support (40-31 but 29% don't know) among ethnic minorities for removing inappropriate portrayals of ethnic minorities in popular culture. (It's complicated; depends on content/context; suggests caution & differentiate egregious & marginal cases?). 
In the ITV poll, a plurality of ethnic minority respondents think it unfair to expect people in modern Britain to feel responsibility for actions of previous generations on slavery. (again, "it's complicated" may be the median view here).
This proposal does not seem to be coming from the BBC eutgert. But the BBC is a lightning conductor of "culture war" polarisation
The BBC dies much make the proms happen, and gets them to a national audience. So its an own goal to appear anti-proms
The BBC dies much make the proms happen, and gets them to a national audience. So its an own goal to appear anti-proms
A *much* higher priority for many would be to teach the history of Empire fully in schools
That also commands a very broad public consensus
That also commands a very broad public consensus
Anecdotal twitter experiment to get a sense of ethnic minority opinion.on this from others too
A bit different from Constantine statue farrago (a misunderstanding/invention). If composer wants to see it changed - and esp if proms/BBC actively considering it - then this is a legit news story, even if it would be an unwelcome & polarising distraction
Front-page of the Express.
Public opinion (July 2020) is keep by 69% to 11%. Narrower but clear margin (50% to 21%) among Labour voters than LibDems (74% to 12%) and Conservatives (97-3).
That same poll (general public) had 42% support and 26% opposition to the Black Lives Matter protests. Backed by 62% of LibDems and 71% of Labour voters. (Suggests that around a quarter of those who supported the anti-racism protests would also ditch those songs from the proms)
Ethnic minority views on both sides. Scepticism about this idea is likely to reflect strategic/tactical considerations (a distraction) + some principled opposition to sweeping change, given bme views that OTT "political correctness" can be a problem
About 70 early responses in this anecdotal snapshot. Indifference & scepticism about a divisive row are outweighing both support for change & interest in the proms so far
The BBC proposed this change in 1969, but then u-turned under public pressure. The Guardian editorial was sceptical, regretting the dismissal of "English eccentricity" from the occasion. HT @gabyhinsliff
amp.theguardian.com/music/2016/sep…
amp.theguardian.com/music/2016/sep…
