The two African guys in Fair City

Atrocity · 06-12-2005 9:03pm #1

Anyone else notice how the screenwriters just stuck these guys in to pave the way for serious 'racial' storylines? It's embarassing when Fair City try to tackle racial issues, it's getting a bit old now, this type of thing.

What it has consisted of so far: regulars in the soap throwing around racist comments; parents being wary of their children mixing with the African kid; girls making comments to him about his manhood and other racial stereotypes; Bela disapproving of his daughter going out with the teenage guy, etc.

Does anyone else find this embarassing? It's 2005, these kind of things have been done to death a million times already. I live in a backwards town and never in a million years here would you see the type of blatant racism that they are portraying, and which is supposed to be set in Dublin city. The characters don't seem to have any real purpose, apart from creating this type of storyline, they did the same thing with the black doctor a while back. They bandied around racial topics for a while and then he just disappeared.

On a sidenote, the guy who plays the father, I saw him on a childrens programme on BBC dressed as a policeman a few months ago. He was telling a story about a mouse who escaped. Yes, seriously. How did Fair City get hold of him, did they ring BBC up and ask for their best actor? Maybe the beeb sent him over as a practical joke. "Let's give the paddies that guy who tells stories about the mouse."

Anyway, he is an appalling actor, he better brush up or he'll be back telling tales about mice before he knows what hits him.

Madge · 06-12-2005 9:20pm

The acting in that programme is appaling anyway.
What is wrong with the older black guy's voice, sounds like he is just whispering loudly?

gazzer · 07-12-2005 10:55am

i saw a bit of Fair City last week.. it was a scene where Leo came into the shop to talk to the older black guy about him sleeping in the shop... two of the worst actors i have ever seen...

memphis · 07-12-2005 1:43pm

I have to agree. There is really no purpose for the two characters, apart from all the racist comments being thrown at em.

As for the old lad, God but he is a dreadful actor OK.

tintinr35 · 07-12-2005 8:02pm

whats with the younger

memphis wrote:

black lad's .

bad australian accent?

Yellowhill · 08-12-2005 12:20pm

You guys must be livin in a bubble if you think there is no racism on the ground in dublin....get out of your middle class comfort and get into the working class areas to hear the real views on immigrants in this country. It's not as black and white as you'd like it to be! There is a difference of opinion out there...some people welcome difference in their area..others strongly dislike it....i think fair city is accurate (if a little hamfisted) in what it's portraying.

memphis · 08-12-2005 1:46pm

tintinr35 wrote:

whats with the younger

memphis wrote:

black lad's

bad australian accent?

What exactly is your problem? I called em black... big deal. That's cos they are black. Yet you seem to feel that it was wrong of me, or too quote you "Not politically correct" and continue to try be-little me.

Why??

Atrocity · 08-12-2005 2:30pm

That is ridiculous, that pc rubbish.. People prowling around for an excuse to correct someone and call them racist..

Yellowhill, fair enough, I'm sure there is a fair deal of racism in parts of the country. I still think that Fair City are making a mess of racial storylines; they throw black actors into the show, and give them no purpose apart from being on the end of childish namecalling and manhood jokes.

tintinr35 · 09-12-2005 12:44am

memphis wrote:

What exactly is your problem? I called em black... big deal. That's cos they are black. Yet you seem to feel that it was wrong of me, or too quote you "Not politically correct" and continue to try be-little me.

Why??

thats exactally what i was saying that it wasnt PC thought that was obvious
anyway.......back to fair city...:D

Atrocity · 09-12-2005 1:58am

But what would be PC... when I was starting the thread I was going to call them "Black lads", but I thought that might be construed as racist or something by the PC police. It's ridiculous.. Isn't 'negroe' the right term? Can 'black lads' be used, just like 'white lads' being used over in black areas.. I dunno. I just called them 'African'..

anyway, in fair city tonight Joshua, the younger, er, black lad,

is going to get it on with Louise, Bela's daughter.. Expect some controversy there!!

Yellowhill · 09-12-2005 10:29am

It's fine to call them black lads...that's what they are..they're black! Lets not tie ourselves up in knots about PC rubbish titles....Atrocity...you said negroes!? this isn't the fifties....i don't think any black person would be offended by being referred to as 'black'.
back to fair city.....Atrocity...i disagree with your view that fair city has just placed this black family in there without a story...the thing between louise and joshua is developing into sort of love story which is a good way of exploring irish peoples real attitudes towards black people...it's all very well for these middle class people to condemn racism in theory but see how they react when their daughter turns up at home dating a nigerian....would they really be totally cool with that?? i think not...i think fair city is doing well to at least look at this issue

Atrocity · 09-12-2005 12:37pm

well, I'll watch with interest! it will be interesting to see what Bela will do next.. maybe have another stroke :v:

oh, btw, if that word I used is offensive, I apologise. I just don't know anymore! In future I'll say nothing

memphis · 09-12-2005 1:00pm

I really can't understand why people feel that calling them BLACK is wrong or not PC. How can it be offensive.

I have worked with many a black person in both the US and Ireland, and referred to em as black they never even batted an eyelid. I think its just us Irish being too cautious of what we say for fear of being called racist. I can also say that my first girlfriend was black.... (her father is nigerian or something like that). I also had a brief encounter with an Asain American girl while living in Boston. If if think I am racist, then think again!!!

tintinr35 · 10-12-2005 2:43am

blue peter badge for the culturally diverse memphis;)

oh ya and you are the only one who refered to yourself as racist

memphis · 11-12-2005 5:14pm

tintinr35 wrote:

blue peter badge for the culturally diverse memphis;)

oh ya and you are the only one who refered to yourself as racist

But isn't that what you have been trying to imploy all this time??

look I'm just gonna agree to disagree, cos this nonsense is starting to annoy me, to be quite frank!!

OLDYELLAR · 11-12-2005 6:29pm

These two are terrible actors anyway , the kid always says the lines like hes reading them without any emotion and the dad laughing every time he whispers .

Fair city is gone wicked boring lately anyway , hopefully Lorcan and his drug runningg will bring a bit of life back into it .

tintinr35 · 15-12-2005 8:52pm

fairly sh1tty is just so bad awful awful viewing they should all be shot (except bella cause memphis might get up set if i was to dis the bellaiser;) )

OLDYELLAR · 15-12-2005 8:57pm

tintinr35 wrote:

fairly sh1tty is just so bad awful awful viewing they should all be shot (except bella cause memphis might get up set if i was to dis the bellaiser;) )

LOL

Mr jim bartley , aye I do believe Memphis is quite the fan of this guy.

tintinr35 · 15-12-2005 9:21pm

Look what i found

memphis · 16-12-2005 4:41pm

tintinr35 wrote:

Look what i found

Ah Jaysus, thanks.... ya shouldn't have. What can I say, a photo of Jim, all signed and dated just for moi!!!

You've just made all my Chrsitmas wishes come through!!!

Atrocity · 16-12-2005 7:03pm

I don't get enough opportunities to post this so here it is:

FAIR CITY SCENE BY ATROCITY*Picture Attached

Bela gives Eunice the money for a tube of Preparation H. Behind him Leo enters the shop. Bela Waits for his change and makes his way to the door.
Leo: "Hey Bela, How's Things"
Bela: "Very Good Thanks!. Just got a bit of rawness in the old anus, but it's nothing that this won't fix!"
Bela holds up the tube of Preparation H for Leo to see.
Leo: "Best of luck with that man. Listen, do you mind if I ask you something?"
Bela: "Yeah, shoot!"
Leo produces a handgun and proceeds to shoot Bela in the groin.
Bela: "OW!!! ME GRAPES!!!!"

16-12-2005 9:51pm

Atrocity wrote:

But what would be PC... when I was starting the thread I was going to call them "Black lads", but I thought that might be construed as racist or something by the PC police.

funnily enough i seen a 'black' woman on tv offended to have been called coloured once. wtf do you do then!!! its a lose-lose situation

memphis · 16-12-2005 9:58pm

Deleted User wrote:

funnily enough i seen a 'black' woman on tv offended to have been called coloured once. wtf do you do then!!! its a lose-lose situation

Of course, that's because they aren't "Coloured" they are "Black"!!! Plan and simple. Its not calling them black lads or whatever, its calling them coloured lads that is offense or to be harsh "racist"!!

The two African guys in Fair City

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