John Downie of the Society for the Advancement of Black Arts says, “I understand that people may be upset by this but maybe we should understand the context that Emmeline Pankhurst was coming from”. “We pushed through all the obstacles”. She knew it would press buttons, light fires under asses, and get women moving because who in God’s name wants to be a Negro slave in the USA? “That became a huge obstacle”.
Advertisement
Streep appears only briefly in the film, telling the Suffragettes who followed her that violence was necessary. Both stateside and in the United Kingdom, there were uncomfortable alliances forged by a few early feminists with racists, fascists, and other unsavory elements.
The “no complaints” line also seems very dismissive of all the people, especially people of color, speaking out against these shrits. We don’t have a monopoly on slavery, slavery still exists today.
Actresses Meryl Streep, Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff, and Romola Garai recently wore shirts with the Pankhurst quote “I’d rather be a rebel than a slave” for Time Out London.
Imagine that – an “all-white cast” in a movie about Emmeline Pankhurst, and set around the turn of the last century in Britain. I want to speak on how their rights at best were severely limited, their intelligence and importance belittled, erased, and in many ways punished by men for in essence “bringing sin into the world” because thanks Eve. “There is a phrase in the film – “Deeds not words” – and that is where I stand on that. My grandmother was alive then and had a couple of children and would not have been capable of voting so I’m passionate about it”. “Contend with that-not the words”.
Those were Pankhurst’s words at a 1913 rally and surely at that time in London, that was a powerful statement that resonated with her fellow white Brits. “It’s clear there is talent everywhere, but not a lot of opportunity”.
She does know that it’s largely women who look up to her, right?
She said: “I have been so lucky to grow up in a generation- and in a family – where I haven’t had to fight”.
“I submit to you that men and women are not the same, they like different things”.
Meryl Streep is being accused of racism for a fashion choice while promoting her latest film “Suffragette”, which centres on the British women’s suffrage movement.
Advertisement
“It is infuriating because people accept it as received wisdom …” It isn’t fair. We need inclusion.
