Are the MOBO awards inheritantly racist?

[cHodAX]

That time of year is coming around again, voting for the 'Music of Black Origin' awards gets underway here in the U.K. and the arguments start again about having awards ceremonies for music representing or coming from one race. For example, if someone was to start an annual event called the 'Music of White Origin' awards can you imagine the amount of negative press it would get and the field day the 'race relations' groups would have?

Yet year after year we have a 'Music of Black Origin' awards and no one in the media bats an eyelid, hell it doesn't even get debated. I regularly hang out with 2 friends, both are British but thier parents come from Jamacia and India respectively, we have argued over this topic for the last couple of years and frankly they have never been able to come up with a good reason why the show should be allowed to use this name. The stumbling block they always hit is when I say 'How about a 'Music of White Origin' awards show then? Would you guys find that acceptable?' and they always start arguing that I am not making a vaild point, then concede that 'white' music awards show would not sit well with them.

I then make the point that I am not against the music, the performers or anyone. What I am against is racial hypocracy here in the Britain, I don't think you can ever have real racial equality till you accept that all people are equal and that will never happen while you have events that are designed to divide or perhaps even segregate ethnic groups and thier culture which includes music.

At the end of the day it isn't as if 'music of black origin' isn't heavily represented at mainstream awards events, the world has progressed alot in the last 20 years and you see people of all races being rewarded for excellence these days. I can't for the life of me understand why such a divsive event can be allowed to exist, yes I know that on rare occasions awards have been given to white performers but they have been token gestures rather than the norm. That fact is if they renamed the show I would have no problem with it at all as long as they made sure the rules never changed and that anyone from any background could be nominated. The sad fact though is that there a hardcore of people on both sides of the fence that secretly want to keep the race divide wide open, some people always want an axe to grind I guess.

Anyway, enough of my thoughts. I know this is a sensitive subject but I really am interested to hear people's opinions on this. Please don't turn this into a flamefest though, it is too important a topic for people to be mouthing off without thinking.

 

[Thadius]

Well, most music comes from black origin

Jazz, Funk, Rock and Roll!

 

[cHodAX]

Well, most music comes from black origin

Jazz, Funk, Rock and Roll!

Yet rock and roll is not represented at the awards afaik, could that be because that genre is dominated by bands that are pre-dominantly white?

 

[Thadius]

Yet rock and roll is not represented at the awards afaik, could that be because that genre is dominated by bands that are pre-dominantly white?

Yip

Its a load of racists bollocks.

 

[Outlander]

pfft I invented rap!

shizzle....n stuff

 

[Huntingtons]

well no "race" is equal because we have a genetic difference, there wont ever be equal status between any race unless we mix em all into one (if we all wore sacks over our heads, after 3 generations more or less we'd be 1 race fyi!) the concept is stupid, as anything designed for a certain group of people which excludes another group of people. In US they have an afroamerican history day where they teach in afro american history, that is exactly the same hipocracy, creating a subject to make their country look more tolerant but it really makes them look less tolerant - one of the worst subjects for me is to discuss racial differences because its useless, it wont matter society wise wether a guy working a machine or running a business is physically different from another person as long as they're both competent (i know this isnt exactly on topic but still). Race is shit and im sick of it

but i know the mobo concept enought to tell if its racist or not but its sure as well isnt a smart move.

 

[Marc]

Eminem, The Streets and Danniel Beddingfield have all been nominated for Mobos. It isnt a black performing artists award ceremony, its the music, of which 99% of it is recorded by black artists, thats all

 

[soze]

As people have said any race can win a mobo so i dont have a propblem with them, but i do think it would be interesting if someone tried to start a music of white origin award show if it would ever get off the ground. But as i said as long as any race can win a mobo i'm fine with them.

 

[Aiteal]

Eminem, The Streets and Danniel Beddingfield have all been nominated for Mobos. It isnt a black performing artists award ceremony, its the music, of which 99% of it is recorded by black artists, thats all

Exactly
If mainstream pop music wasn't filled with pre-packaged white artists signing watered down "black" music I doubt there would be the Mobos.

But as a white A&R man for Sony once said in a Hot Press magazine interview I read a few years back
"Every time I look at bands like Atomic Kitten, I can't help but think, there are hundreds of black girl bands out there that write and perform their own songs to a much higher standard that record companies just ignore"

 

[soze]

Exactly
If mainstream pop music wasn't filled with pre-packaged white artists signing watered down "black" music I doubt there would be the Mobos.

But as a white A&R man for Sony once said in a Hot Press magazine interview I read a few years back
"Every time I look at bands like Atomic Kitten, I can't help but think, there are hundreds of black girl bands out there that write and perform their own songs to a much higher standard that record companies just ignore"

You market what sells. Dose not matter how much better a band performs or sings if research shows 3 white girls in thier underware will sell best thats what record companys find i suppose.

 

[Aiteal]

You market what sells. Dose not matter how much better a band performs or sings if research shows 3 white girls in thier underware will sell best thats what record companys find i suppose.

And 3 white girls in underwear singing George Fornby cover versions would sell?

 

[pez]

I think you're being way over sensitive,

music like rap hip hop rmb etc originated in one ethnic group, the black ethnic grouping. Lets call a rock a rock shall we?

And the whole Music of White Origin is pretty pointless when theres a white majority. Asian music might have a 'Music of White Origin awards where they have Folk/Rock and Roll/ Metal bands or whatever but there no point making a distinction when that type of music is the norm and has been the music of the majority for generations.

Basically it seems like you are suggesting its more racist to acknowledge the fact that a racial group created a form of art than it is to pretend that racial group didn't. Have another think imo.

 

[Chronictank]

Yet rock and roll is not represented at the awards afaik, could that be because that genre is dominated by bands that are pre-dominantly white?

rock and roll has Kerrang if im not mistaken.
If the awards were racist there would be no "white", people winning them, as it happens this is not the case.
I dont see how award's for a certain genre of music is racist

I think your reading a little too much into it without looking into the facts

 

[soze]

And 3 white girls in underwear singing George Fornby cover versions would sell?

Well not too me but didn't atomic kitten have number 1 hits during there time? Lets face it all the girls will sing thier music and all the guys will want to watch the video much like those PCD people there is nothing wrong with thier music video so long as you mute it.

 

[- English -]

did any1 hear about the only ;blacks; day at alton towers coming up... racist or? ^^

 

[eggy]

did any1 hear about the only ;blacks; day at alton towers coming up... racist or? ^^

I assume by this you mean the Muslim day. Interesting that you call Muslims black

People are way too sensitive about the whole issue. So they want to have a Muslim only day, who cares - go for it, have fun!

Humans by definition are naturally racist - perhaps not in a verbal or physical way, but "look at that man" becomes "look at that black man" pretty quick.

I consider myself accepting of all races and cultures, the world would be a boring place without differences.

 

[DocWolfe]

I have a real dislike for left handed people, fuck off back to space you weirdos.

 

[Dukat]

I assume by this you mean the Muslim day. Interesting that you call Muslims black

People are way too sensitive about the whole issue. So they want to have a Muslim only day, who cares - go for it, have fun!

Humans by definition are naturally racist - perhaps not in a verbal or physical way, but "look at that man" becomes "look at that black man" pretty quick.

I consider myself accepting of all races and cultures, the world would be a boring place without differences.

Er, even if it is a day where 'only' muslims are allowed in (cant say i believe it would be allowed, even in this day and age), its just as bad, if not worse.

Its just stupid, theres never a "christian" day in a theme park is there?

With all the racial hoo haa going on at the moment it is gravely irresponsible to do something like this, while in some eyes it might be seen as a way to further "integrate" our society with our muslim neighbours, it will still end up pissing alot of people off because of the amount of controversy with Islam and that religion in the present state of world affairs.

I dont really care about what religion people are, I've had muslim friends before(I think - I didnt actually ask them), I really am not interested in anyone elses religious preferences, why they have to shove it in my face every time i go near a TV screen I have no idea. It just makes the issues alot worse, if people were allowed to just not care, instead of having to read, hear or see it every time they go near a device of the media, then maybe we wouldnt be in such a shit state as we are.

Its like every two or three months we get some news article interviewing muslims to get thier opinion of whats happened, there was one on the other day, they interviewed a guy outside a mosque, he went and preyed, then went and had dinner and then watched the football and shouted "come on england!!", yea, that puts the whole thing in perspective.... rly....

I bet half the people (atleast) who watched it either changed the channel as soon as it came on or shouted "I dont give a fuck" at the screen.

Its just annoying and the whole race thing is exactly the same, the more its shoved in peoples faces with awards like this MOBO thing, the more people who dont normally care will get annoyed about it.

just my opinion anyways.

 

[Chronictank]

Er, even if it is a day where 'only' muslims are allowed in (cant say i believe it would be allowed, even in this day and age), its just as bad, if not worse.

they hired the whole park out or something afaik

 

[Dukat]

they hired the whole park out or something afaik

uke:

 

[tris-]

i think its because, apparently, black people are a minority here. and so it 'obviously' must be harder for them to create good music.

and positive discrimination is always accepted. infact, it wouldnt suprise if the government promoted positive discrimination.

Originally Posted by eggy
I assume by this you mean the Muslim day. Interesting that you call Muslims black

People are way too sensitive about the whole issue. So they want to have a Muslim only day, who cares - go for it, have fun!

and if i wanted a white only day then all fucking hell would break loose.

i can see it now in the papers - "white supremists take alton towers off the black minority".

but but but, i just wanted a white people only day

 

[liloe]

I voted for the 3rd option cause it´s not that easy to tell really. As it was already mentioned, white people can also go there and sing. After all the name for Soul, Rap and stuff is black music, so might aswell call it a MoBO show.

There are rock & roll and pop awards and shows, cause when the music came up, it was called rock & roll and pop. When Soul and Rap first appeared, it was mostly (or even purely) sung by black people, so it was called "Black music". I don´t think I´ve seen a black band at a Metal gig, still I don´t think it would be a problem to me. But does this mean Metal gigs are racist? I don´t think so.

Some people are going really off the original topic, which was only about the MoBO. I don´t know how that show gets organized though, so if white bands would be less welcome, then it was racist, but as soon as everybody who sings nice "Black music" can go there, it´s ok for me.

 

[Everz]

I assume by this you mean the Muslim day. Interesting that you call Muslims black

People are way too sensitive about the whole issue. So they want to have a Muslim only day, who cares - go for it, have fun!

Humans by definition are naturally racist - perhaps not in a verbal or physical way, but "look at that man" becomes "look at that black man" pretty quick.

I consider myself accepting of all races and cultures, the world would be a boring place without differences.

i cant speak english, refuse to work,hate the white man and live of many benefits day?

 

[tris-]

Humans by definition are naturally racist - perhaps not in a verbal or physical way, but "look at that man" becomes "look at that black man" pretty quick.

i just realised this bit.

now i dont know if your implying the second quote as being bad. personally, i dont see how in anyway it could be bad.
if its a man, and the man is black, why can you not point out the man is infact a black man?

 

[~Latency~]

i just realised this bit.

now i dont know if your implying the second quote as being bad. personally, i dont see how in anyway it could be bad.
if its a man, and the man is black, why can you not point out the man is infact a black man?

RACIST!!

 

[crispy]

Only becomes racist when you connect the word 'racist' with the word 'black' tbh :>

I mean, shouldnt we be at a point where it didnt matter?

 

[crispy]

Kinda reminds me of sweden: the banned an ice cream with licorice coating called Nugger Black

 

[- English -]

I assume by this you mean the Muslim day. Interesting that you call Muslims black

People are way too sensitive about the whole issue. So they want to have a Muslim only day, who cares - go for it, have fun!

Humans by definition are naturally racist - perhaps not in a verbal or physical way, but "look at that man" becomes "look at that black man" pretty quick.

I consider myself accepting of all races and cultures, the world would be a boring place without differences.

YE the muslim day.. are there any white muslims? I personally dont have a problem with them, or blacks. I know and i have a few 'black' friends who are really nice. I feel its just a propotion of their 'race' which let them down and people seem to reflect on their actions to the good ones. what does annoy me is when they force political power in, for example they say 'christmas' offends them and to be politically correct it has to be called the festive season. To we go crying about Eed etc? ^^ i think not

 

[tris-]

english gives some very fine examples of positive discrimination.

 

[Bracken]

I was informed by a mod here that posting "F*ck off Kraut. 2 World Wars and still a bunch of arrogant w**kers" was a racist post. This was in response to a German poster who decided to jump into the Portugal v England thread specifically to laugh at the English. Now I accept I was insulting, I accept that I used his nationality (not his race, which I have no idea about) as the basis for the insult, I even accept I broke the FH CoC. But racist? Absolutely not.

And that's the whole problem with how the politically correct brigade use the race issue - more often than not it's used as a means of control and power over anyone or anything which they find uncomfortable. At work there is a "Black Worker's Support Group". They have "Black History Month"s. When you challenge the reasons for such things you are branded racist. When you suggest doing equivalents for white workers because they are feeling sidelined you are branded racist.

And yet here's the thing. By their actions they are actually making the thing they say they are trying to tackle (i.e. racism) more likely, because those of the non-preferential races start to feel sidelined and disempowered. I work with racist offenders and know the only way to tackle racism is positive education and people actually just getting along together - not by backing people into a corner and giving certain groups preferential treatment.

But anyway, back to the main topic. Are the Mobo's racist? No - for all the reasons people have highlighted about it being about MUSIC of black origin (i.e. specific forms of music) and white musicians do get nominated.