Black Labour MP David Lammy accused Comic Relief of promoting negative stereotypes and said the world doesn't need anymore white saviours. Your views?

[Shezadi]

Stacey Dooley winner of Strictly come dancing

In that picture, Stacey is viewed as a "white saviour" and the black children are viewed as victims to be pitied.

Labour MP David Lammy accused Comic relief of promoting stereotypes

He said Stacey had failed to "educate herself", adding: "Her Instagram conveys the age-old trope that is her as the heroine and the black child as the victim and we have to stop it".

Lammy, who is of Guyanese descent, replied: "Comic Relief has a huge platform and privilege and it is the first and major way children learn about Africa.

"If they only show Africans as helpless victims to be pitied, children miss the broader picture of huge progress in Africa.

"Comic Relief should be helping to establish an image of African people as equals to be respected rather than helpless victims to be pitied.

"It would therefore be better for people who actually live there to speak about the continent they know.

"Many black Brits feel deeply uncomfortable with Comic Relief's poverty porn. It's my job to represent their views however uncomfortable.

"They want their children to have rounded views about Africa and these types of campaign woefully fail to do that."

In an interview today with BBC's Victoria Derbyshire he said: "The phrase "white saviour" I did not coin it.

"It's been around for over 100 years.

"It's this idea that somehow we are privileged, those of us who are Westerners and that Africans are victims that we can save them.

'POVERTY PORN'
He added: "It's a kind of missionary idea and it's deeply problematic because what it does is it keeps the continent of Africa poor, it keeps people in their place.
"It doesn't empower them, it doesn't empower the audience."

Stacey was also blasted for "using African children as accessories" after she wrote she was "obsessed" with the youngsters on Instagram.

Images of Stacey cuddling one of the children prompted fans to urge the star to meet up with activist group No White Saviors, who criticise the white saviour complex, during her time in the country.

One blasted: "Come on Stace I love your journalism but please check out @nowhitesaviors You have a responsibility to not perpetuate this narrative on your feed."

Another of her followers wrote: "You should be using your platform to challenge the narrative not confirm it.

"Please do the right thing and take this image down."

Hitting back at the MP, Stacey wrote: "David, is the issue with me being white? (Genuine question) ...because if that's the case, you could always go over there and try raise awareness?
"Comic relief have raised over 1 billion pounds since they started. I saw projects that were saving lives with the money. Kids lives."

[Grond21]

Personally, I think this is disgusting. Anyone can be a savior, regardless of their skin color. If she is helping people, more power to her. And it sounds to me like she is not doing it because she has white, but because she cares. However, his objection is based on racist jealousy.

[Shezadi]

interesting, it could be because of his insecurity and mind. I am neutral in this case for the first time I am neutral because it is a tough one. Both have strong honest arguments.

[Grond21]

He doesn't. His argument is that why people have always been portrayed as the savior. So now we should have no more white saviors and only black ones. If he had said that it's time for us to have some black saviors ALSO, then I wouldn't have a problem with it. But he is excluding based on race, and that is the definition of a racist

[Shezadi]

he also refused to go to Africa to do charity work despite the offer.

[Grond21]

one thing that is coming from those on the far left, is they are very willing to be charitable with other people's time and money. But when you look how much they actually contribute, it is minuscule compared to the poor and middle class

[Grond21]

First time I've gotten an MHO that was over a year old. Thank you!

[Shezadi]

Hehe it's okay. Better late than never

[Anonymous]

He is Labour! Say no more!

[Shezadi]

I don't get it

[Opinion Owner]

He is a Labour MP. They seem to be against anything that might help relieve suffering.

[Shezadi]

I support Labour and Jeremy Corbyn is my hero. He wants to bring Shamima Begum back and I have no opinion on that point I voted to leave the EU as British Pakistani Muslim girl

[Opinion Owner]

Corbyn is associated with many undesirable events and situations. I, too, am anti EU. Corbyn and Labour are doing their best to scupper Brexit. The Roman Empire failed. The British Empire failed. The Soviet Union failed. Eventually the EU will fail.

[Opinion Owner]

Thank you for MHG!! xx

[Anonymous]

Comic reloef is mainly about people in majority white countries raising money to help Africans. If his argument is that they don't need white people's help, then he should argue against comic relief itself, since it relies mostly on money from white people.