Comedian Russell Howard has been criticised for claiming white people do not need to take advice from ethnic minorities on how to speak about race.
Speaking on the Russell Howard Hour, called the guide, which advises people on how to avoid offending black and Asian colleagues, “insane”.
The booklet was published by non-profit organisation Business in the Community and produced by Sandra Kerr, the organisation’s Race Equality Director.
After showing a clip of Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley asking “Do white people need instructions on how to talk to black and Asian colleagues about race?”, Howard responds:
“No! But for some reason – you will not believe this – a booklet has been made telling white people how to talk to ethnic minorities, and it contains helpful advice that nobody would ever f****** need.”
Featured in the booklet was advice asking white colleagues not to touch a black woman’s hair. According to the guide, those affected say it is commonplace and based on a notion that their hair is a novelty.
“If you missed the opportunity in primary school to touch a black girl’s hair, it’s a bit too late now”, the booklet says.
“Who is doing that at work?,” Howard responded, to applause from the audience.
“Also who was doing that at school? There were no black girls at my school going, ‘Come on, rub away’.
“It’s so insane.”
Howard also took issue with the booklet recommending avoiding asking people where they “really come from”.
The advice also recommended not asking women what they are wearing under their religious dress.
Mr Howard commented: “You wouldn’t go up to a nun and go, ‘What we dealing with sister?’”
The comedian’s comments on the booklet have been met with heavy criticism on social media.
Kelechi Okafor took to Twitter condeming Howard, claiming she didn’t find the speech funny because ‘ultimately I think he is downplaying the severity of racism in the UK.
It is ridiculous and pointless to him because it isn’t his lived reality.
“Do white people need a booklet on how to behave towards their black and Asian colleagues”
Russell instantly says “no!”
Because clearly as a white man who isn’t subjected to micro and macro aggressions, he knows best.
— Kelechi (@kelechnekoff) November 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/TweetsByBilal/status/932852720494575616
https://twitter.com/MNEK/status/932925752932208640
https://twitter.com/AbelaKaby/status/932635496727138304
Watch the clip of Russell Howard discussing the booklet here.
