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Freema Agyeman |
The term "woke" originated from African American communities. The meaning of "woke" is to treat groups of people and members of those groups - including African Americans - who have been oppressed, marginalised, exploited and disrespected with respect and equality of opportunity. It is closely related to diversity and inclusion.
I agree with Storm Huntley and Dr. Who actress Varada Sethu about this - woke can only be a good thing. Why should wokeness be a problem? It's only a problem for those who have a problem with diversity and inclusion.
Lincoln, in his Gettysburg Address, described the U.S. as a nation "conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal". The fact that he said this in the middle of a war which was essentially about slavery and abolition is a stark contrast to those words.
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Ncuti Gatwa |
However, and I've said this before in various forums, anybody who is anti-woke is anti-Black, anti-women, anti-gay, anti-Latino and anti-any oppressed and/or marginalised group.
So, is Russell T. Davies woke? Let's look at his record.
He wrote two brilliant dramas about gay life - Queer as Folk and, more recently, It's a Sin. He, again brilliantly, revived Dr. Who and created two new spinoffs, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.
According to my (fading) memory, in Dr. Who, he put Black people in Dickensian London (they were there, but we very rarely see them), on the moon, in Victorian Scotland, and many other places including distant planets. Lots of these episodes and series included Black/African Caribbean, Asian and gay characters. Plus he gave us great storylines and great acting, which have not always been on offer from Dr. Who.
David Tennant's Doctor had, at one time, a Black companion, Freema Agyeman as Martha Jones. And, of course, we now have Ncuti Gatwa as a Black Doctor.
Davies also gave us a Christmas episode featuring Kylie Minogue which was not woke, just fun.
When Jodie Whittaker hit the headlines as the first female Doctor, this attracted a huge amount of disapproval and even outrage. Why? I understand the same thing happened when the brilliant (there's that word again) re-imagining of Battlestar Galactica featured a female pilot, Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck.
That reaction is what is called "misogyny".
Jodie Whittaker's previous role as a nurse impersonating a doctor in Trust Me was much more far-fetched.
In case you were wondering, I am a huge sci-fi buff. Always have been. Deal with it.
Woke is a good thing. And yes, Russell T. Davies is woke.