All of Time and Space…and you can’t see why it’s dangerous to bring a Black woman back in time
Alright here's another rant that is an extension of The Shakespeare Code and also Human Nature Family of Blood and Season 3 in general of Doctor Who: Blacks and time travel. Here you have a 900 year old Time Lord whose business it is to see and travel around all of Time and Space... yet still can't see why it's dangerous to bring a Black Woman back
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The Davies/Tennant character, unlike the John Smith of the book, certainly seemed to support notions of racial superioty and class distinction, as his cultural differences remark and his declaration that he would not tolerate a "violent servant" illustrates. Joan, not John questions Martha's behavior, but when she dismisses Martha's behavior as evidence that she is besotted, John laughs it off, and his attitude is frankly 'good riddance". He doesn not worry how she will support herself, where she go, nothing. His abandonment of his companion is complete.
Could it be that Davies, subtly suggest that the Doctor, although he is an alien, is prejudiced?
The Doctor is not prejudiced because he is white, but because, as he comes to Earth as a refuge, he and his granddaughter associat with the humans who looked like him. (There is some statement about the First Doctor reprimanding Barbara by saying she's behaving like a "Red Indian"!) Would the Doctor influenced to view humanity through the eyes of the humans he admires. RTD seems to think so. He has Ten talking to Jefferson about Freedom and Independence and not Benjamin Banneker or Frederick Douglass. He certainly is not asking Jefferson or Sally Hemmings, where did all these red-haired kids come from?
If Jefferson can dismiss his servant as not worthy of the respect he would give a white female, Ten can dismiss Shakespeare's praise of Martha as nothing but attempted seduction, because Doctor Who's Shakespeare flirts with everyone--like Jack. Jefferson takes the service of people of color as one of his privilage, Ten, who admires Jefferson, expects service from Martha, and she should feel privilage that he recognizes her. He uses Martha's talents.
Jack has had time to observe Martha with the Doctor, and sizes up the Doctor's treatment of Martha with one sentence. "Not if you're blonde." The Doctor gets angry, but maybe he's angry because Jack has made him tell the truth.
I truly believe when we hear Jack reprimand the Doctor, viewers were to understand Jack is speaking as much for Martha as himself. "You're prejudiced." he says.
Again, I am more curious as to why David was comfortable with this view of the Doctor, than why Freema agreed to dress as a maid.
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