I haven't seen the vid Marble House but I have read the book 'Human Nature'. One of the sources of disquiet -- and indeed anger -- about the adaptation was that in the book, the companion (Benny Summerfield, thirtysomething archaeologist, envisaged as being played by Emma Thompson by the creator of the character) was not a maid.
She was independent, living quietly in a cottage near the school, with status in that society, albeit as the crazy suffragette-loving spinster.
The image of a black woman working as a maid is less charged in British society than American society but it is charged and anyone who says it isn't is (IMO and all that) being complacent and/or delusional. I do think the ridiculousness of racism was explored in that episode and done through two sympathetic characters, one a product of her time and of imperial mindsets, showing that yes, it's not only bad people who have racist attitudes
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You know, I think I should have said "differently charged" not "less charged". That would have been more correct and a less poor choice of words. I don't want to imply that it's not a stereotype, just that it works slightly differently. Sorry.
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She was independent, living quietly in a cottage near the school, with status in that society, albeit as the crazy suffragette-loving spinster.
The image of a black woman working as a maid is less charged in British society than American society but it is charged and anyone who says it isn't is (IMO and all that) being complacent and/or delusional. I do think the ridiculousness of racism was explored in that episode and done through two sympathetic characters, one a product of her time and of imperial mindsets, showing that yes, it's not only bad people who have racist attitudes ( ... )
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This post also has some historical background on black women in service positions in Britain, if any readers are interested.
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