Chat Ed : Welcome to this evening's live chat with the reporter and presenter of the Black Like Beckham programme, Paul McKenzie!
Paul McKenzie : Hi everyone, I've just watched the programme and I'd be really interested to find out what you thought about it.
MH : Black like Beckham???? David Beckham is White man... What kind message are you trying deliver by making a statement like this?
vanessa : what were the objectives of making this show
Paul McKenzie : The objectives were, and I think we achieved this, to celebrate and highlight a new urban Britain where young black and white people are getting more and more comfortable with each other by the day and where black people for the first time ever are comfortable having a white man as a role model.
grenadian beauty : Why did you pick out the MAINLY the stereotypical parts of black culture to portray?
Paul McKenzie : What we highlighted was just one aspect of black culture, which admittedly is also the most talked about as a showcase aspect of black culture. It's also a side of black culture which is appreciated and respected and lived out by white society.
Gavin : Why do u feel that Beckham is a black man? Do u then feel that a black guy who leads the life of a white man is then white?
Paul McKenzie : What we're saying is that Beckham has embraced black culture to such an extent that he has become an honorary black man. Regarding a black person becoming white, we were just looking at the way white people embrace black culture and the extent to which they take it.
jules : What irritated me about the program was the constant way in which 'Black People' were referred to as if they're all one undifferentiated mass of people, whether they’re from Africa, W. Indies, S. America or wherever. Doesn’t this just fuel stereotypes and prejudice ?
Paul McKenzie : I understand your point but we were looking at just one aspect of black culture which is the aspect which affects mainstream society and the way it has affected Beckham.
Chikere : Good program, just hope people dont think that Black people are all about music and clothes
Paul McKenzie : So do I and thank you for that. I hope black people don't think it's all about music and clothes and that they really do understand that we are just highlighting an aspect of black culture which has affected mainstream society.
Faced : Do you think there might be a little conflict between your view and a commonly held view of Beckham as a gay icon?
Paul McKenzie : Not at all. Beckham is many things to many people, we were just looking at what he meant to black people and about what black people felt about him.
wyclef : May i ask, is black culture actually black culture? Or is it everybodies culture and why do you have to be black to enjoy it without being looked down on?
jules : Couldn't you replace 'black culture' with 'young urban street culture' ?
Paul McKenzie : In short, what we hope the programme did is replace black culture with urban culture. Beverly Knight quite correctly said that black culture is now a mainstream culture that is being enjoyed by everybody.
Maximus : You mentioned that more black people are supporting the England team. Wouldn't that be more to do with the fact that there are more black players coming through into the England team rather than because Beckham is in it?
Hannah : Please don't give Beckham all the credit for making black people support England, what about Ian Wright???
Paul McKenzie : Great point. No one is underestimating the role of black players in making black fans feel more comfortable in supporting the national team but what we wanted to highlight is that Beckham is the only white player that has made black people feel comfortable and proud to support England.
Amil liete : it seems that the documentors are insuniating that David Becham (sorry i dont know how to spell it) may have something to do with the popularisation of Black Culture. Black culture has always been popular, It's been pushed forward since Music of Black Origin came into center stage
Paul McKenzie : What we said in the programme was that black culture has become the mainstream culture and now everybody feels comfortable taking a piece of it - especially white people, without being called thieves for absorbing so much black culture.
Voo : Do you not think that the role of Black role models in this country would have made a more constructive programme than what a 'white' man does for the black people of this country.
Anjali : are there no black british males we could use as role models for the black youth?
Paul McKenzie : There are many, many black role models in this country that we should be proud of, but we were ultimately saying that we have now reached a point for the first time ever that black people can appreciate and have a white role model.
Pro-Black-Woman : Lets face it here now, What Britain want is a white black man, they dont want a black man to hold such high status, they feel threatend. So Beckhams comes along, follows the 'black fashion' and takes it on to the extreme and now hes black?
Paul McKenzie : I would say what Britain needs are positive young role models regardless of colour but it is ultimately a good thing that black people can now feel comfortable with having a white role model without having any shame about it.
MH : Paul, we all understanding what your saying but why name your programme with such a bold title
Paul McKenzie : The bold title was to get people's imagination, to get them talking and ultimately to watch the programme and I think we achieved all those objectives.
Wass : i think you struck such a chord with young people today, you really have highlighted what young britain is and its actually quite sad that looks, clothes and money is so important!
Voo : While 'black' people may understand that being 'black' is not about clothes and cars, do you think you clearly conveyed this message to non-'black' people?
Paul McKenzie : Hurrah, finally someone who completely gets the DNA of a programme. Hopefully I did, Voo - that was my intention. Like I've said, I will readily admit we mostly highlighted the material side of black culture and black cool.
harris : i would love to know what beckham thought he must have seen it ?
Lisa David : Why didn't you get any views from David Beckham himself??? Or did he not want to comment??
Paul McKenzie : Good question. We started filming at the time of the unfortunate kidnap episode and understandably he was off limits, but he knew about my programme and we eagerly await his response.
Steve G : is he trying to be a black man though? or is he just trying to dress well, and it just happens that he listens to R'n'B?
Paul McKenzie : No he, like many young white people today, completely absorbs black culture and is comfortable with it and in turn people respect him for that.
rossi : Paul, will you make his response, if you get one, public?
Paul McKenzie : Certainly. It will be on the Channel 4 website and in the press.
precious : Paul McKenzie why did you feel the need to make this programme?
Paul McKenzie : We felt the need to highlight, showcase and celebrate the young generation of blacks and whites who really are getting their groove on and for whom, thankfully, race is way down on their agenda.
ToyinLigali : why does paul think so many of us within the 'black' community is taking offense at this program?
Paul McKenzie : Another superb question...I must say I'm taken aback and if I'm truly honest, slightly upset, that so many black people have taken offence at the programme. I can only assume that most of their comments were made because of what was written in the press and hopefully their views have now changed now that they have seen the programme.
Chris_Mcr : As a white person, I admire Beckham for his abilities and his position as a role model. There are many aspects of black culture Becks appears to embrace..and my hat goes off to the guy for good taste in that respect. He is also comfortable with his gay following...a few people could learn from his openess and ability to admire and respect
Paul McKenzie : Here here.
Kirsten : Do you support Man u?
Paul McKenzie : No, I'm a massive Tottenham fan who Man Utd. are playing this weekend.
rossi : paul, how are david beckhams tattos influences by 'black culture'?
Paul McKenzie : They are the same tattoos that the rapper Tupac had. The same images and on the same part of the body.
Chikere : David Beckham is a good role model for young kids, black, white, yellow. It doesnt matter. However do you not think that the white media will want to ridicle your program in the press tomorrow
Paul McKenzie : I hope the white community don't do that tomorrow and that they see what we were trying to say ie that there is something good happening - a young, dynamic and urban Britain are celebrating the same role models regardless of colour.
Ensea : You're saying doing this or that makes him black... so I assume behaving differently would make him white, don't you think viewing everything in terms of back and white promotes segregation and ultimately racism?
Paul McKenzie : Good point, but I was just looking on how society views race and tried to interpret it and make sense of it.
Voo : What do you feel 'black' people can constructively take away from this programme?
Paul McKenzie : The good questions continue... I hope they can take a sense of humour to a lot of the aspects of the programme and more importantly understand that it's cool to look up to whoever happens to be the role model of the day regardless of colour.
nicant : Okay you've obviously attracted a wide TV audience with this so now you've got our attention please tell us you are working on further programms with more 'depth'.
Paul McKenzie : Absolutely. These programmes do what they can on a very small budget.
Diana : Hey Paul, Is this prog. suppose to be disected so much, or just viewed as a piece of entertainment
Rob : Paul, did you think people would take this as seriously as they have?
nick : oh well - raised interesting points for discussion - which has got to be a good thing
Paul McKenzie : Absolutely not. It has shocked me beyond belief. I really do appreciate the immediate feedback of this. I've had a stressed week but this last half hour has made everything worthwhile. Thank you.
Paul McKenzie leaves the room
Chat Ed: Check out the Black and Asian History Map website for more on these and other issues.
