Broadcaster and Strictly Come Dancing winner Stacey Dooley has been criticised for her Instagram post holding a child on a recent trip to Uganda supporting Comic Relief.
Stacey is a good friend of mine, and someone who champions the underdog through her incredible broadcast work. Her picture led Labour MP David Lammy to suggest Comic Relief should stop using white British celebrities and use African celebrities and personalities won’t help reform the formula, but Lammy’s call is idiotic, it won’t solve the problem – it will only deter people from contributing to Comic Relief and other charities. As I pointed out in a recent debate with broadcaster and former ITV daytime chat show host Trisha Goodard on ITV’s Good Morning Britain it’s a pointless discussion which leads to charitable racism. It will place people in boxes and question where they should make their contribution. Do we want eastern Europeans to only support eastern European charities, and Nigerian charities to only support their own and so forth. It would be a travesty if we all made donations based on our country of birth or ethnic origins.
Lammy has misguided people with his warped and insensitive views. He was offered the chance to go to Africa by Comic Relief and declined. It begs the question why did he mock Stacey Dooley’s work if he couldn’t step up and do it himself. I think it would be useful for David Lammy to do what Stacey Dooley has done, taken her time to make a difference and help disadvantaged people whether it’s in the UK or Africa. There shouldn’t be any issue regarding who supports charities such as Comic Relief. Many people have citied their concerns over Lammy’s comments stating they will never give money to Comic Relief again. That will make people think twice about supporting charitable causes which will leave those in need of our help in a vulnerable state. Lammy should have placed his energies highlighting the problems connected with some African countries, problem which are beyond poverty porn and white savours.
Many have cited colonialism and made references to ‘white saviours’. We must never forget what happened to those who were treated inhumanely through colonialism but those who are trying to make a difference today should not be criticised based on their mainstream profile. Those issues relate to how governments are dealing with climate change, corruption, human rights and ensuring poverty is eradicated. There are concerns about trade too, and I often have many conversations with close family friends and people from various parts of Africa who are concerned about trade deals which are affecting people’s health.
Let’s hope this debate will fade away and Comic Relief can continue to help disadvantaged people. We cannot continue to let people live in inhumane conditions but regardless of ethnicity or profession, let’s not mock the generosity of Stacey Dooley, let’s embrace and support her and others to make a difference.