The BBC wanted Black listeners and turned to Tim Westwood, white son of a vicar. A parable for our times | Jane Martinson

MMore than 30 years have passed since Tim Westwood joined the BBC, 12 since he left and three since the Guardian and BBC journalists The abuse of abuse has been reported By a man the company considers the hip -hop voice. Then this week, many fears were raised in 19 years of his work there Detailed In the latest version of one of the BBC’s tallest chain and spouses, official reports to men we use very badly.

Westwood’s career in Pep ended in 2013, amid a wave of accusations and the Deja Fu feeling better as “my God, not another.” But the 174 -page report deserves reading, not just what he says about BBC However, as often with the media, what you say about the positions in Britain.

First, there is a tragic testimony from many young women, especially young black women – for allegations that they say they left them to feel very terrible that they blamed themselves or ended up thinking about suicide. Many did not realize that the alleged behavior was a mistake until they grow up a lot and admitted that they did not report it at that time because they were afraid that they would not believe them or will be blamed for it. The worst allegations are revised due to the continuous police investigations. Westwood denied all the inappropriate behavior allegations and says he had no opportunity to respond to the allegations, in part due to the continuous investigation of the police.

Then there was an apparent transformation of blind blindness until we called it behavior that was void by a man who was not considered a star, but was only one of the BBC offers in 1997, they had, According to BBC research “It had an impact with young black and Asian listeners.” Yes, there are many novice employees who complained of bullying and harassment, but they have finished transferring it instead of the main man, but there is also in this scandal the additional spices for the BBC care efforts not only with children but with black children and minorities. Let’s call it “Ali G.”.

Westwood, the educated son of the Anglican Bishop’s public schools, who turned into DJ Pirates to DJ, BBC Radio 1 in 1994 to launch the first radio program for the national hip -hop in the United Kingdom. It was described as a “dominant force” in rap music, which is a common type among young people, especially blacks, who have not listened to the BBC. BBC 1 Radio 1, the Westwood Wilayat Wilayat, stated the need for the BBC to attract this demographic. Radio 1 between 1998 and 2001 Westwood was described as a “dual -language”, and it is able to speak to the BBC administration in its understanding of its understanding and they can also “original contact” with a young minority fans. Westwood was bad and sexual suspension, according to BBC CEO Adapted in the report “A kind of hip -hop cartoon”. When he was asked in 2017 about his most prominent time operating the station, Matthew Panestter started with “”Westwood was shocked by the Nuting Hill Carnival“.

Therefore, in short, the BBC rented the white -class white son of the deputy who affected the vulgar language of the rapper (and once he met the notorious, and was, a kind of friends with Farrell Williams) in an attempt to increase cultural and attractive representation of the black and Asian listeners in the national broadcaster. Let this drown. Could there be a greater example of the risks of giving a aunt all the caution on the wind to be broken, children who feel that they are not their property, children do not understand them, and children seem to have made a little real effort to understand?

The report leads to many conclusions, but it seems inevitable is the amount of what the BBC still needs diversity among its employees. It should be clear that this does not mean white middle -aged boys pretending to be black. This means more colored people, some of them are minority women.

The problem of non -representation in the media is not unique for the BBC, and at least the company has made steps to improve. In 2019, Lorna Clarke, a black woman, first, became POP and then PBC music manager. But despite the goal of 20 % of the minority ethnic employees, only 17 % of its employees are not white.

BBC’s response to this latest report shows that some things have been learned since the operation of scandals that belong to Savil in 2011. [and] Postponement for prominent individuals. ”Also, new complaints to allow allegations together instead of training. Samir ShahThe first minority chair will be produced as well as a distinguished former journalist, by the end of this year.

This review should take into account the culture of silence about the inappropriate behavior by many powerful men, some of whom were formed by the BBC. But the slow thinking that led to this scandal, this shock – should also address many victims – while everyone was looking at the other direction.

The problem with saying “not again” is that we continue to say that.

• Jane Martinson, writer of a guardian

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