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A Britain We All Call Home > Published by Shamik Das, August 26th 2011 at 10:31 am

Starkey’s race theories “would disgrace a first-year undergraduate” say academics

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Leading academics have savaged right-wing historian David Starkey’s post-riot comments about race in which he championed Enoch Powell and said the problem was “whites have become black”. In a letter to the Times Higher Education magazine, more than 100 historians have asked the BBC to cease describing Dr Starkey as a “historian”, saying he is “ill-fitted” to pontificate under that title.

The signatories, who include Paul Gilroy, professor of social theory at the LSE; Steven Fielding, professor of political history at Nottingham; Richard Grayson, professor of 20th-century history at Goldsmiths; Tim Whitmarsh, professor of ancient literatures at Oxford; and scholars from Harvard, Winnipeg in Canada and Jawaharlal Nehru University in India, write:

“His crass generalisations about black culture and white culture as oppositional, monolithic entities demonstrate a failure to grasp the subtleties of race and class that would disgrace a first-year history undergraduate.

“In fact, it appears to us that the BBC was more interested in employing him for his on-screen persona and tendency to make comments that viewers find offensive than for his skills as a historian. In addition to noting that a historian should argue from evidence rather than assumption, we are also disappointed by Starkey’s lack of professionalism on Newsnight.

“Instead of thoughtfully responding to criticism, he simply shouted it down; instead of debating his fellow panellists from a position of knowledge, he belittled and derided them. On Newsnight, as on other appearances for the BBC, Starkey displayed some of the worst practices of an academic, practices that most of us have been working hard to change.”

Adding:

“In our opinion, it was a singularly poor choice… The poverty of his reductionist argument… reflected his lack of understanding of the history of ordinary life in modern Britain. It was evidentially insupportable and factually wrong.

“The problem lies in the BBC’s representation of Starkey’s views as those of a ‘historian’, which implies that they have some basis in research and evidence: but as even the most basic grasp of cultural history would show, Starkey’s views as presented on Newsnight have no basis in either.”

Owen Jones, the leading left wing author left dumbfounded by Starkey’s remarks on Newsnight, had described him as “like Enoch Powell meets Alan Partridge”; as Left Foot Forward’s Daniel Elton wrote of Starkey:

“Such an outlook is historically and cultural ignorant. It may be not too far to suggest that it is wicked and has the capacity to be incredibly destructive. And anyone who espouses it should be ashamed of themselves. Starkey would do well to listen to the petitioners and apologise.”

  • http://twitter.com/sector29/status/107023106496933890 Sector29

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/rluTf6K reports @ShamikDas

  • http://twitter.com/ciarannaidoo/status/107023208498212864 CiaranNaidoo

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/rluTf6K reports @ShamikDas

  • http://twitter.com/shamikdas/status/107023372818456576 Shamik Das

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • http://twitter.com/jackseale/status/107023412370747392 Jack Seale

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/rluTf6K reports @ShamikDas

  • http://twitter.com/mayberory/status/107023650301034496 Rory G

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • http://twitter.com/nigel_anthony/status/107023809860734977 Nigel Anthony

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/rluTf6K reports @ShamikDas

  • http://twitter.com/puffles2010/status/107023820765937664 The Dragon Fairy

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/rluTf6K reports @ShamikDas

  • http://twitter.com/vstuffed/status/107024201084452864 Zeppo Hack

    RT @leftfootfwd: Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/JF9ZFVK reports @shamikdas

  • http://twitter.com/thislast/status/107024351282479104 Sam Saunders

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/rluTf6K reports @ShamikDas

  • http://twitter.com/hayley_dm/status/107024578525663232 Hayley Moseley

    RT @leftfootfwd: Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/oMSVsSm reports @ShamikDas

  • http://twitter.com/sarahemilyduff/status/107025508637753344 Sarah Emily Duff

    So would his scholarship. RT @leftfootfwd: Starkey's race theories 'would disgrace a 1st-year undergrad', say academics http://t.co/NU7w7xQ

  • http://twitter.com/namaa0009/status/107025914285670400 Namaa Al-Mahdi

    RT @leftfootfwd: Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics http://t.co/YjOytMP

  • http://twitter.com/labour52rose/status/107027904327729152 Alex Braithwaite

    RT @leftfootfwd: Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics http://t.co/RJvxwBw

  • http://twitter.com/eeleach/status/107028012104556544 Elizabeth Eva Leach

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/rluTf6K reports @ShamikDas

  • http://twitter.com/fdcox/status/107028020405084160 Francis Cox

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/rluTf6K reports @ShamikDas

  • http://twitter.com/carolynr60/status/107028953067294720 Carolyn Roberts

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/rluTf6K reports @ShamikDas

  • http://twitter.com/politicalplanet/status/107029236891660288 Political Planet

    Starkey’s race theories “would disgrace a first-year undergraduate” say academics: Leading academics have savage… http://t.co/utit83l

  • http://twitter.com/mark_carrigan/status/107030068236267520 Mark Carrigan

    RT @leftfootfwd: Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics http://t.co/ayiR1e1

  • http://twitter.com/danpoxton/status/107030102679879682 DanielPoxton

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/rluTf6K reports @ShamikDas

  • http://twitter.com/ashleyharnett/status/107032307822637056 Ashley Harnett

    RT @leftfootfwd: Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics http://t.co/1vAU0yw

  • http://twitter.com/profstevefuller/status/107033149632032769 Steve Fuller

    RT @mark_carrigan: Sorry, a 30 sec soundbite that could be used instead of Starkey on Newsnight would beat this moan: http://t.co/olxJcAS

  • http://twitter.com/leannewood/status/107033293911887872 LeanneWood

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/rluTf6K reports @ShamikDas

  • http://twitter.com/joncstone/status/107033562439614464 Jon Stone

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/rluTf6K reports @ShamikDas

  • http://twitter.com/heddgwynfor/status/107034002472443904 Hedd Gwynfor

    RT @leftfootfwd: Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics http://t.co/XVMinEK

  • http://twitter.com/michaellomotey/status/107045953483194369 Michael Lomotey

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/rluTf6K reports @ShamikDas

  • http://twitter.com/tonydowling/status/107046229866848257 Tony Dowling

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/rluTf6K reports @ShamikDas

  • Darren J

    Interesting that the writer of the Telegraph story linked several times in this piece is the Showbusiness editor.

  • http://twitter.com/suzyflipp/status/107050554173296640 Suzy Franklin

    RT @leftfootfwd: Starkey's race theories would disgrace a first-year undergraduate; say academics http://t.co/Nce1vnv

  • http://twitter.com/june4th/status/107050724751454208 Noxi

    RT @leftfootfwd: Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/17HcJEB reports @ShamikDas

  • http://jiveblogger.com/2011/08/david-starkeys-views-on-race-disgrace-the-academic-world-say-historians-telegraph-co-uk/ David Starkey’s views on race disgrace the academic world, say historians – Telegraph.co.uk | Jiveblogger.com

    [...] the academic world …Daily MailBritain's historians turn on StarkeyPolitics.co.ukStarkey's race theories “would disgrace a first-year undergraduate” say academicsLeft Foot [...]

  • Jim Brewster

    Cant believe articles are still being published on this crap, Write about something new you bloody morons. Problem with the media in this country they dwell on topics way too long.

  • superman

    This is just intellectual dishonesty from the Left. If you look at the skinhead and mods subcultures then you’ll find that they were indeed influenced by Jamaican Black culture.

    What about Ali G? He was supposed to be a parody of the wigger-chav subculture in Britian.

    Mr Starkey clearly wasn’t the first to pick up on the idea that certain bad elements of Black culture were being widely adopted and emulated. He’s just being targeted because he fits the politically correct profile of a conservative, old-aged, White man.

    If all the Left can do is bring sound and fury instead of actual evidence and historical references then this ceases to be an intellectual debate in a democratic country.

  • Robert

    Superman must have crashed on his head once two often…..

  • superman

    @ Robert, your disparaging remark hold little substance and much venom.

    If you disagree with what I say, then at least have the sense to bring some reasons as to why you don’t agree.

  • http://twitter.com/owenjones84/status/107082949089964033 Owen Jones

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • http://twitter.com/crnlvn/status/107083096351973376 Ciaran L

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • http://twitter.com/jphimister/status/107084047615922177 Joseph Burnett

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • http://twitter.com/sophable/status/107084090188115968 Sophie H

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • http://twitter.com/geezagoabel/status/107084407025844224 Charlie Watt

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • http://twitter.com/ewenspeed/status/107084497769594881 Ewen Speed

    Starkey's race theories a disgrace http://t.co/bazI6bY

  • http://twitter.com/spiki67/status/107084648336732160 Warren

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • http://twitter.com/solaadio/status/107084846702137344 Olusola Adio

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • http://twitter.com/illogicalvolume/status/107085414795460608 David Al

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • http://twitter.com/paulbhalsall/status/107085962697383936 Paul Halsall

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • http://twitter.com/rfhunt/status/107086390528974848 Richard Hunt

    Starkey’s race theories “would disgrace a first-year undergraduate” say academics http://t.co/PBFJzef

  • http://twitter.com/breanainn/status/107086470342385666 breanainn

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • http://twitter.com/solaadio/status/107086945083068416 Olusola Adio

    #DavidStarkey ’s race theories “would disgrace a first-year undergraduate” say academics http://t.co/lanRONY

  • http://twitter.com/milo_armadillo/status/107087968086396929 John Pheasant

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • http://twitter.com/originaleyeball/status/107090656492666880 Duncan Falconer

    Starkey’s race theories “would disgrace a first-year undergraduate” say academics http://t.co/PBFJzef

  • http://twitter.com/ewenspeed/status/107095125011861505 Ewen Speed

    5-10 years ago this would be unthinkable. Hopefully important milestone re social attitudes to disability http://t.co/bazI6bY #Pistorius

  • http://twitter.com/slightlynoodles/status/107095388359622656 Claire

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • http://twitter.com/eddiehenryjames/status/107095480479121408 Edward Keeble

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • http://twitter.com/pinkichiban/status/107097175820992512 Emma

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • Rory

    Superman
    Starkey stereotyped people.
    It is a shame, because I thought he would have something interesting to say about the riots, putting them in a historical, maybe even a pre-20th century, context – but no. He talked about skin colour instead.

    There are many people from the culture that talked about that did not riot or loot. Therefore it is right to stand against his views. Views by the way, that gave him more air time in the Newsnight debate than the other two people had to air thiers. On which point the chair should be ashamed to have mishandled the debate so badly – but that is another debate.
    It is not the fault of the left that Starkey has been, quite rightly, taken to task for being wrong.
    (And note – no comment of venom or insult is contained here)

  • Theodora Anagor

    This is just intellectual dishonesty from the Left. If you look at the skinhead and mods subcultures then you’ll find that they were indeed influenced by Jamaican Black culture.
    What about Ali G? He was supposed to be a parody of the wigger-chav subculture in Britian.
    Mr Starkey clearly wasn’t the first to pick up on the idea that certain bad elements of Black culture were being widely adopted and emulated. He’s just being targeted because he fits the politically correct profile of a conservative, old-aged, White man.

    Skinheads and mods were not influenced by Jamaican black culture, Skinheads for one were influence by neo nazi’s in the states, Mods came out of the 60′s were they influenced by dandism of the regency era, it is very easy to blame black people they are natural underdogs.
    As for Ali G he was not a parody on so called Wiggas, it was a parody of East Asians, which was more of a disjointed version of cockney, of which is widely spoken by many youths in London.
    The comments are nothing more than meanderings of a person who does not know what they are talking about and in my opinion clearly race based.

  • http://twitter.com/perkinsnicola/status/107109584065409024 Nicola Perkins

    RT @leftfootfwd: Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics http://t.co/8ESIYC3

  • http://twitter.com/stilllife0/status/107114538641534976 stilllife

    RT @shamikdas: Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/yomVJhY

  • http://twitter.com/pmboenisch/status/107117739361046529 Peter M Boenisch

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • Tom White

    Starkey’s claims were inaccurate, and even if they were not, there was no justification for his ludicrously inflammatory comments like ‘the whites have become black’ or ‘Enoch Powell was right, in some sense’. As well as being wrong, he’s a tedious attention-seeker.

    It also shows how lazy the BBC are in who they invite: they are plenty of academic commentators more expert in this area than Starkey – or indeed Owen Jones. Jones is not a ‘leading left-wing author’. He’s a PhD student with an OK book, and a great talent for self-publicity. On second thoughts maybe he and David Starkey have more in common than I thought…

  • http://twitter.com/bigtatty/status/107282675848581120 Wookie

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • http://twitter.com/robtheidealist/status/107347189986107392 Rob

    Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics: http://t.co/1OgIv6e < @OwenJones84 pls RT

  • Ed’s Talking Balls

    Asking to cease describing Starkey, an historian, as an historian? Whatever next. Perhaps some no marks should petition the BBC to stop describing David Beckham as a footballer. Even better (indeed, less unreasonably), how about describing Harriet Harman as simply ‘annoying’, rather than ‘MP’ or ‘politician’.

    I’m sure Starkey, rightly, couldn’t care less what these people request via open letters. His academic credentials most certainly stand up to scrutiny and his success far outstrips that of the anonymous signatories.

  • http://twitter.com/londoniww/status/107437602084368384 London IWW

    FYI: #londonriots: Starkey’s race theories “would disgrace a first-year undergraduate” say academics http://t.co/Cjz6oo9

  • David

    Theodora Anagor said:
    “Skinheads and mods were not influenced by Jamaican black culture, Skinheads for one were influence by neo nazi’s in the states, Mods came out of the 60′s were they influenced by dandism of the regency era, it is very easy to blame black people they are natural underdogs.
    As for Ali G he was not a parody on so called Wiggas, it was a parody of East Asians, which was more of a disjointed version of cockney, of which is widely spoken by many youths in London.
    The comments are nothing more than meanderings of a person who does not know what they are talking about and in my opinion clearly race based.”

    I think you are the one who is talking rubbish. Skinheads were influenced by Jamaican Culture. Think of the band Madness or the Specials or the record label Trojan. Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae are the skinhead music par excellence.

    Ali G was based on the DJ Tim Westwood, son of a vicar who tries to act street.

  • http://twitter.com/modditydodds/status/107627316636688384 Knut Cayce

    RT @leftfootfwd: Starkey's race theories "would disgrace a first-year undergraduate" say academics http://t.co/Rj0Qann

  • Matty

    The argument here about skinheads doesn’t support Mr Starkey either way. It’s true that skinheads did adopt a lot of elements from Jamaican youths in the late 60′s but that doesn’t mean they became black. As for Mods, a lot of their style was based on Italian and French culture. It was the Teds who partly based their style on the Edwardian era.