[leegp]

Although I applaud Channel 4 for taking swift and decisive action in the latest BB race row, I can't help but think that the hard-line they took on Emily was more about saving face after the celebrity Big Brother debacle, than dealing with the problem of racism in a calm and measured approach.

White people cannot ever truly understand what it feels like when a black person hears the word '******', but most well educated white people over a certain age can understand that it is a word that causes great offence. Heck, even the most embittered of racist people usually know that using that word in public is a big no no.

And herein lies the problem with Emily. At 19 years of age, she is a girl that has grown up in a Britain that is very different from how Britain was even 20 years ago. She has grown up in a country and a generation that is far more accepting and inclusive of other cultures.

Black comedians, rappers and characters in film use the word ****** freely (the more you use a word of this nature afterall, the more the word loses its power and its meaning in the original context). Southpark used the word 42 times in a recent episode, not to shock, but to highlight a positive message as to why the word can cause offence and why ignorance is not a reason we should be tolerant of its use, but neither is it a reason we should ban or overly censor its use.

Cut to 'Shaun of the Dead', arguably one of the best British comedies in recent history. In it you will see a scene where Nick Frosts jolly, lovable character greets Simon Pegg and others with the words "What's up my *******?". Should this have been censored because it may have caused offence to some of the audience? Or should it be taken in context? Certainly I don't remember anyone walking out of the cinema, shocked by the use of such a word. Nor do I remember the film getting any complaints for the scene.

Emily is guilty of ignorance, not of racism, something Channel 4 bosses are eager to point out. They were also eager to point out that they did not want to 'hang Emily out to dry' and that is why they felt it was important to air the whole 'event' in a specially extended programme. If they really had Emily's best interests at heart, I find it astonishing that she was awoken at 3.30 in the morning to be called to the Diary Room to give her side of the story. I think she was genuinely shocked when told she would be leaving the house immediately. Asking a barely coherent housemate to justify her case at 3.30am, only to then be shown the door smacks of panic on behalf of the BB bosses. They needed to act quickly, before the media got hold of the story and the whole thing spiralled out of control (again). So in the end, 'hanging her out to dry', is exactly what Channel 4 decided to do.

Should ignorance be forgiven? Stephen Amos, who later appearead on Big Brother's Big Mouth to discuss the incident, seems to think not. As did the majority of his peers, who applauded Channel 4 for taking the appropriate action. But it was interesting to note that several of the younger black people in the audience, believed that kicking her out for 'trying to be a gangster wannabe' was a little too harsh.

I think Amos is wrong, I think in this instance Emily's ignorance should not just be forgiven, I think it should be celebrated. Because if all she was naively trying to do was ingratiate herself with two fellow housemates that she saw as equals - irrespective of the colour of their skin - then I believe her generation has something to be proud of, because it means that people like Richard Pryor and Lenny Bruce have achieved exactly what they set out to do all those years ago, when they boldy walked out and first uttered the N word onstage.