Rilly? "Eyes on the Prize" was an important work detailing the battle for civil rights. There's something very wrong about appropriating the title for a bunch of uppercrust British toffs winging about not being able to gather in the Gildhall for a magnificent feast.
Those "uppercrust British toffs" on the judging panel in full:
Margaret Busby, Britain's youngest and first black female book publisher, born in Ghana.
Lee Child, Brummie son of an Irishman
Emily Wilson, academic from a family of academics
Lemm Sissay, fostered (turbulently) son of an Ethiopian single mother.
Sameer Rahim, the author of the piece, a journalist. Not sure of his background so I'm guessing your "uppercrust British toffs" must be something to do with him, right?
Are you saying that journalists or academics can't be uppercrust toffs? Why not? If anything, they seem like the ultimate in toffery. They just sit there and sneer at others and then rely upon their imagined cleverness to exert dominance. They may not have a huge country estate, but they can sneer and belittle with the best of them.
And really do you think that being non-English is a get-out-of-jail-free card here? Are you saying that the Irish aren't British? Are you saying that having divorced parents gives you free rein to pretend you're not a toff? Are you saying that women can't be uppercrust or toffesses?
You have such a racist, sexist view and you seem blind to the snide, sneering dominance exerted by contests like this.
To all your "are you saying [invented supposition]" style questions, as expected:
"No".
Incidentally, while obviously I didn't pronounce on it, no, the Irish aren't British.
Feel free to fact-check your theory with an Irishman though.
I won't comment on what I think that all says about your own psychology and insecurities, but will take your opinion on my racism and sexism under consideration - cheers.
